Most people on LinkedIn try to be professional, buttoned-up, and safe. They post boring updates, share generic advice, and blend in with everyone else. LinkedIn has thousands of identical voices. If you scroll through your feed right now, you’ll see mostly corporate-speak and carefully curated personas afraid to show a hint of personality.
Jillian Richardson, a ghostwriter for founders and executives, named one of LinkedIn’s top ghostwriters in 2017, shared some important insights in a recent LinkedIn post. When she returned to LinkedIn with a post encouraging people to be weirder, it went viral with over 3,600 likes and 1,000 comments.
A few days later, Alec Kremins, head of partnerships at Beehiiv, “found the fun side of LinkedIn” by “putting a call out to all the weirdos on the platform” and receiving hundreds of messages in return. “LinkedIn doesn’t have to be boring corporate speak and AI-generated platitudes,” he said.
Richardson and Kremins are right. You need to be weirder on LinkedIn. Too many LinkedIn posts sound exactly the same. Professionals try to project a perfect professional image. They share the same quotes, recycle the same ideas, and maintain a safe middle ground that offends no one and inspires no one.
Here’s why being your authentic, quirky self might be your secret weapon on this platform.
Being different wins: in business and on LinkedIn
Own what makes you different
Your unique perspective is your greatest asset. Richardson puts it perfectly: “I am on my knees, begging: Be weirder on LinkedIn. 10x weirder. 100x weirder if you’ve had a good breakfast.”
Stop hiding the edges that make you you. If you love powerlifting, talk about what your training teaches you about business. If you’re obsessed with a niche hobby, draw parallels between that and your work. Your quirks make you memorable in ways your qualifications never will.
Take public stands
Playing it safe never made anyone stand out. Richardson notes that thought leadership performs well when founders “experiment with their opinions in public.” Have a strong view on something in your industry? Share it unapologetically. You’ll attract the right people and repel those who wouldn’t be a good fit anyway.
The LinkedIn accounts who build the biggest followings aren’t trying to please everyone. They define their territory and own it completely. Say something that might make some people uncomfortable but will deeply resonate with your ideal clients.
Try unexpected formats
Be more out there with how you communicate. “One guy’s top-performing post was literally a poem,” Richardson shares. Your content doesn’t always need to be a standard five-paragraph update. Try stories, dialogues, or even drawings. The format itself becomes part of what makes you memorable.
A quirky story or off-the-wall poll you publish on LinkedIn could get more engagement than your standard advice posts. Watch out for people messaging you saying they’ll never forget you. Different formats make you stand out. Run experiments this week.
Show your real self
The most successful people on LinkedIn aren’t afraid to be human. Richardson points out an unexpected benefit: “The more unhinged you become, the clearer it is that AI was not involved. All that insanity came directly from your brain.”
Real humans are messy, have bad days, make jokes, and share embarrassing stories. Show that side of yourself. The posts where I’ve admitted mistakes or shared uncertainties have always connected more deeply than success stories.
Stop blending in and start standing out on LinkedIn
The parts of yourself you’ve been hiding might be exactly what helps you break through on LinkedIn. As Richardson says, “write yourself a permission slip to have FUN” with your content.
Your uniqueness is your competitive advantage and your ideal clients are looking for someone real. Take a risk today. Post something that feels a little uncomfortable but truly represents who you really are. Your weirdness might just be your winning edge. Be more you.
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