Purposeful LinkedIn Commenting for Professionals

Stop Commenting “𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨” on LinkedIn posts Generic comments like “𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵” or “𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨” might feel polite, but they’re hurting your visibility and credibility. Here’s why:  • 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: When you engage deeply, creators (and their audiences) are more likely to remember you, reply, and even check out your profile. This offers an opportunity to build more connections and be seen by the right people.  • 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲: A well-crafted comment positions you as a knowledgeable professional, not just a passive reader. This adds to your personal brand and makes you look credible.  • 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲: A great comment on a popular post gets seen by hundreds of people which also equals hundreds of potential opportunities for you. Why waste that exposure on three meaningless words when you could use it to sell yourself and your brand? Instead, 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 to comment with purpose: 1️⃣ Add value: “𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴! 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 [𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵]? 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.” 2️⃣ Spark discussion: “𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 [𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤]! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘰]? 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦.” 3️⃣ Share a resource: “𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵! 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳, [𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬/𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦/𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭] 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤.” 4️⃣ Disagree (politely!): “𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦! 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 [𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯]. 𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 [𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵].” 5️⃣ Share your experience: “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 [𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦].” The next time you’re tempted to leave a generic comment, challenge yourself to add value instead. You’ll be surprised by the opportunities it brings. Which of the above templates do you frequently use when commenting? 𝘗.𝘚: 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 “𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨” 𝘭𝘰𝘭 🙃

I leave about 180 comments (give or take) on LinkedIn every week. And it takes far less effort than when I posted daily. LinkedIn's new algorithm, 360Brew, has changed what people see in their feeds. Thoughtful comments can get you more visibility than even posting. This is especially valuable if you're looking for work, because you can demonstrate your expertise and get noticed without the pressure of creating posts. (When I mention posting to job seekers, they constantly cringe) But not just any comment will do. What makes a comment one that people will read: →It adds something meaningful to the conversation →It reflects your point of view →It shows your knowledge or expertise I spend about an hour commenting each weekday. That's what works for my schedule and my goals. Your situation is different, and that's okay. Always do what fits your life. Here's my approach: I am selective. Many posts simply aren't worth commenting on, so I skip them. Before commenting, I ask myself: "Would my network find value in this conversation?" If not, I move on. I am authentic. I use my voice and words. I know AI tools can write comments for you, but please don't use them. Your authenticity is what makes people want to connect with you. If you want to use AI, use it to analyze the post for themes that you can address. I am consistent. Whether that's three times a week or once a day, find a cadence you can maintain. It's the consistency that builds relationships, not the sheer number. I add value. Share an insight from your experience. Offer a different perspective. Ask a question that you think would be helpful. For those who hate networking, this is networking, but on your own terms. You network with whom you want, when you want, saying what you want. And it costs nothing (at least for now). I see so many people stressed about creating the perfect post while overlooking the power of showing up in the comments. Take advantage of this fairly easy opportunity LinkedIn gives you. Question for career coaches: How are you advising your clients to use LinkedIn comments strategically? Question for job seekers: What's your experience with commenting on LinkedIn? Pros? Cons? ----- I'm Shelley. I used to hire for companies, but now I advocate for YOU. My goal? Helping you find work that energizes instead of exhausts you. ♻️ Resonated with you? Your repost could help someone else, too 🔔 Follow + ring the bell for weekly career reality checks 🟪 Questions about your next move? I'm here to help. Ask below or DM me

