Yep, it’s that time.
New year, new goals, new possibilities.
I get it. I’m feeling all the energy too.
As I’ve settled back into work this January, reconnected with clients after the holiday pause, and taken a moment to look around LinkedIn, I’ve found myself making the same observations. I keep noticing gaps, very fixable ones, for fractional leaders and consultants who say they want to do better on LinkedIn in the year ahead.
I originally started outlining these as a single LinkedIn post. But as the list kept growing, it became clear this needed to be more than quick content that would be gone from the feed in a week.
So here we are.
Below are 8 mistakes you can start fixing today if you want to truly win on LinkedIn in 2026.
1. Unclear Profile Page Elements
Yes, the LinkedIn profile page, from what I see, still needs a lot of work from most people.
Your banner image, headline, and About section matter more than you think. If you focus on anything this year, please start here.
I’m still seeing…
- Blank (see above), default, or landscape photo banner images that don’t fit
- Headlines that don’t clearly state who you help or what problem you solve
- About sections that lead with “me, me, me” language
And seriously, no shame here. When LinkedIn isn’t your full-time focus, these things don’t always stand out.
But they do stand out to the people visiting your profile.
These are some of the most viewed and searched elements on your page. Clear messaging, paired with clean visuals, makes it easier for the right people to understand what you do, and more importantly, why they should reach out.
If your goal is more conversations, clients, or contracts in the year ahead, these elements need your attention this week.
2. Too Much Reposting (and Not Enough Perspective)
Reposting is tempting. When you’re unsure what to say, it feels easier to amplify someone else’s words.
But if you want to be remembered and seen as a thought leader in your field, your perspective needs to be spotlighted more.
Instead of reposting, ask yourself…
- What specifically resonated about this person’s post?
- What story or experience do I have that connects to this idea?
Then create your own post around those realizations. Your audience isn’t following you for recycled takes. They want your lens on the subject and your lived experience account.
That’s what keeps people coming back and engaging with you.
3. AI-Canned Content That Lacks a Human Touch
I’m just going to say it…
Please, don’t expect AI to do the LinkedIn heavy lifting for you.
People can tell when it’s a straight lift. And you should know this by now!
More and more, it’s obvious what’s been shaped by a real human versus what was copied and pasted straight from ChatGPT (or any AI tool). And if the goal is building real connections where trust forms before selling or collaborating, this matters.
Use AI to…
- Spark ideas
- Help structure thoughts
- Tighten edits
But don’t let it replace your voice. That’s the secret sauce that makes you stand out!
When your content sounds generic or overly broad, YOU disappear into the online sea with everyone else.
Because when someone else in your space sounds more real and connected, guess what?
They get remembered.
So don’t hurt yourself using AI in the wrong ways. Be smart, get better at storytelling, and boost your social media engagement with high-quality responses.
4. Not Spending Enough Time Engaging
My clients know what’s coming with this one.
Posting is only half of what it takes to succeed on LinkedIn.
The other half? Engagement.
For whatever time you spend creating, spend 2x that amount engaging.
Ask yourself honestly…
- Are you responding to every comment on your posts?
- Are you sending connection requests to people who view your profile when you see that little notification bell light up, telling you that “Business Founder and X other people viewed your profile”?
- Are you proactively leaving high-quality comments on other people’s posts that new people will read in their networks?
There is so much opportunity here. Skipping engagement means skipping the entire point of the platform.
And this goes beyond LinkedIn, too. The ones who see the biggest results are also getting out into the real world, attending events, meeting people face-to-face, and strengthening relationships offline.
Make sure you have a nice balance between online and offline efforts when it comes to connecting with others.
5. Not Sharing Experiential Posts That Show the Work
AI content is everywhere, and most of us can spot it instantly. We’ve established this.
That’s why sharing real stories and experiences matters more than ever.
One of my top posts in the last 365 days had…
- 2,500+ impressions
- 79+ reactions
- 55 comments
But what the LinkedIn data dashboard doesn’t show?
Seven qualified leads reached out asking about my services.
This post told a story about almost saying no to a speaking engagement that required a two-hour drive. It tagged the client I ended up working with long-term, who met me at the event. It walked through the actual process we followed together, and even included before-and-after screenshots of her optimized profile (shown below)…
Showing the work, the details, and the story helps people picture themselves working with you.
It’s powerful. And that’s what prompts others to reach out.
6. Posting Too Much From the Business Page (and Not Enough From the Founder Page)
I see this all the time. There’s not enough founder-led content happening.
Founders spend more effort posting from the business page than from their personal profile.
And I’m not sure if it’s because it feels more comfortable (and less vulnerable), or they just don’t know how important it is to capitalize on their network (actual people) who want to hear what they have to say.
Now, what I’m not telling you is to ignore your business page. But what I am saying is to prioritize your personal profile page…always.
This is what building a personal brand is all about!
Why? Because people buy from people.
When you open LinkedIn, are you scrolling to see what a business page posted or what people you follow are thinking, building, and working on?
Most of the time, it’s the latter, right?
Your voice, your day-to-day insights, your future plans, these resonate more strongly coming from you. If time is limited, post from your personal profile and tag your business page to build visibility over time.
I promise you’ll see more progress immediately with this strategy.
7. Not Leaving Room for “In-the-Moment” Content
Those who know me well know I’m a planner. I love systems. I always have a Google Doc full of drafted content.
But here’s what I’ve learned….
In-the-moment content often outperforms the carefully planned posts.
My top post last year? Written at a gas station.
The night before, I logged onto LinkedIn to check on a client update, but I got pulled into my feed instead. I congratulated someone on a win. Liked a few posts. Engaged. Smiled.
Sitting in my car the next day, I wrote about it and hit publish.
That post (pictured above) earned…
- 62 reactions
- 35 comments
- 2,700+ impressions
Maybe it was the opening question. Maybe it was the timing. Maybe it was the P.S. about heading to my great aunt’s funeral and remembering that time isn’t promised.
Whatever it was, it worked.
And it’s not the first time I’ve seen spontaneous, honest content shine. Here’s a recent post where the idea struck me on Monday, back from Christmas break, and I just thought it would be somewhat funny and relatable for all the other parents coming back to LinkedIn as well. It seems it was with 100+ reactions, 80+ comments, and 11 profile views!
8. Not Making LinkedIn a Marketing Habit
This is where everything changes.
LinkedIn works best when it becomes a habit, not a one-off effort.
And there’s no single formula. It just depends on your life, your goals, and the season you’re in with your business. But the sooner you treat LinkedIn as part of your regular marketing rhythm, the sooner you’ll see results.
That’s when…
- Relatable posts prompt comments
- Comments turn into DMs
- DMs turn into calls
- Calls turn into “Yes, let’s do this.”
If you want LinkedIn to work for you in 2026, it really does come down to this…
You have to make it a habit.
If you enjoyed this, you’ll enjoy my free newsletter, The Content Cup. Join hundreds of others where I share what’s working on LinkedIn and how to grow on the platform…
