LinkedIn users are advised to express more of their unique personalities and interests on the platform to stand out and gain more engagement. Many people tend to use a professional, neutral tone, resulting in a lack of distinctiveness. Jillian Richardson, a well-known ghostwriter, encouraged users to be ‘weirder’ in a post that received substantial attention, suggesting that showcasing individuality could be beneficial. Alec Kremins, head of partnerships at Beehiiv, echoed this sentiment, advocating for LinkedIn to move beyond bland corporate language.
Together, Richardson and Kremins launched a newsletter to guide users on how to be more distinctive online. They believe that unique perspectives are valuable assets and encourage users to share more personal aspects, such as hobbies or passions, and how they relate to their professional lives. This approach helps users become more memorable and makes their content more engaging.
Richardson suggests that thought leadership can be achieved when founders publicly experiment with their opinions. Expressing strong views can attract like-minded individuals and deter those who may not align with their perspectives. LinkedIn users with large followings are often those who are not trying to please everyone but are instead focusing on a specific niche or viewpoint.
The way users communicate on LinkedIn can also contribute to their distinctiveness.