Do LinkedIn Pods Work? (Or Are They Principally Embarrassing?)

This previous November, I made a decision to do an experiment. I wished to see if LinkedIn pods truly labored or in the event that they had been only a waste of time.

For these of you who don’t know what a LinkedIn pod is, it’s mainly a bunch of people that agree to love, remark and have interaction with one another’s posts. The idea is that by doing this, your content material will probably be boosted by the LinkedIn algorithm. So, I made a decision to affix a number of pods and try it out for myself.

I’m not essentially a longtime LinkedIn thought chief with 1000’s of followers, however I submit about my writing work on a reasonably common foundation and have even gotten a number of shoppers via LinkedIn. So a number of extra followers and engagements with my posts undoubtedly wouldn’t harm.

Right here’s what I discovered from my expertise with LinkedIn pods.

• Amplify the attain of your content material
• Show you how to get extra engagement in your content material (likes, feedback, shares)
• Provide prolonged networking alternatives
• Have interaction staff to assist your model

The idea is that LinkedIn favors posts with extra engagement, so if you may get extra likes and feedback, your submit will carry out higher.

That is particularly essential as a result of the LinkedIn algorithm divides content material on the platform into three sorts:

1. Spam: Posts with dangerous grammar, too many hashtags, or accounts that submit too continuously could also be marked as spam.
2. Low-quality posts: Posts that don’t observe finest practices, or don’t get sufficient engagement, will probably be labeled “low-quality.”
3. Excessive-quality posts: Posts which can be simple to learn, encourage questions, and incorporate sturdy key phrases will probably be labeled high-quality and, subsequently, will probably be proven to extra customers on LinkedIn.

The query is: is engagement sufficient to make a submit “high-quality” within the eyes of the LinkedIn algorithm? I got down to put this concept to the take a look at.

How you can be part of a LinkedIn pod

There are a few other ways to affix a LinkedIn engagement pod.

First, you can begin your individual pod by creating a bunch message thread with LinkedIn customers you’d wish to pod with. We’ll name this a handbook LinkedIn pod.

Second, you need to use LinkedIn-specific pods, the place you be part of LinkedIn teams targeted on creating pods. Search “LinkedIn pods” or “engagement pods” in your LinkedIn search bar and see which of them relate to your business.

There are additionally third-party apps like lempod particularly constructed for automating LinkedIn engagement pods.

Lastly, LinkedIn pod teams exist on different social media websites. There’s the LinkedIn Progress Hackers pod on Fb and varied different pods on platforms like Telegram.

Methodology

I experimented with all 4 forms of engagement pods to see which of them labored finest. I used a unique LinkedIn submit for every methodology in order that I might precisely monitor any variations in engagement throughout strategies.

Right here’s a breakdown of that course of.

Guide pods: I used a weblog submit on scheduling Instagram reels.

Earlier than the experiment began, I had 12 likes, 487 impressions, 0 shares, and a couple of feedback.

LinkedIn-specific pods: For this methodology, I used a weblog submit I’d shared on recession advertising.

Earlier than the experiment began, I had 5 likes, 189 impressions, 1 share, and a couple of feedback.

Automated LinkedIn pods: I used a submit I wrote for Hootsuite on social media share of voice.

Earlier than the experiment began, I had 2 likes, 191 impressions, 0 shares, and 0 feedback.

Cross-platform LinkedIn pods:

I used to be not capable of be part of any cross-platform pods, so no posts had been used right here.

Guide LinkedIn pod methodology

I began off by making a handbook LinkedIn pod of my very own. I selected a small group of my author associates (as a result of they perceive the analysis course of) to pod up with. I despatched them a fast message outlining the technique and inspired them to work together with one another.

Fortunately, they’re all good sports activities, and I instantly began receiving a barrage of LinkedIn notifications displaying the assist of my friends.

I additionally instantly seen some new (stranger) accounts creeping my LinkedIn profile.

And I even bought this message from a random “LinkedIn” worker (fairly sure this was spam).

That each one occurred in simply a few hours!

LinkedIn-specific pod methodology

I additionally joined a number of LinkedIn group pods targeted on digital advertising and social media.

The variety of members actually diversified in these teams. One had over 1,000,000 members, on the others had only a few dozen. I selected a combination of high-member pods in addition to a number of smaller ones. If self-importance metrics have taught me something, it’s that simply because lots of people are in your circle, it doesn’t imply they’re truly paying consideration.

A few of the pods I discovered in my search had been described as inactive, so I stayed away from these.

Of all of the teams I joined, Recreation of Content material was the one one which appeared to have common posts from different customers.

The principles of GoC had been fairly easy:

There is just one submit ever current within the group, and it’s made by an admin. They repopulate this submit each couple of days so it stays related. Group members can then touch upon the submit with their LinkedIn submit hyperlink and different members are supposed to have interaction with them.

As I went via the weekday submit feedback, I did see numerous folks replying to feedback with phrases like, “Performed! Right here’s my hyperlink.”

Once I clicked via to their posts, I might see likes and feedback from those self same group members.

So, yeah, this was working. A minimum of when it comes to garnering extra likes and feedback.

I went in and adopted swimsuit, participating with posted hyperlinks and commenting with my very own hyperlink after I used to be finished.

And I slowly began to see engagement reciprocated by myself posts.

Automated LinkedIn pods with lempod methodology

I additionally put in the lempod extension on my Google Chrome browser. lempod presents a digital market filled with LinkedIn engagement pods you may be part of.

