Last week, I joined Darren Saul on the Saul Searching podcast to discuss LinkedIn in 2026 – what is changing, what is working, and where professionals should focus their attention.
You can find the full episode in the links below.
In the meantime, here are just some of what we discussed:
From Profile to Professional Presence
LinkedIn has moved well beyond being a digital resume. It is now a dynamic professional platform where your presence is shaped not only by your profile, but by your ongoing activity.
For many years, the focus was on building a strong profile. Your headline, summary, and experience sections were the priority. While this remains important, it is no longer enough. Having a well-optimised profile is now the baseline.
What differentiates professionals today is how they show up beyond their profile. When someone looks you up, they are not only reviewing your experience. They are also looking at your content. They are assessing how you think, what you contribute to your industry, and whether you are active and engaged.
The Shift Towards Relevance
Another key change is how LinkedIn is prioritising content – you can read more about that here – Engineering the next generation of LinkedIn’s Feed.
Historically, visibility was largely driven by your network. Today, it is increasingly influenced by relevance. This includes alignment between your profile, your content, and the audience engaging with it.
When these elements are aligned, your content is more likely to be seen. When they are not, visibility is reduced.
This is why niche content is becoming more effective. Broad, generalised posts are being replaced by more targeted, audience-specific content. Content designed for a clearly defined group will consistently outperform content aimed at everyone.
Navigating Increased Content Volume
There is now more content on LinkedIn than ever before. AI has made content creation more accessible, which has led to a significant increase in activity across the platform.
While this has enabled more participation, it has also created a level of uniformity. As a result, differentiation now comes from clarity, specificity, and perspective.
Effective content is clearly connected to your expertise, relevant to your audience, and reflective of your professional experience. It does not need to be complex, but it does need to be considered.
What Is Working Right Now
Several patterns are emerging in terms of what is performing well on LinkedIn.
Niche content is gaining stronger engagement because it signals relevance. Experience-led content is resonating because it reflects real-world application. Formats that retain attention, including longer-form posts, carousels, and video, are performing well because they keep users on the platform.
LinkedIn newsletters are also becoming increasingly valuable. They provide a way to build a subscribed audience and communicate directly with those who have chosen to engage with your content.
Consistency remains more important than volume. Sustainable, regular activity contributes more to long-term visibility than sporadic posting.
What to Ignore
There is no shortage of advice on LinkedIn, particularly around tactics, features, and perceived shortcuts.
However, there is no single approach that works for everyone. The most effective strategies are based on strategy.
Every action on LinkedIn should support that direction. If a tactic does not align with your broader goals, it is unlikely to deliver meaningful results. Avoid becoming distracted by trends or quick-win approaches that do not support your overall positioning.
Final Thought
LinkedIn in 2026 is about being more relevant.
Ensuring that your profile, your content, and your communication are aligned. Contributing in a way that reflects your expertise and experience. Building visibility that supports your broader professional goals.
In a platform that is becoming more crowded, relevance and clarity will determine who is seen, and who is remembered.
Kylie Chown is a LinkedIn and social media strategist who helps professionals, teams and organisations turn visibility into a team effort. With over 15 years’ experience and more than 450 workshops delivered across Australia and beyond, she helps professionals, leaders and teams build LinkedIn strategies that achieve commercial outcomes. You can learn more here.