EP #052: The LinkedIn Posting Formula for Maximum Impact

Every day, millions of posts flood LinkedIn—but only a few actually get read, shared, and remembered.

What makes the difference?

A strategic post structure that stops the scroll, grabs attention, and delivers value in a way that resonates.

Here’s the exact formula we use at Executive Presence to create high-performing LinkedIn posts for top CEOs.

The Ideal Post Structure to Stop the Scroll

If your posts aren’t getting engagement, it’s not because of the algorithm. It’s because they aren’t formatted for LinkedIn’s unique attention span.

Here’s the formula that works:

✅ 1. A Strong Hook (First 2 Lines Matter Most)
Your goal? Make people stop scrolling.
📌 Bad Example: “Excited to share some thoughts on leadership today…”
✅ Good Example: “Most CEOs make this mistake on LinkedIn—and it’s costing them clients.”

📝 Pro Tip:

• Use curiosity: “The biggest lesson I learned from failing my first company…”

• Ask a bold question: “Would you trust a leader who never listens?”

• Start with a contrarian take: “Most leadership advice is wrong. Here’s why.”

✅ 2. The Value-Packed Body (Make It Easy to Read)
Once you’ve hooked them, keep them reading with short, skimmable sentences.

💡 What works best?
🔹 Storytelling (a personal lesson, a client transformation, an unexpected insight).
🔹 Actionable advice (something your audience can apply immediately).
🔹 Lessons from experience (not generic advice, but what you’ve personally learned).

❌ What kills engagement?

• Long, dense paragraphs (LinkedIn is not a blog—use spacing!).

• Self-promotional content (Nobody cares about your company unless it benefits them).

• No clear takeaway (Make sure there’s a point!).

📝 Pro Tip: Write like you talk. A conversational tone builds trust and engagement.

✅ 3. Credibility Bullets & Numbers Increase Engagement
People trust numbers more than vague statements.

🚀 Try this:

• Instead of “I’ve helped many CEOs improve their LinkedIn strategy,” say:

  ✅ “I’ve worked with 200+ CEOs, analyzed 25,000 LinkedIn posts, and found a repeatable formula for growth.”

• Instead of “This approach is effective,” say:

  ✅ “CEOs using this strategy see 3x more engagement and 2x more inbound leads.”

📝 Pro Tip: Use numbers, stats, and bold claims early in your post. It builds credibility fast.

✅ 4. A Strong CTA (Call to Action)
Want more engagement? End with an invitation to interact.

📌 Examples:
🔹 Ask a simple question: “What’s the best piece of leadership advice you’ve ever received?”
🔹 Encourage comments: “Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments.”
🔹 Soft CTA: “If you want to go deeper, check out my CEO’s Guide to LinkedIn (link below).”

📝 Pro Tip: More comments = More reach. Make it easy for people to reply.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Posts Work for You

A great LinkedIn post follows this formula for impact:
🎯 Strong hook (stops the scroll)
📖 Clear, skimmable body (keeps them reading)
📊 Credibility bullets & numbers (builds trust)
📢 A strong CTA (drives engagement)

Follow this, and you’ll stand out, build authority, and drive inbound leads.

PS: Know a CEO who should be sharing their knowledge on LinkedIn? Send them this newsletter!

PPS: Are you a CEO who needs support sharing your insights on LinkedIn? That’s what we do for a living… let me know if we can help.

PPPS: Want to go deeper? Check out my CEO’s Guide to LinkedIn. This 83-page PDF contains everything I know about LinkedIn… and it’s 100% free.

— Justin

Justin M. Nassiri | Founder & CEO
M: 650.353.1138 | E: [email protected]
250 Fillmore St Suite 150, Denver, CO 80206
www.ExecutivePresence.io

Executive Presence specializes in helping top-tier executives boost their visibility, activate their network, and position themselves as thought leaders via our premium, fully-managed LinkedIn service.

Our unique process involves ex-McKinsey, BCG, and Bain consultants conducting monthly hour-long interviews with our clients, and turning them into impactful daily LinkedIn posts to establish their unique voice and authority. On average, our clients see a 500% bump in engagement in their first 30 days with us. Data is continuously analyzed to improve engagement and identify impactful messaging that you can use for conferences, podcasts, and internal communications.