There's an art to LinkedIn commenting. You need practice, intention, and a willingness to be vulnerable. Here’s how to do it right: 1. Be genuine. → If you’re not feeling what the person said, don’t force it. But if you ARE feeling it, let that show in your comment. Enthusiasm is contagious. 2. Say something that adds to the conversation. → “Great post!” is nice, but it doesn’t really help anyone. If you agree with the author, say WHY you agree. If you disagree, say why (politely). If you’re reminded of something, share it. If you have a question, ask it. 3. Use humor if it comes naturally to you. → Some of the best LinkedIn commenters are also some of the funniest people around. But don’t try to be funny if it’s not your style, because it will come off as inauthentic. 4. Let your comment show your relationship with the person. → This is a small but powerful way to make your comment feel more personal. If I am actually legit friends with them, I don't have to say "HEY WORLD, WE'RE BUDDIES" but I can write in such a way that makes our friendship clear. Lets my network know that the OP is trustworthy, and vice versa. 5. Don’t be afraid to be a little vulnerable. → If a post really strikes a chord with you, share a bit of your story in response. This is how you build real connections with people. 6. Comment to be part of a community, not just to get engagement on your own posts. → The best LinkedIn users are the ones who don’t count how many likes their comments get. They’re just happy to contribute. If you can do these things, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a master commenter. And that’s a huge part of the game on LinkedIn.

Want to build meaningful connections with potential clients from a comment? Then stop commenting like everyone else. Our comments shouldn’t blend in. They should position you as a solution they didn’t know they needed if you're using LinkedIn to find potential clients... I recently hired 2 freelancers from LinkedIn because of how they showed up in my comment section and were consistent. Their comments were not generic and they actually brought new insight into the themes shared. Here’s my take... Stop doing this: -Mass-commenting with the same “So inspiring!” -Dropping vague praise like “Love this, thanks for sharing!” -Sounding more like a bot than a brand Let’s fix that: 🔥 What to do instead: 🔍 Shortlist your dream clients → Follow small businesses, founders, creatives you'd actually love to support → Study their content, tone, and audience 💬 A/B test your comment styles → Try personal anecdotes vs. quick tips → See what sparks convo vs. what gets crickets → Treat comments like content: test, learn, repeat 👀 Make it about them, not you → “This framework is 🔥 reminds me how one client cut email time by 40% with a similar setup.” → Subtle flex > desperate pitch 📥 Use comments to warm up, not sell → When they notice your insight consistently, the DM will hit different The shift that gets you noticed. -You built relationships -You posted (and commented) with purpose -You got seen by the right people ✨ Comments are your soft intro. Make ‘em count. — Monica ✌🏼❤️ #VirtualAssistant #LinkedInForVAs #BibbidiBobbidiBooked #SelfMadeSelfPaid #BookedPaidAndNeverPlayed

Every time you comment on a post, you’re demonstrating your expertise and teaching LinkedIn a bit about your credibility. And with 360Brew, that's very important. Last week, I was coaching a CEO who was frustrated by his reach. He was posting consistently. He was commenting thoughtfully. But his content isn't being shown to the right people. The problem was what he's commenting on. He was congratulating people on new jobs. He commented on awards. He celebrated announcements. But none of those comments demonstrated his expertise. He was letting his feed dictate what posts he commented on. In other words, he was doing "random acts of commenting." What I had to explain is that LinkedIn isn’t just watching whether you comment. It’s watching 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 you comment on. With the shift to 360Brew, LinkedIn is evaluating your expertise before it decides who sees your posts. It is looking at: • the topics you engage with over time • the depth and authority of your comments • whether those topics actually show up in your profile • and how others respond to your contributions All of that helps the system decide whether it believes you have credibility on a subject. So every comment becomes part of a larger signal. When your comments consistently show up around the same themes you write about, LinkedIn starts to understand what you’re an authority in. When your comments are random — a little of this, a little of that — the system gets mixed signals. And mixed signals don’t help your reach. This is why commenting isn’t about being visible everywhere. It’s about being visible in the right conversations. If your posts aren’t landing, it might not be the content. It might be that your behavior is teaching the system you don’t have a clear lane. But it's easy to correct for. Just start commenting more strategically. And make sure your profile reflects your expertise in the topics you're talking about.

