How the LinkedIn Algorithm Works
4 Stages That Determine Your Content Visibility
Content Screening (Spam & Quality Check)
Scans for spam signals, excessive hashtags (5+), engagement bait, and AI-generated content.
Penalizes accounts posting more than 3 times per day or sending 15+ connection requests daily.
Posts with URLs in the first 300 characters experience a 40% reach reduction.
Engagement Testing ("Golden Hour")
Needs ≥3% engagement to move forward.
Needs ≥5% engagement.
Needs ≥7% engagement.
Ranking & Personalization
Ongoing Optimization & Decay Management
50% reach drop after 48 hours for standard posts. Evergreen content (consistent engagement) retains visibility.
"Hide Post" clicks reduce future reach by 18% per user. 3+ spam reports trigger account review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LinkedIn Golden Hour?
The Golden Hour is the first 60 minutes after posting when LinkedIn tests your content's engagement potential. Posts that achieve ≥3-7% engagement (depending on audience tier) proceed to broader distribution. Failing the Golden Hour limits your post to ~250 views.
How does LinkedIn detect spam content?
LinkedIn's AI scans for spam signals: excessive hashtags (5+), engagement bait phrases, AI-generated content patterns, URLs in the first 300 characters, and posting frequency (3+ times/day triggers penalties). Low-quality signals limit distribution to first-degree connections only.
What engagement rate do I need for viral reach?
Different audience tiers have different thresholds: Notification followers need ≥3% engagement, active followers need ≥5%, and 2nd/3rd degree connections need ≥7% engagement. Meeting these thresholds moves your content to the ranking and personalization stage.
What factors determine LinkedIn ranking?
Five factors with approximate weights: Creator Authority (25%), Social Proximity (20%), Content Type (15%), Engagement Velocity (15%), and Personalization (25%). Building authority and engagement velocity together maximizes reach potential.
Why does my LinkedIn reach drop after 48 hours?
LinkedIn applies engagement decay rules—standard posts lose ~50% reach after 48 hours. Only evergreen content with consistent ongoing engagement maintains visibility. This is why posting cadence matters more than individual post volume.
How do "Hide Post" clicks affect my account?
Each "Hide Post" click reduces your future reach to that user by 18%. Accumulating multiple hides signals low-quality content. 3+ spam reports trigger account review and can permanently damage your distribution potential.
Should I include links in my LinkedIn posts?
Links in the first 300 characters reduce reach by ~40%. If you must include links, place them in comments or at the very end of longer posts. Native content (no external links) consistently outperforms link-heavy posts.
How does LinkedIn connect to AI search visibility?
LinkedIn content that performs well (high engagement, authority signals) gets indexed by AI systems. ChatGPT and Perplexity cite LinkedIn posts and articles. Strong LinkedIn presence contributes to your overall AI visibility and brand authority.
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