Five LinkedIn Myths That Are Killing Your Reach

Most LinkedIn advice is outdated. Creators follow tactics from 2019, wonder why their reach is dying, and assume their content just isn't good enough.

It's not your content. It's your strategy.

Richard van der Blom, one of LinkedIn's most respected independent researchers, analyzed 1.8 million posts across 180+ B2B companies. What he found contradicts almost everything you've been taught about how to succeed on this platform.

Here are five myths that are quietly killing your reach.

Myth 1: Use 3-5 Hashtags for Better Discovery

The advice: Add three to five relevant hashtags at the end of every post to help LinkedIn categorize your content and show it to the right people.

The reality: Posts with 3-5 hashtags get 29% less reach than posts with none.

LinkedIn's algorithm has evolved. It no longer needs hashtags to understand your content. Natural language processing and semantic analysis do that work now. When you add hashtags, you're not helping discovery. You're triggering spam filters designed to reduce low-quality content.

The fix: Stop using hashtags entirely. Write clear, topic-focused content and trust the algorithm to find your audience.

Myth 2: Include a Link to Drive Traffic

The advice: Add a link to your blog, lead magnet, or website to drive traffic from LinkedIn.

The reality: One external link costs you 68% of your reach.

LinkedIn wants users to stay on LinkedIn. External links signal that you're trying to move people off-platform, and the algorithm punishes this aggressively.

The fix: Skip the link in your post. Let your content gain traction during the first hour, then add the link in the comments for those who want to go deeper. Or better yet, train your audience to visit your profile where your links live permanently.

Here's an interesting exception: posts with three or more links actually get boosted. LinkedIn interprets multiple links as a resource post rather than a traffic grab. If you're sharing links, frame it as a curated list of valuable resources.

Myth 3: Longer Videos Show More Expertise

The advice: Create substantial video content that demonstrates the depth of your knowledge.

The reality: Videos under 30 seconds have an 89% completion rate. Videos over 60 seconds drop to 31%.

Your profound three-minute video? Most people stop watching before the one-minute mark. LinkedIn users aren't there for long-form video content. They're scrolling, scanning, and looking for quick value.

The fix: Keep videos between 20-30 seconds. Hook immediately, deliver one insight, close. No long intros, no rambling setup, no filler. If you have more to say, break it into a series of short videos rather than one long piece.

Myth 4: Grow Your Network as Big as Possible

The advice: Connect with everyone. More connections mean more reach and more opportunities.

The reality: Profiles with 500-999 connections see 2.3x higher engagement than those with 10,000+ connections.

LinkedIn rewards engagement density, not network size. A smaller network of people who actually care about your content outperforms a massive network of passive connections who scroll past everything you post.

The fix: Be intentional about who you connect with. Don't accept every request. Don't chase follower counts. Build a network of aligned individuals who engage with your content and could become clients, collaborators, or referral sources. Quality over quantity isn't just a platitude. It's an algorithmic advantage.

Myth 5: Post and Check Back Later

The advice: Publish your content, then go about your day. Check engagement when you have time.

The reality: Comments in the first five minutes boost reach by 4.2x. Wait thirty minutes? Too late. Wait two hours? Your post is already dead.

LinkedIn makes distribution decisions in real time based on immediate engagement signals. If you're not present during that critical first hour, actively responding to comments and fostering conversation, you're leaving massive reach on the table.

The fix: Never post unless you can commit to the next sixty minutes. Respond to every comment within minutes. Ask follow-up questions. Keep the conversation alive. This single shift can transform your results without changing your content at all.

The Meta Lesson

The creators quietly winning on LinkedIn aren't following the same playbook as everyone else. They've abandoned hashtags. They're strategic about links. They keep videos short. They prioritize network quality over size. And they treat the first hour after posting as sacred time.

Stop following advice that stopped working years ago. Follow the data instead.

This article draws from Richard van der Blom's LinkedIn algorithm research. His work analyzing 1.8 million posts is the most comprehensive independent study of LinkedIn's algorithm available.

Adapted from my book, Synergy: Thought Leadership, Strategic Partnerships, and Your LinkedIn Brand Engine, available now.

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