Everyone tells you how to grow on LinkedIn. Post at 9am sharp, never schedule content, track every metric yourself. But blind obedience to these so-called rules keeps you stuck. Most advice comes from people who haven’t grown an account themselves. Time to question everything.

I quadrupled my LinkedIn following to 30,000 in one year. My AI for Coaches LinkedIn newsletter hit 8,000 subscribers in three months. Not through following rules, but by breaking them strategically.

Your growth starts when you stop copying others and find what works for you.

Win at LinkedIn: 5 rules worth breaking

Skip the automations at first

Automation tools promise fast growth, LinkedIn pods guarantee engagement, and mass messaging claims to bring leads. Stop. Put the fancy tools down and learn the basics first.

Get to know the platform properly. Study which posts grab attention, who comments first, what topics spark discussion. Track patterns in your head before tracking numbers in sheets. Work closely with your VA to understand what moves the needle.

Focus on engagement that feels real, because that’s what brings results. Don’t automate anything you wouldn’t have hired a human to do.

Build your brand somewhere else

“Focus on one platform!” preach the experts. Wrong. Share your message wherever your audience hangs out. Your ideal followers want more than LinkedIn updates.

Start that YouTube channel you’ve been planning. Publish the blog posts in your drafts folder. Record the podcast episodes you can’t stop thinking about. When people love what you do, they follow you everywhere.

Let them find you through multiple channels then keep them interested on LinkedIn. Build a tribe of loyal supporters who want more of what you have to say.

Schedule your content in advance

LinkedIn experts say scheduling kills engagement. They’re wrong. No one has time to pause their day waiting for the perfect moment to post. Consistency beats waiting around.

Schedule your posts in batches. Set them up a week ahead. Keep your phone on for important notifications but don’t give LinkedIn permission to steal your focus.

Better to share great content on schedule than stay glued to your screen hoping to catch the algorithm’s attention. Don’t let posting live be the excuse that prevents you showing up.

Test your wildest ideas on weekends

Posting on weekends splits opinion, and that’s why you should try it. Stop playing it safe, posting the same basic updates everyone else shares. Your most memorable content comes from taking risks.

Try something different every Saturday and Sunday. Share personal stories, test new angles, experiment with topics. Some posts will fly, others will flop. Learn from both.

Keep the wins in your swipe file and try those angles again. Weekend posting can be a playground when you remove the need for every update to perform. Break free from boring.

Let someone else check your stats

The experts would have you trawl through your LinkedIn data to find the insights within. But you’re too close to your own content to stay objective. Looking at numbers all day keeps you stuck in your head. Get your team involved instead, and tell them which metrics matter most.

Assign a LinkedIn manager within your team. Ask your VA to track the weekly stats. Review patterns together and spot what works. Your success comes from staying focused on your message.

Your LinkedIn is a vehicle through which your business grows, not a reflection of you as an individual. Keep your distance from daily fluctuations and emotional reactions.

Break the rules and grow your LinkedIn: your success starts now

Stop following outdated LinkedIn rules that hold you back. Learn the platform before you automate. Build your brand across channels. Schedule content to stay consistent. Test wild ideas on weekends. Let your team track the stats.

Question everything you’ve been told about LinkedIn growth and start breaking the rules that don’t serve you. Your unique voice matters more than copying others. Time to show up your way.

Read the full article here

Share.