I’m not a big LinkedIn poster. As a solopreneur, most of my networking happens behind the scenes—in DMs, calls, and actual conversations. But when I do scroll, I know exactly what makes me stop and engage… and what makes me cringe. If you’re building a personal brand, you don’t have to overshare every intimate detail of your life to connect with people. In fact, some of the best connections happen off the timeline.
What I Like Seeing on My Feed
1. Work-Adjacent Stories with Personality
Not “let me trauma dump for engagement” stories, but things that shaped how you work or think. If you failed your first business and learned something huge from it, that’s gold. If you’re just venting into the void, not so much.
2. Unexpected Personal Tidbits
You don’t have to be an open book, but tiny details make people remember you. Maybe you always start your day with the same weird coffee order, or you collect vintage typewriters. Random? Sure. But that’s the stuff that makes you human.
3. Lessons Without the Sob Story Setup
If your takeaway is strong, you don’t need to over-explain the backstory. Just get to the point. Less “here’s every painful detail of my past” and more “here’s what I learned from it.”
4. Short Introspectives
I love a “meaning behind” project post that touches on inspiration, challenges, and mindfulness behind how someone approaches and fills a design need and then follows it up with some sick visual *chef’s kiss*
The Real Secret? Networking Beats Posting. Some of my best opportunities haven’t come from posting, they’ve come from actual conversations. Thoughtful comments, DMing someone with a genuine compliment, or just showing up in the right places. Posting is great, but it’s not the only way to build a brand.
What Makes Me Scroll (or Cringe)
1. “It Insists Upon Itself” Posts
You know the ones. The ones that feel like an exclusive club you weren’t invited to. High-brow, gatekeep-y, and so drenched in self-importance that by the time I finish reading, I’m questioning if I’m even cool enough to be here. If your post feels like a TED Talk nobody asked for, maybe dial it down.
2. Lazy AI-Generated Images and Carousels
AI-generated content isn’t the issue—it’s the lazy AI-generated content. The ones where someone typed a generic prompt, hit enter, saved a low-res 72dpi image, threw it in Canva, and now has 1,000 likes for doing the bare minimum. I get it—when AI art first dropped, it was cool. But now? It’s so obvious who actually took the time to craft a great prompt, refine the output, and add their own touch versus who copy-pasted their way to engagement bait. And if you’re using AI for those generic text carousels? Instant distrust.
3. The ‘I’m a Human Being with Flaws’ Posts
Congratulations, you’re human. So is everyone else. If your post is basically just “Look, I make mistakes too! I’m imperfect! I eat pizza on weekends!” I don’t care. Give me actual insights, not a manufactured attempt at relatability.
Share What Feels Right (But Not Everything)
You don’t have to spill your guts to be relatable. The right balance is somewhere between “totally polished corporate robot” and “internet diary oversharer.” Share strategically, network intentionally, and most importantly, post in a way that actually feels like you.
