LinkedIn's updated analytics now include metrics on how many times a post is privately shared via direct message. This allows marketers to measure the impact of 'dark social' and understand the resonance of content that inspires private recommendations over public engagement.
Related Insights
According to Instagram's CEO, users now share more content via direct messages daily than they post to the public feed. This fundamental shift makes 'shareability' the most critical metric for creators aiming for growth, prioritizing content that compels users to send it to friends.
When a social platform like LinkedIn introduces a new feature, such as "comment impressions," it's a direct signal of what behavior the algorithm will now favor. Prioritizing and testing these new features immediately can lead to outsized reach as you align with the platform's strategic goals.
LinkedIn now shows impression metrics for comments, signaling their importance. Strategically leaving thoughtful, entertaining comments on others' posts can drive more page growth and followers than original feed posts. Treat comments like mini-posts to test content ideas.
Simply posting content and leaving—or 'posting and ghosting'—is ineffective. LinkedIn's algorithm prioritizes posts that generate conversation. Engaging with comments, especially within the first couple of hours, is critical for signaling value and maximizing your content's reach.
Social media algorithms value time spent more than passive engagement like "likes." To increase your visibility with target prospects, engage in back-and-forth conversations in their direct messages. This signals to the algorithm that your relationship is important, making it more likely your content will appear in their feed.
Moving beyond basic attribution, LinkedIn's new Conversion Lift Testing tool measures the causal impact of campaigns. It compares conversions between an ad-exposed group and a control group that saw no ads, allowing marketers to determine the true incremental value generated by their advertising.
LinkedIn shows impressions on comments, allowing marketers to prove ROI. A strategic commenting plan can now be a core part of a content strategy, sometimes yielding more reach than original posts. This shifts focus from just publishing to engaging with others.
When a social media platform like LinkedIn introduces a new feature, such as 'comment impressions,' it's a direct signal to creators about the algorithm's new focus. Early adoption and testing of these features can lead to outsized reach and engagement.
LinkedIn reported double-digit growth in video uploads but notably omitted data on video engagement or watch time. This suggests that while marketers are following the platform's advice to post video, it may not be yielding results. Marketers must analyze what platforms *don't* report.
LinkedIn now lets users see how many people save a post or send it in a private DM. These are strong signals to the platform's algorithm, indicating high-quality content. Focusing on creating content that encourages these actions can significantly boost organic circulation beyond simple likes and comments.
