There’s a trend of people posting sob stories and blatant engagement bait on LinkedIn.
It works in the short term, but it’s not the kind of personal content you should be aiming for.
In the long run it damages your credibility.
Let’s shift the way we think about personal content. It doesn’t mean pimping out your kids or posting your lunch.
Professionally Personal
The sweet spot is content that’s professionally personal.
Not slick marketing content you’ve carefully crafted, but simple observations.
What you’re up to. What you think about what’s happening in your industry. Not heavy duty thought leadership, more like short notes. The kind of quick conversation you’d have with someone in person.
If you go to a conference, share that you went and some highlights.
It doesn’t need to be preachy or have any major lessons. Just your thoughts and reflections.
This kind of content feels authentic because it is. It builds connection without trying too hard.
Why Human Imagery Performs Better
You’ve probably noticed that selfies and real photos tend to outperform graphics and stock imagery.
This isn’t the algorithm favouring personal content.
It’s human nature.
We’re wired for connection.
When we see imagery that looks “real” we’re drawn to it. It triggers curiosity.
A face in a photo stops the scroll because our brains are built to pay attention to other humans.
Stock photos and overly designed graphics don’t have that effect.
They feel like marketing, and people scroll past marketing.
Finding the Balance
You don’t need to choose between personal and business content.
The best approach is a mix.
Share your observations and experiences.
Show the human behind the business.
But stay relevant to your audience and your expertise.
Personal content that has nothing to do with what you do won’t help you attract the right people.
Professionally personal means being human while staying on topic.
TL;DR
Personal content works well on LinkedIn, but not the sob stories and engagement bait you see everywhere.
Aim for professionally personal.
Simple observations, thoughts on your industry, quick reflections.
The stuff you’d say in a real conversation.
Human imagery outperforms stock photos because we’re wired to connect with real people.
You don’t need to choose between personal and business.
Blend both, stay relevant, and be human.