Why You Should Start Posting Personal Content on LinkedIN Now

Self-Funded

@SelfFunded

Published: December 10, 2021

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This video provides an in-depth exploration of the evolving landscape of professional networking on LinkedIn, specifically advocating for the strategic inclusion of personal content. The speaker challenges the long-held notion that LinkedIn should be exclusively for business-related posts, arguing that this perspective is outdated and counterproductive in today's professional environment. The core premise is that sharing aspects of one's personal life can significantly accelerate the building of trust and foster deeper connections, ultimately benefiting professional relationships and business development.

The speaker delves into the rationale behind this shift, highlighting two main reasons why the traditional "LinkedIn isn't Facebook" argument is flawed. First, they contend that insisting on purely professional content implies that individuals lack personality or identity outside of their work roles, reducing them to mere cogs in a corporate machine. This view, according to the speaker, is unrealistic and dehumanizing. Second, the video emphasizes the profound impact of the last two years, where remote and hybrid work models have blurred the lines between professional and personal lives. If work has seamlessly integrated into the home environment, the speaker argues, it is only logical and natural for elements of one's personal identity to extend into professional platforms like LinkedIn.

The discussion progresses to underscore the tangible benefits of embracing personal content. By allowing one's personality, family life, and hobbies to shine through, professionals can foster genuine connections that transcend transactional business interactions. This approach is presented as a powerful method for "inverting the prospecting process," where potential clients or partners are drawn to an individual based on a foundational sense of trust and relatability, rather than solely through traditional outbound sales efforts. The speaker provides practical examples of appropriate personal content, such as sharing family photos during holidays or celebrating personal achievements like attending a sports game with a client, contrasting these authentic interactions with the often-ignored, "curated marketing material" that companies ask employees to repost.

Ultimately, the speaker adopts a firm stance, asserting that the intertwining of work and personal lives is an irreversible trend. They dismiss objections to personal posts on LinkedIn as "fabricated anger," suggesting that those who disapprove can simply "keep scrolling." The video concludes with a strong encouragement for professionals to embrace sharing personal aspects of their lives on LinkedIn from time to time, positioning it as a vital strategy for authentic engagement, network expansion, and accelerated trust-building in the modern professional landscape.

Key Takeaways:

  • Challenge Traditional LinkedIn Norms: The video directly refutes the common sentiment that LinkedIn should be strictly for business content, labeling this perspective as "weird" and outdated in the current professional climate.
  • Embrace Personal Identity at Work: The speaker argues that expecting professionals to strip away their personality on LinkedIn is unrealistic and implies a lack of personal identity in the workplace, which is a flawed premise.
  • Acknowledge Blurred Work-Life Boundaries: The shift to remote and hybrid work environments has inherently blended professional and personal lives, making it logical for personal content to appear on professional platforms. If work encroaches on home, personal life can reciprocally enter professional spaces.
  • Accelerate Trust and Connection: Sharing personal aspects is presented as a highly effective method for building genuine trust and rapport with one's network more quickly than purely professional interactions.
  • "Invert the Prospecting Process": A key strategic benefit highlighted is the ability to attract potential buyers and collaborators by first establishing a personal connection and trust, rather than constantly engaging in outbound prospecting.
  • Prioritize Authenticity Over Curated Marketing: The speaker emphasizes that authentic personal posts are far more engaging and memorable than generic, corporate-mandated marketing materials, which often go unnoticed.
  • Examples of Appropriate Personal Content: Acceptable personal content includes sharing family photos during holidays, discussing hobbies, or mentioning personal experiences like attending a sports game, especially if it involves a client.
  • Distinguish from Inappropriate Content: While advocating for personal content, the speaker clarifies that this does not mean posting content suitable for Instagram influencers, such as beach photos in a bathing suit.
  • Dismiss Objections as Fabricated: The speaker suggests that anger or upset over personal posts on LinkedIn is often "fabricated" and that those who dislike such content have the option to simply "keep scrolling."
  • Recognize the Permanent Intertwining of Lives: The video posits that the co-mingling of work and personal lives is a permanent shift, making it natural and beneficial to reflect this reality on professional networking platforms.
  • Actionable Encouragement: The overarching message is a strong recommendation for professionals to "go for it" and periodically share personal content on LinkedIn to enhance their professional presence and connections.