Staring at the LinkedIn post box thinking “what the heck should I write today?” is the modern professional’s version of writer’s block. I’ve been there—contemplating whether sharing what I had for lunch counts as “thought leadership” (spoiler: it doesn’t).
After analyzing over 500 high-performing LinkedIn posts and testing these patterns myself, I’ve identified seven formulas that consistently drive engagement. The best part? They work across industries and follower counts.
Here they are, with real examples that crushed it:
1. The Contrarian Hook Start with a widely held belief in your industry, then respectfully challenge it. One of my clients wrote: “Everyone says you need a morning routine to be successful. I disagree. Here’s why flexibility outperforms rigidity…” This post generated 347 comments from people passionately defending both sides.
2. The Career Journey Reveal Share a candid story about a career mistake or unexpected pivot. My post about accidentally sending a client a spreadsheet with the comment “these numbers are bullsh*t” still visible (true story!) got 3x my usual engagement. People connect with human moments that shatter the professional facade.
3. The Curated Wisdom “The 5 best pieces of career advice I’ve received that nobody talks about…” This formula works because it promises multiple insights in a single post while implying exclusivity. A CEO I work with uses this monthly, consistently getting 75+ shares each time.
4. The Myth Buster “No, remote workers aren’t less productive. Data shows the opposite…” Directly challenging a common misconception with evidence creates instant debate. These posts work best when tackling timely, slightly controversial topics.
5. The How-I-Did-It Specific methods outperform general advice. Compare “How to network effectively” (yawn) with “How I got meetings with 7 CEOs using this 3-line email template…” One is vague; the other promises a specific, replicable result.
6. The Bulleted Breakdown “Want to improve your LinkedIn profile? Focus on these areas: • Headline (why most get it wrong) • About section (the psychological trigger you’re missing) • Experience (the formatting hack that gets recruiters’ attention)”
This formatting increases readability and gets saved more often than paragraphs covering the same content.
7. The Vulnerable Question End your post with a genuine question you don’t have the answer to. Not “What do you think?” (too generic) but “Has anyone else negotiated returning to the office after initially agreeing to full-time in-person work? What approach worked?” Specific vulnerability invites specific help.
The best part about these formulas? They’re frameworks, not rigid templates. Insert your unique experiences, insights, and personality, and you’ll never face the LinkedIn blank screen syndrome again.
Which of these formulas will you try first? Drop a comment—I’m curious to see which resonates most!