Your most valuable LinkedIn content isn't what you're posting, it's what you're saying on other people's posts. It hit me after months of meticulously crafting my content with little to show for it. I had been following all the "expert" advice: consistent posting schedule, polished visuals, and thought leadership topics. My engagement metrics looked decent on paper. Something unexpected happened when I traced back the actual business opportunities I'd generated. The quality leads weren't from my carefully crafted posts, they came from thoughtful comments I'd left on OTHER people's content. This discovery completely shifted my approach. Most professionals obsess over their post performance while overlooking a more powerful opportunity: STRATEGIC COMMENTING. Here's why it works: COMMENTS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, NOT JUST VISIBILITY When you leave a thoughtful comment, you're joining a conversation rather than starting one. You're entering an environment where people are already engaged and receptive. COMMENTS DEMONSTRATE EXPERTISE WITHOUT SELF-PROMOTION Adding genuine value in comments shows your expertise contextually. It feels natural, not forced or promotional. COMMENTS POSITION YOU AS A COLLABORATOR, NOT A BROADCASTER The psychology is different. You're contributing to a community discussion rather than asking for attention on your own platform. But what exactly makes a comment "thoughtful"? It's not just saying "Great post!" or dropping an AI-generated response. Truly effective comments: > SHARE RELEVANT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: "I tried this approach with a client last year and discovered..." > ASK INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS: Not basic questions, but ones that expand the conversation in valuable ways. > RESPECTFULLY ADD MISSING CONTEXT: "This works brilliantly in enterprise settings. For SMBs, I've found that..." > CONNECT IDEAS ACROSS CONVERSATIONS: "This reminds me of what [Person] was saying about..." > OFFER SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: Concrete illustrations that make concepts more applicable. This approach follows what Robert Cialdini identified as social proof and reciprocity (two powerful principles of influence). When you thoughtfully contribute to someone else's conversation, you're building trust before asking for anything in return. Here's what happened when I started prioritizing strategic comments alongside my own content: > I began having meaningful conversations that continued in direct messages > I received connection requests from people who noticed my contributions > "Cold" outreach became warmer because people recognized my name > Sales calls felt more like continuations of existing discussions Instead of trying to pull people to my content, I was meeting them where they were already engaged. Success on LinkedIn isn't just about creating content that performs well, it's about engaging in ways that build relationships that convert.

The Real Value of Engagement on LinkedIn: More Than Just Posts 💬 --> Long Post Alert <-- When most people think about building their presence on LinkedIn, they focus on posting content. While sharing your own insights is important, one of the biggest game changers for your personal brand lies in something simpler: engagement. Why Engagement Matters 💡 - Builds Genuine Connections: Meaningful interactions help you form authentic relationships. Commenting on someone’s post or sharing your take on a topic makes you more than just another name in the feed—it makes you memorable. - Amplifies Your Reach: Engaging with others’ content boosts visibility. Each thoughtful comment or interaction opens up your profile to new audiences and potential connections. - Demonstrates Expertise: Sharing your perspective on industry posts or offering advice in comments can position you as a knowledgeable voice in your field. My Approach to Engagement 🤝 - Read Before You React: It’s easy to scroll and hit the like button, but I make a point to read and reflect on posts before commenting. This helps me add value with a relevant insight or question. - Comment with Substance: Instead of generic comments like “Great post!” I try to share a related thought, personal experience, or a follow-up question. It sparks deeper conversation and showcases my expertise. - Engage Consistently: Just like posting, engagement should be consistent. I set aside time each week to interact with my network’s posts, reply to comments on my own posts, and join trending discussions. The Takeaway 🌱 Engagement isn’t just about boosting numbers or appearing active, it’s about showing up as a real, thoughtful participant in your industry. It’s where genuine connections are made, ideas are exchanged, and your personal brand grows. So, what’s one way you engage with others on LinkedIn? Do you leave comments, ask questions, or share content you find valuable? Let me know below! 👇 #LinkedInEngagement #PersonalBranding #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #ThoughtLeadership #digitalmarketing

