LinkedIn Content Case Study: My Top-Performing Posts & What Actually Works

Publication Date

September 6, 2024

Summary

I uncovered which posts performed best (and why), what formats LinkedIn actually favors, and how my impressions, reach, and engagement have evolved since I started posting consistently.

My Top 3 Performing LinkedIn Posts

🔥 Hot take: junior copywriters vs. freelancers

54k impressions
34k unique views
340 reactions
75 comments
17 reposts
0.78% engagement rate

😡 Rude Review

31k impressions
19k unique views
174 reactions
160 comments
1 repost
1.05% engagement rate

🤑 How I make $8k/month as a freelance writer

11k impressions
6k unique views
207 reactions
77 comments
4 reposts
2.46% engagement rate

What I Learned From My Data

👶🏻 Early posts get way more reach

My reach in the first month of posting was 5x higher than my average now—especially for valuable, insight-rich posts (not just portfolio updates). If you’re just starting out: take advantage of that early window!

⏰ Scheduled posts do better

To my surprise, posts that were scheduled in advance performed more than 2x better than spontaneous ones.

📢 Controversial wins impressions

Controversial posts dramatically outperformed others in impressions (4,000+ more). Professional tone came second, pulling 1–2k impressions per post.

🖇️ Format matters

Text-only and screenshots brought the most impressions.
Videos had the highest engagement rate—followed by real photos and GIFs.

🔗 Links in the post = more engagement

Posts with no links got the highest impressions. But posts that included external links in the post copy saw the highest engagement (likes, comments, reposts).

🗓️ Fridays are fire

Posts scheduled for Fridays consistently brought in the most impressions and engagement for me. (This might not be universal—but it’s worth testing.)

🎙️ CTAs make a difference

Most engaged CTA? “Listen to my podcast.”
Most effective for reach? Asking people to “comment, like, repost, or vote.”

👀 Awareness content wins

The majority of my content targeted the awareness stage of my sales funnel—and these posts performed the best overall in both impressions and engagement.

Overall Performance Summary

Despite thinking my LinkedIn results had dipped, my data showed that:

I’ve maintained consistent reach and engagement since my second and third months
My follower count grew steadily from 1k in September to nearly 5k today
My posts on LinkedIn perform 5x better than they ever did on Instagram—with 1/14th the effort and 10x the enjoyment

What’s Next?

I’m so glad I’ve invested time and strategy into LinkedIn this year. This data has helped me:

Build a repeatable content library
Improve my posting strategy
Collect real insights I can use in my coaching and services
Create a standout case study for my own LinkedIn content & engagement packages (yep—those are launching soon!)

Special thanks to Elena Galli / The Kind Kind for creating the performance tracker that prompted this whole audit!

FAQ: Tracking & Improving LinkedIn Content

What’s the best way to track LinkedIn post performance?

Use Elena Galli’s LinkedIn Performance Tracker – it’s simple, strategic, and lets you compare post types, formats, and CTAs.

How do I know which LinkedIn content type to double down on?

Look at both impressions and engagement. High impressions = visibility; high engagement = connection. Prioritize what does both.

Do I need to post on LinkedIn every day?

Nope. Consistency matters more than volume. 2–3 high-quality posts per week is a great rhythm.

Should I stop using links in my LinkedIn posts?

No – but be strategic. If engagement is your goal, try including the link in the post copy rather than the comments or as a button.

Looking for something else?

Cancellation Policies