Reposted with permission from JoAnne Funch Consulting. Read original post
Introduction
Standing out on LinkedIn® is not about being louder or posting more often. In fact, many professionals are doing exactly that and still struggling to gain traction.
LinkedIn® has changed. The platform now rewards clarity, relevance, and consistent participation in the right conversations. Your visibility is shaped just as much by how you engage as by what you post, and LinkedIn’s analytics give you important clues about whether your efforts are working.
If you want to stand out in 2026, you need to understand how LinkedIn® surfaces your profile, how your content and comments contribute to discovery, and how to use analytics to guide smarter decisions instead of guessing.
If you want a deeper look at how the platform has evolved from 2025, I break this down in more detail in my blog post on How to use LinkedIn in 2026: New Rules, New Strategies to Stay Visible.
Key Takeaways
- Standing out on LinkedIn® comes from clarity and consistency, not volume
- Posting and commenting work together to increase visibility
- Profile Appearances reveal how and where you are being discovered
- Weekly analytics review helps you stay aligned with what LinkedIn rewards
- Small adjustments can significantly improve discoverability over time
What It Really Means to Stand Out on LinkedIn®
Standing out does not mean being everywhere. It means being recognizable for something specific.
LinkedIn® now operates more like a discovery engine than a traditional social network. The platform pays attention to:
- What topics you post about
- What conversations you engage in
- How consistently you show up in those areas
- How others respond to your content and comments
When your activity sends clear signals about your expertise, LinkedIn is more likely to surface your profile and content to the right people.
Posting Is Only Half the Strategy
Posting valuable content is important, but it is not enough on its own. To increase LinkedIn visibility you want to include:
Strong posts typically:
- Answer real questions
- Clarify common challenges
- Share insight from experience
- Help someone make a decision
However, even great content benefits from active participation elsewhere on the platform. LinkedIn evaluates your overall behavior, not just your posts.
If you post but never engage, your visibility will be limited.
Why Commenting and Engagement Matter So Much
Thoughtful commenting is one of the most overlooked ways to stand out on LinkedIn®.
When you leave meaningful comments, you:
- Appear in more feeds (see the image below)
- Increase Profile Appearances
- Reinforce your topic authority
- Drive profile visits
- Build familiarity and trust
Comments act like micro posts. In many cases, they are seen by more people than your own content, especially when you engage with relevant people in your space. So it makes sense to comment on post of people you want to stay top of mind with, industry people and prospects that could benefit from your expertise.
A simple structure that works well is:
- Add your insight
- Ask a thoughtful question
- Anchor the comment with a takeaway you gained
This kind of engagement signals expertise and encourages conversation.
Why You Should Review Analytics Weekly
Many professionals look at LinkedIn analytics occasionally or not at all. That is a missed opportunity.
A weekly check allows you to:
- Spot trends early
- Understand what topics resonate
- Adjust before momentum is lost
- Stay aligned with how LinkedIn is surfacing your profile
You do not need to analyze everything. Focus on the metrics that reflect discovery and interest.
Understanding Your Profile Appearances
One of the most important metrics to watch is Profile Appearances.
What are Profile Appearances?
Profile appearances refer to how often your name and headline show up across LinkedIn. This can happen in several places, including:
- Search results
- Posts appearing in others’ feeds – You can see from the image above that I was found 57% of the time from my posts.
- Comments on posts – you can see from the image above that I’m being found 30.7% from the comments
- Network recommendations such as People You May Know
The more frequently your profile appears, the more visible you are on the platform. Increased visibility creates more opportunities for connection, conversation, and inbound interest just as it has for me as I see from the profile appearance report I am referencing in the image above.
Profile Appearances vs Profile Views
Profile appearances and profile views are related but not the same.
- Profile appearances show how often LinkedIn is surfacing you
- Profile views show how often someone clicks through to learn more
Appearances tell you whether you are being discovered.
Views tell you whether people are interested enough to take a closer look.
NOTE: If you have a free LinkedIn account, Who’s Viewed Your Profile over the last 90 days (shows five most recent viewers if your profile viewing option is set to display name & headline) If you have a Premium Business or Career account you can see up to 365 days of viewer data.
Both LinkedIn profile appearances and profile views matter, but appearances are the leading indicator. If appearances are low, it is a sign that your posting, engagement, or positioning needs adjustment.
How to Improve Profile Appearances
To increase profile appearances, focus on:
- Posting about consistent topics
- Commenting thoughtfully in relevant conversations
- Clarifying your headline and About section to build your personal brand on LinkedIn
- Staying active in one or two expertise lanes
- Reviewing analytics weekly and making small tweaks
Standing out happens gradually. LinkedIn® rewards patterns over time, not one-off activity.
Want to Go Deeper?
For a more complete breakdown of how LinkedIn® discovery, engagement, and visibility work in 2026, you can download a copy of my newest digital guide:
Author: JoAnne Funch
Founder, specializing in LinkedIn® for business.
Joanne is recognized as a leading authority on LinkedIn®, helping professionals turn the platform into a powerful relationship-building and business growth tool. As founder of JoAnne Funch Consulting, she has guided thousands of executives to business owners since 2008. With a 20+ year marketing background, JoAnne brings a practical, client-focused approach that blends visibility, strategic content, and authentic connection to help individuals and organizations gain visibility and build influence on LinkedIn®.