If your LinkedIn feed feels cluttered with irrelevant posts and you struggle to find useful content, it’s time to enhance your experience by customizing your LinkedIn feed. Unlike many social platforms, LinkedIn’s algorithm prioritizes serving you the most relevant content tailored to your preferences and professional goals.
1. Follow and Unfollow Users
The most straightforward way to refine your LinkedIn feed is by being selective about whom you follow. Focus on connecting with users and brands that align with your professional interests. This approach not only optimizes your job prospects but also surrounds you with a network of like-minded professionals.
To streamline your feed, unfollow users who consistently share irrelevant content. You can do this directly from your feed by clicking on the three dots on a post and selecting Unfollow. If a user is exceptionally bothersome, you have the option to block them entirely. All instructions herein will pertain to the desktop version of LinkedIn.
For bulk unfollowing, consider visiting your Following screen. Click on My Network, then Following and followers, and proceed to Following next to any user you wish to unfollow.
2. Boost Your Engagement
Do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling through LinkedIn without interacting? LinkedIn’s algorithm requires your engagement to accurately comprehend what types of content you prefer. If you refrain from liking, sharing, or commenting, you’ll be limited to posts from those you follow and their interactions.
Start actively engaging with content that resonates with you. Your feed will gradually shift to reflect your interests more closely, and your interactions will help you connect with a broader network.
3. Indicate When You’re Not Interested
Even with a curated list of followers, there may be times when you’re not captivated by every post they share. To refine your feed even further, you can inform LinkedIn when you are not interested in specific content. Simply click on the three dots above a post and select Not Interested, providing the reasoning from the list that appears. Generally, I select that I’m uninterested in the topic to continue seeing other posts from that user without their less relevant content cluttering my feed.
This action is particularly useful for Suggested posts that LinkedIn shows outside your direct network.
4. Disconnect From Non-Promising Users
A prevalent misconception on LinkedIn is that connections and followers are interchangeable. Connections are those whom you are directly connected with, akin to friends on Facebook, requiring mutual consent for approval.
While you can follow anyone, connecting means you are also following them. If you wish to eliminate users from your network, navigate to their profile, click More -> Remove connection, or manage your connections through My Network -> Connections by clicking the three dots beside a name and selecting Remove Connection.
This process is particularly helpful when nearing LinkedIn’s connection limit.
5. Join and Participate in Groups
To enhance your feed’s relevance, consider joining LinkedIn groups that align with your professional interests. Engaging in discussions within these groups signals to LinkedIn what topics matter to you, resulting in a more personalized feed. After becoming active in only a few groups, I witnessed significant changes in the content I encountered.
Active participation also aids in making new connections and expanding your network. Remember to select groups that genuinely interest you, as you can belong to a maximum of 100 at any time.
6. Customize Your Feed Preferences
Social media platforms often sort feeds based on perceived relevance, which may obscure timely posts from less popular users. By default, LinkedIn favors the “Most Relevant” sorting. If you prefer seeing content in chronological order, go to your profile icon in the upper right corner, click on Settings & Privacy, and then select Preferred feed view under the Account preferences section.
Here, you can easily adjust your viewing preference, and your choice is saved immediately.
7. Share Content You Care About
One of the easiest methods to tailor your LinkedIn feed is to contribute content that reflects your interests. If you’re passionate about AI development, for example, begin sharing updates or inquiries to spark discussions around this topic. LinkedIn’s algorithms will analyze the keywords in your posts, determining what type of content you want to see in return.
8. Enhance Your Profile
Your LinkedIn profile serves not only as your professional identity but also as a basis for the content LinkedIn suggests to you. Ensure that your profile is up to date, highlighting your skills and past experiences effectively. A well-optimized profile attracts engaging connections and job opportunities, ultimately influencing the quality of your feed.
9. Engage in Courses
This premium option for feed customization isn’t available to everyone, but if your employer provides access to LinkedIn Learning, take advantage of it. Enrolling in courses relevant to your career ambitions improves both your competencies and the recommendations LinkedIn produces for you in terms of content and connections.
Remember, achieving a tailored LinkedIn feed can take several weeks to a month, so regularly reassess and refine your actions to maintain the relevance of your experience. For those also engaging with platforms like YouTube, consider applying similar optimization techniques to your recommendations there as well.
Image credit: Unsplash. All screenshots by Crystal Crowder.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know which users to follow or unfollow on LinkedIn?
To decide who to follow, consider their relevance to your industry and professional interests. Regularly review your feed and unfollow people who share content that doesn’t align with your goals.
2. Why is engagement important for customizing my LinkedIn feed?
Engaging with posts helps LinkedIn’s algorithm understand your interests better. The more you interact, the more tailored your feed will be to showcase relevant content and connections.
3. Can joining groups really impact the content I see on my LinkedIn feed?
Absolutely! Participating in groups signals to LinkedIn what topics you care about, leading to a more customized feed filled with content that matches your interests and drives professional discussions.
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