I’ve been on LinkedIn for three years now, but looking back, my first year was full of mistakes. At that time, I wasn’t really focused on creating content—I mainly used the platform to practice my English while sharing insights in PPC Marketing and a bit of Data Analysis. Then, about two years ago, a coworker shared a video by Hala Taha that completely changed the way I thought about LinkedIn. That’s when I realized how many things I had been doing wrong.
- I applied my SMM experience from Instagram, TikTok, and VK directly to LinkedIn.
Lesson: Every platform has its own rules, and LinkedIn requires a different approach.
- I overloaded my posts with hashtags.
Lesson: More than 3 tags make a post look spammy. It may boost impressions, but usually kills engagement.
- I created a Weekly Roundup made entirely of external links.
Lesson: LinkedIn doesn’t like outbound links in posts. Better to place them in the comments (but never as the first one).
- I tagged people just to reference them.
Lesson: Only tag those who might genuinely engage. (Fun fact: that’s when I discovered Ryan Reynolds is on LinkedIn!)
- I didn’t know LinkedIn looks at your last 10 posts to predict the next one’s reach.
Lesson: Posting for the sake of frequency hurts. Reposts, memes, and low-effort content bring overall performance down. Deleting underperformers helps.
- I ignored how critical the first 4 hours are.
Lesson: Timing matters a lot. Analyze where your audience lives and post when they’re active—not while they’re asleep.
Two years later, I can see how those early mistakes shaped the way I use LinkedIn today. If you’re just starting out, I hope my experience helps you avoid the same pitfalls—and I’d love to hear what lessons you’ve learned along the way.