I recently posted a small freelance translation job on LinkedIn. Within hours, I was bombarded with comments and messages. At first, I thought, “Great! This is what LinkedIn is all about!” 🌟 But as I started sifting through the responses, my enthusiasm quickly faded. Here’s why: 👉 Many of the messages were irrelevant or poorly written. 👉 Some didn’t include ANY details—no CV, portfolio, rates, or availability. 👉 A surprising number of messages were just… ‘hi.’ 😬 It was time-consuming and frustrating to wade through hundreds of messages, with over 70% being low quality. Don’t get me wrong—having too many good candidates is a problem I’d love to have! But this? This was something else. 💡 So here’s my advice if you’re responding to job posts or freelance gigs: ✅ Be thoughtful and professional: Take the time to craft a message that reflects your skills and experience. ✅ Include key info upfront: Send your CV or portfolio, share your rates, and let them know your availability. Make it EASY for the person to assess your fit. ✅ Avoid spamming or vague messages: A simple “hello” or “I’m interested” doesn’t stand out. This isn’t a chatroom—show that you’ve read the post and understand the job requirements. 💬 LinkedIn is an amazing platform for connecting and finding opportunities, but let’s use it wisely. Thoughtful, professional communication not only increases your chances but also makes life easier for the person on the other side. If you’re reading this and think, “I do this already,” 👏 keep it up! You’re raising the bar for everyone. And if this post feels like a wake-up call, don’t worry—there’s always time to improve. Let’s make LinkedIn a better space for professionals everywhere. #Freelancing #LinkedInTips #CommunicationMatters #stopspamming

Why Your LinkedIn Comments Are Killing Your Engagement As someone who’s trained LinkedIn for B2B Sales for +15 years now, and helped our last client generate over $6M in B2B leads, I’ve seen firsthand how LinkedIn engagement can make or break your professional presence. Yet, most people fail miserably at converting their activity into meaningful results. Why? Because they don’t understand the art of commenting. Here are three reasons why people fail with conversions on LinkedIn: 1. Irrelevant or Generic Comments: Comments like "Great post!" or "Thanks for sharing!" add no value. 2. No Follow-up on Your Own Posts: Dropping a post and vanishing is a wasted opportunity.   3. Wasting Time Finding the Right Content: Many people spend too much time scrolling aimlessly, trying to find posts from the right creators or communities. Now that we’ve identified the pitfalls, let’s fix them. Here are seven tips to write better LinkedIn comments and boost your engagement: 1. Be Specific and Add Value:    ↳Instead of generic praise, reference a specific point from the post and build on it. For example, “I agree with your point on remote work boosting productivity. At my company, we saw a 20% increase after implementing flexible hours.”       2. Ask Open-Ended Questions:    ↳ Spark deeper discussions by posing thoughtful questions like, “How do you see this trend evolving in the next five years?”       3. Acknowledge Others’ Contributions:    ↳ If another commenter makes a great point, mention them and expand on their idea. This builds relationships and fosters community.     4. Create Custom Lists:    ↳ Organize your LinkedIn connections into lists (e.g., peers, colleagues, competitors, clients) to streamline your feed and see new content chronologically from the people who matter most to you. This is a massive time-saver compared to endless scrolling.     5. Be Reciprocal:    ↳ Engagement is a two-way street. On average, someone will interact with you five times before switching to another creator if you don’t acknowledge them back. Always reciprocate to keep your audience loyal and engaged.     6. Follow Up on Received Engagement:    ↳ Managing engagement can be overwhelming. Platforms like Aware help track your comments, follow-ups, and responses so you never miss an opportunity     7. Stay Consistent:    ↳ Make commenting a daily habit. Aim for thoughtful contributions on at least five posts per day to build visibility and credibility. So now it's your turn. Instead of commenting with "Great strategy" or an AI-generated comment, leave something unique for me in the comments. PS: Do you know that 100% AI generated comments harm both your reach and reputation?