How to Elevate Your LinkedIn Content Beyond the Obvious

In the age of AI, the abundance of obvious content on LinkedIn is inevitable. ChatGPT has set a new standard for online writing, making it easy for anyone to churn out LinkedIn posts in minutes.

Amidst the sea of mundane posts lies an opportunity for those who share valuable insights and genuine human stories.

You may come across posts on LinkedIn that you can conjure up in a mere five minutes—a list of tips or tricks that elicits a collective "duh" from readers.

Take, for instance, a post about 'The 5 AM Morning Routine That Skyrocketed My Productivity'. We've all encountered it before, and its contents are all too familiar:

• Journal
• Get outside for 45 minutes
• Read 15 pages of non-fiction
• Write a clear to-do list for the day

See the pattern? It’s painfully obvious. So, here's a simple litmus test: If you can conceive it in five minutes, it doesn’t belong in your content.

Ironically, many exceptional pieces stem from seemingly mundane ideas. One effective technique for transforming your LinkedIn content is the 'why-why-how' approach.

Step 1: Start with your obvious content

Let's take, for instance, “Crafting an employee training plan.”

Step 2: Ask yourself, “why?”

Why is investing in employee training and development crucial for businesses?

→ Job dissatisfaction and boredom are costing companies real money in lost productivity and engagement.

Step 3: Dig deeper by asking “why is that important?”

Having an invested team is a competitive advantage.

Investing in their development not only improves individual performance but also strengthens the overall organizational capabilities, ensuring long-term viability and competitiveness in the market.

Step 4: Next, ask “how?”

How can businesses design and implement an effective employee training plan?

• What are the specific skill gaps that need addressing?
• Which training methods and resources are most effective?
• What metrics will be used to measure the impact and effectiveness of training?
• How can training programs be tailored to different learning styles and preferences?

Step 5: Personalize

The real challenge lies in capturing people’s interest. You achieve this in two ways:

1. Tell a compelling story: Incorporate context, conflict, ambition, action, and resolution.

2. Infuse your personality: Write like you talk. Use your conversational tone and vocabulary.

The internet is saturated with obvious tips and hacks. What sets you apart is your ability to transcend the obvious.

Pose 'why' and 'how' questions to elevate your LinkedIn content.

Then, weave in personal narratives—stories that have shaped your life or your day.

That’s how you rise above the mundane.