The secret sauce behind LinkedIn’s top 1% creators

October 6, 2025
By
Lach Bradford

It’s not about being smarter. It’s about playing the platform better.

Everyone on LinkedIn thinks they’re dropping thought leadership gold.

But only a tiny fraction break into the top 1% — the ones whose posts flood your feed, rack up thousands of comments, and somehow make people care about SaaS tools or supply chains.

Here’s what they’re doing differently (and no, it’s not just “post more”).

1. They post every. single. day.

Consistency isn’t optional. Top creators know the algorithm rewards frequency — even if half their posts flop.

Because here’s the secret: the flops don’t matter. The misses train the algorithm, keep you top of mind, and set up the hits. If you post once a week, you’re basically invisible. The top 1% show up daily, so the odds stack in their favour.

2. They write for skim-readers, not scholars

LinkedIn isn’t Medium. Nobody’s reading a 2,000-word essay during their morning scroll.

Top creators write in punchy lines, with spacing that gives your eyes a break. They use hooks like headlines, not introductions. They know most people read on mobile — which means if it’s not clear in 2 seconds, it’s gone.

Think snackable, not academic.

3. They know their one big story

The best creators aren’t spraying 50 different takes. They hammer one story, one POV, one message until it sticks.

Maybe it’s “remote work is broken.” Maybe it’s “community beats ads.” Maybe it’s “AI isn’t replacing jobs, it’s replacing tasks.”

Whatever it is, they repeat it in endless angles — case studies, personal anecdotes, hot takes — until you can’t forget it.

Repetition builds recognition. Recognition builds brand.

4. They treat comments like a second post

The real pros know comments are not admin — they’re distribution.

Scroll through their replies and you’ll see mini-stories, jokes, or spicier takes than the original post. Comments push their content back into the feed, show personality, and create loyalty.

For top creators, the post is just Act One. The comment section is where the community forms.

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5. They embrace “cringe” before it’s cool

You know those posts that feel a little awkward? The ones you screenshot and send to a friend like, “lol, LinkedIn is wild”?

That’s exactly the point. The top 1% are early adopters of trends and formats that feel uncomfortable at first — voice notes, carousel memes, hyper-personal stories.

By the time everyone else catches up, they’ve already set the tone.

6. They don’t outsource their voice

Ghostwriting is everywhere on LinkedIn. But you can smell it.

The best creators write like they talk. Imperfect grammar. Odd turns of phrase. In-jokes. Humanity. That’s why they connect — because it feels like them, not a PR intern.

The top 1% might get help with editing, but the voice? That’s theirs.

7. They play the long game

This isn’t about one viral banger. It’s about years of consistent posting that build a compounding advantage.

Every post adds another layer to their reputation. Every comment, every DM, every share cements their spot.

That’s why when opportunities pop up — speaking gigs, client deals, partnerships — they’re the obvious choice. The brand is already built.

8. They package value, not just opinions

Another trick? The best creators don’t just post “thoughts.” They package value.

Templates, swipe files, quick frameworks, “do this, not that” breakdowns. Even if they’re sharing an opinion, it comes with something actionable the reader can use.

It’s not about being the smartest person in the feed. It’s about being the most useful.

9. They build off-platform ecosystems

Here’s the kicker: LinkedIn isn’t the endgame.

The top 1% use the platform to funnel people into newsletters, podcasts, Slack groups, or communities they own. That’s where they monetise and deepen the relationship.

LinkedIn is just the discovery engine. The real play is off-platform.

The takeaway: The secret sauce isn’t genius ideas. It’s consistency, clarity, and showing up like a human being.

The people winning on LinkedIn aren’t the smartest in the room — they’re the ones brave enough to hit “post” every day, and they’re playing the platform, not just hoping it plays them.

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