Last month, a colleague posted a simple but personal story on LinkedIn. He talked about a failed project and what he learned from it. Within a day, the counter was at hundreds of likes and dozens of comments. Then I thought about my own post, a list of tips, that barely got any engagement. What did he do differently?
The secret lies in psychology. People respond strongly to stories, emotions and recognizability. If you understand how this works, you can create messages that really have an impact.
The Power of Storytelling
People love stories. Our brain absorbs information better when it is in a story. A good LinkedIn post shares a story that your readers recognize themselves in. This can be anything: a customer case, a personal challenge or an important lesson you learned.
Stories strike a chord. They activate the reader’s empathy and create a connection. This makes your messages stick, and that is exactly what you want on a platform like LinkedIn.
How do you do this?
- Start with a striking opening line that arouses curiosity.
- Keep it short and clear with clear paragraphs.
- Add a visual element, such as a striking image or video.
- End with a question or call-to-action to provoke interaction.
Emotions: the key to engagement
Messages that evoke emotions perform better. Pride, inspiration or even a touch of vulnerability can take your message to the next level. People respond to what moves them. Therefore, do not only share successes, but also the lessons you have learned along the way.
Why emotions work
Emotions activate parts of the brain that drive decisions. They ensure that people keep reading, responding or sharing your message. Pride, hope or curiosity in particular perform well on social media. Think of a customer story that makes you proud or an inspiring goal that you can achieve together with your audience.
Tips for incorporating emotions into your content
- Be authentic: Share a personal story that is close to you. No perfect pictures, but real moments.
- Evoke recognition: Make sure your audience recognizes themselves in your story. This strengthens the bond.
- Use powerful visuals: A photo or video can quickly convey emotion.
- End with a call to action: Ask your audience how they feel or what lessons they learned.
What is social proof?
Social proof is all about the power of social validation. People like to follow the choices of others because it gives them confidence. Think of reviews, testimonials, or statistics such as “90% of our customers recommend us.”
How does urgency work?
Urgency creates the feeling that you have to act quickly or you will miss out on something valuable. Time limits, limited supplies, or exclusive offers are classic examples of urgency.
Combine social proof and urgency in your strategy
- Live statistics: Use widgets that show how many people are currently viewing or using your offer.
- Show social proof: Show how many people are already benefiting from your product or service. For example: “More than 500 customers have already chosen our solution.”
- Use FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Make it clear what people are missing out on if they don’t take action right away. “Only 5 copies left!”
- Combine a positive customer review with a limited-time offer: This strengthens trust and motivates quick action.
Apply psychology cleverly in your LinkedIn strategy
Combine storytelling, emotions and psychological triggers to make your LinkedIn messages more powerful. Make it visual, keep it simple, and don’t forget the human touch!
Want to know how to make your LinkedIn posts irresistible? Contact us!
