Hi, Reader,
When people ask me how to grow on LinkedIn, they usually expect to hear about strategy, consistency, and planning.
And yes…don't get me wrong...those things matter.
But recently, I looked back at my analytics over the past 90 days and noticed something interesting.
Two of my top three posts weren’t planned at all.
They were what I’d call in-the-moment posts.
Real moments. Real thoughts. No content calendar involved.
And honestly? That’s exactly why they worked.
The Saturday Caricature Post
My #1 post over the past 90 days came from something completely random.
I was sitting on my couch on a Saturday and started seeing people sharing ChatGPT caricatures of themselves on LinkedIn.
Maybe it was a little FOMO.
So I thought… why not try it?
I typed a simple prompt:
“ChatGPT, with what you know about me, what caricature would you create?”
The first image it generated honestly didn’t look much like me (at least in my opinion).
I laughed. So I posted it to LinkedIn and casually asked others...
“P.S. Have you done this on ChatGPT yet?”
That’s it.
No elaborate strategy.
Just curiosity.
That post ended up reaching 7,850 impressions, with tons of comments and reactions from people sharing their own images. It's actually how I met another LinkedIn expert in Ireland, whom we plan to do a LinkedIn Live in the near future...very exciting!
You just never know who you'll meet as a result of that one single post!
The “Certification of Survival” Post
My third-highest post came from a very different kind of moment.
Right after Christmas break.
During the holidays, both of my kids had the flu with 105-degree fevers. My anxiety was through the roof. And it was a rough stretch.
So the first day they were finally back at school, I sat down at my computer thinking...
I just want to be fun. Don't I deserve some sort of certificate for surviving this? LOL
So I made up my own.
A completely unofficial “16 Days of Christmas Break (With No Actual Break) With Kids," I figured every parent could identify - sick or not sick kids.
And I posted it.
It was me trying to be funny. Hopefully a little relatable. And it was very different from the typical “achievement” posts you see on LinkedIn.
That one still crosses over 3,000 impressions in the last 90 days, right behind a much more planned post.
And I had several conversations in the DMs after that with fractionals and consultants who saw the post, hit connect, and we instantly started chatting about our Christmas experiences with family.
The Lesson in the Data
Here’s what this reminded me of...
Not everything on LinkedIn should be perfectly planned.
In fact, if everything is planned, you may be missing the posts people connect with most.
(Hence my #7 on my 8 Ways to Grow on LinkedIn post that went out last week.)
Because the reality is, people don’t just engage with polished ideas.
They engage with moments.
The moments when...
- You notice something funny
- You learn something unexpectedly
- Something frustrating or chaotic just happened
- Or a random idea hits you while sitting on the couch
Those are the posts that often feel the most human.
And human is what drives conversation.
Why Leaving Room for These Posts Matters
When every post is scheduled weeks in advance, your content can start to feel… predictable.
But LinkedIn isn’t just a publishing platform. It’s a conversation platform.
And conversations often start with things that weren’t planned.
When you allow space for real-time posts, you’re able to react to trends or moments happening right now, share thoughts filled with your personality while they’re fresh, and invite others into the moment with you.
That’s the kind of content people stop scrolling for.
3 Simple Ways to Embrace In-the-Moment Posts
If this feels uncomfortable, I recommend starting small.
- Don’t overthink the format. A simple thought, photo, or question is enough. My top post was much shorter than the majority of my more educational posts.
- Share the moment while it’s happening. The longer you overedit, the more the authenticity disappears. And truly you want that in-the-moment energy to come through. But that falls through the minute you start editing again...and again...and again.
- Ask people to join the conversation. Curiosity drives engagement. “P.S. Have you done this on ChatGPT yet?” got people trying it out, sharing, and talking!
Planning your LinkedIn content is smart.
But leaving a little room for spontaneity might be even smarter.
Because sometimes your best post doesn’t come from the content calendar.
It comes from a random Saturday on the couch…trying something, hitting post, and seeing what your network thinks.
And now to my fun announcement!
This will seriously be fun AND give you the certainty of what to do and how to do it with a very supportive group of people like YOU.
Be ready to get all the resources and accountability you ever needed:)
P.S. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reply now and ask:)
Talk soon,
Find me on LinkedIn, YouTube, or book a 1-on-1 clarity call​
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Columbus, OH