I joined a number of pods targeted on digital advertising and social media.

The primary one I used to be accepted to was referred to as “Content material + Social Media Advertising and marketing pod”. That appeared related.

I instantly posted the hyperlink to my submit. As soon as I shared the hyperlink, the display opened as much as a giant graph, with an inventory of individuals “Members who will have interaction” and “Members who’ve already engaged.”

I cross-checked the “Members who’ve already engaged” tab with my precise submit.

And, yep. Certain sufficient, these customers had been now proven as new likes on my submit.

Inside only a few minutes, my impressions had grown from 191 to 206. I additionally had six new feedback. I watched this quantity steadily climb over the following hour.

Whereas I used to be seeing numerous engagement, I wasn’t seeing any profile views, direct messages, or anything which may point out these customers had been truly interested by my work.

To not point out, the engagement was coming in quick. Each 45 seconds there was one other notification! Possibly LinkedIn would think about my submit viral? Or, perhaps it will get labeled as spam.

I let the automation run till I noticed that each member of the pod had engaged.

Two hours later, I had 54 likes, 261 impressions and 24 feedback!

Cross-platform LinkedIn pods

I did attempt becoming a member of the “LinkedIn Progress Hackers” group on Fb, however I used to be by no means authorized. It appears this group could also be inactive now. I didn’t discover every other energetic LinkedIn pods to affix on different channels.

Outcomes

TL;DR: At first look, it could appear like the Automated LinkedIn pod was the simplest pod, however I truly suppose it was the Guide pod for causes that I’ll clarify beneath. Both manner, not one of the LinkedIn pods actually made a giant distinction for me or helped develop my presence on the platform considerably.

Maintain studying for extra particulars and context on these outcomes.

Guide pods

This appeared like essentially the most natural, most constant methodology. As a result of I used to be leveraging folks I already knew, the feedback had been genuine, related, and honest.

To not point out, these persons are truly in my business–that means if my posts present up of their feeds to their connections, it’d assist me community additional.

Nothing about this methodology got here off as spammy, although I don’t know the way sensible it’s to ask my associates to do that each week.

Over the course of 1 week, my submit bought:

• 13 likes
• 3 feedback
• 0 shares
• 507 impressions

LinkedIn-specific pods

Whereas this methodology introduced in essentially the most feedback, responses had been obscure and fewer related than these present in my handbook pods. Plus, most of those folks labored outdoors of my business. So, there seemingly isn’t a lot profit to my content material displaying up of their feeds or networks.

After the weeklong experiment, my submit bought:

• 13 likes
• 364 impressions
• 2 shares
• 6 feedback

Automated LinkedIn pods

This methodology definitely introduced in essentially the most likes and feedback. However, I didn’t see any related profile visits, direct messages, or connection requests come via.

Additionally, whereas there have been a variety of new feedback, they had been all just about the identical:

• “Actually cool Hannah!”
• “Nice submit, Hannah!”
• “Thanks for sharing Hannah!”

To me, these obscure feedback sign that none of those customers truly learn my submit (which is smart, contemplating their profiles are being automated).

I can solely think about that different customers may see this and suppose the identical factor. My spam alert is sounding.

After three hours, my submit bought:

• 54 likes
• 24 feedback
• 261 impressions
• 0 shares

Cross-platform LinkedIn pods

I didn’t collect any further engagement from this methodology.

What do the outcomes imply?

Listed below are the primary takeaways from my experiment.

Genuine pods have benefit

There may be definitely some engagement to be gained from utilizing LinkedIn pods. Pods which can be made up of related, genuine connections inside your business can definitely assist to amplify your content material and get you extra views, likes, and feedback.

Spammy pods received’t get you far

However, in case you’re attempting to sport the system by becoming a member of pods which can be full of pretend accounts or which can be unrelated to your business, you’re not going to see a lot profit. So what in case you bought 50, 100, or 200 likes? They don’t imply a lot in the event that they’re coming from accounts that can by no means do enterprise with you.

LinkedIn pods ARE embarrassing

I believe what struck me most about this experiment was the discomfort that got here with having so many unconnected strangers current on my posts. Certain, from a look it appears to be like cool to have 50+ likes, but when anybody took a more in-depth look it will be fairly apparent the engagement was spam.

Simply as I wouldn’t counsel companies purchase their Instagram followers, I wouldn’t counsel they use engagement pods. Possibly, in some circumstances, the place the pod members are hyper-relevant to your area of interest, it’s price it. But when it appears to be like suspicious, likelihood is your viewers will discover. And the very last thing you need is to lose their belief.

Concentrate on shut, related connections

For those who nonetheless need to be part of a LinkedIn pod after studying this, one of the simplest ways to make use of them is to affix ones which can be related to your business and which can be made up of connections you can authentically have interaction with. This fashion, you’re getting focused engagement that may result in precious relationships (and, hopefully, actual clients).

Listed below are a number of ideas for locating the appropriate LinkedIn pods:

• Take a look at teams associated to your business or area of interest. Many of those could have pods related to them.
• Ask trusted connections in the event that they know of any good pods to affix.
• Create your individual pod with a bunch of like-minded people.
• Keep away from overly spammy pods which can be solely targeted on selling content material and never participating in actual conversations.
• Most of all, concentrate on good, previous, natural LinkedIn advertising. Whereas “hacking the algorithm” via pods is interesting, nothing beats placing within the work, one submit at a time.

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