Here's how I ensure my LinkedIn posts are not cringy

LinkedIn posts are mocked for being cringy, tone-deaf, and overly personal. I use these four simple guidelines to keep my posts on track.

I've posted on LinkedIn for over 700 days.

When I first started writing daily, I read extensively about best practices and tips from experts. I don't know about you, but it sure gets complicated. And exhausting.

Eventually, everything coalesced into these four guidelines for me.

I write for myself

Who are you writing for?

• Recruiters.
• Customers.
• The bosses.
• Industry peers.

One problem is "context collapse," when a different audience reads a post meant for another group - and the context comes out all wrong.

I get around most of these pitfalls by simply writing for myself.

The idea? Write something that I would love to read. And re-read. Naturally, this means rants and self-congratulatory messages are an automatic no-no.

Does it add value?

I made a decision right from the start to only write posts that either:

• Educate,
• is insightful or
• thought-provoking.

Preferably all of them, if possible.

If not? Why, I don't write it.

Taking stance

Life is inherently divisive. Trying to please everyone often means saying nothing at all. That's why I take a position on issues.

Even so, I constantly ask myself:

• Are sources credible?
• Is the post written fairly?
• Information properly attributed?

And finally, if I can't say the same thing in your face, then it's probably not appropriate to publish it for everyone to read.

Don't worry about metrics

Everyone's fixated on metrics, either impressions or engagements. The result? Inappropriate jokes, oversharing, or sensationalised hooks to get people clicking.

My advice? Forget the metrics and just let your ideas shine.

Instead, I ask myself:

• Is it well-written?
• Is the hook compelling?
• Does it flow smoothly to the end?

Yes, I use AI. But only to speed up and improve my writing, not to regurgitate everything or tell you the same thing 10 different ways.

What about you? What simple strategies do you adhere to on LinkedIn?