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LinkedIn: Stay Visible with Networking & Posts
LinkedIn: Stay Visible with Networking & Posts
Part 4 of 4 in the LinkedIn Optimization Series
Series: Part 1: Get Found | Part 2: Tell Your Story | Part 3: Build Proof | [Part 4: Stay Visible]
You've optimized your profile for search. You've crafted a compelling story. You've backed it up with skills and recommendations. Now comes the part most people skip: staying visible.
A perfect profile that sits dormant is like a storefront with the lights off. LinkedIn rewards activity. The more you engage, the more you appear in searches and feeds. And the more visible you are, the more opportunities find you.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: 70-85% of roles are filled through networking. Many positions are never posted publicly—they're shared through internal referrals and recommendations. A referral can move your application from a pile of 500 to the top 10 considered in under 24 hours.
This isn't about being pushy. It's about being present.
The PEAR Framework: Who to Connect With
When building your network, think PEAR:
| Letter | Category | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| P | Peers | Developers a step ahead of you, people at target companies |
| E | Employers | Hiring managers, recruiters at companies you're interested in |
| A | Alumni | Boot camp graduates, university alumni, former colleagues |
| R | Relevant Communities | Meetup organizers, Discord/Slack members, open source contributors |
The Personalization Formula
Generic connection requests get ignored. Personalized ones get accepted.
Formula: Context + Relevance + Small Ask
Example
> "Hi Kai, fellow TechJoy alum here. Saw your work on [specific project]. Would love to connect and follow your updates."
Why It Works
- Shows you're not mass-messaging
- Creates immediate common ground
- Makes it easy to say yes
What to Avoid
- Generic messages: "I'd like to add you to my professional network"
- Asking for referrals before building rapport
- Walls of text
Nurturing Relationships: The Long Game
The strongest networks come from relationships that feel natural, human, and mutually supportive. Think of it like watering a plant—small check-ins keep the connection alive.
Four Principles
- Consistency - Small touchpoints every few months
- Curiosity - Ask about their work, not just what you need
- Gratitude - A simple thank-you goes far
- Value sharing - Share something useful without expecting anything back
Check-In Templates (Non-Transactional)
Context-based:
> "Hi Jordan, I just saw an article about UX design trends and it reminded me of the conversation we had. How have things been on your end?"
Curiosity-driven:
> "Hi Sam, I remember you mentioned starting a new role around the time we last spoke. How has that transition been?"
After a milestone:
> "Hey Chris, congrats on your 2-year anniversary at Company X. How has your role grown since you started?"
After they posted something:
> "Hi Taylor, I really enjoyed that post on AI trends. What's been the most surprising change you've seen so far?"
What to Avoid
- "Hi, I'm job hunting and wondered if you'd know of any openings."
- "Hey, we haven't talked in a while. Can you refer me?"
- "Do you have 15 minutes for a call?" (without context)
The Coffee Chat Approach
Reaching out to people at target companies for virtual coffee chats has proven highly effective.
What Happens
- Some people accept and have great conversations
- Some can't meet but offer to answer questions via message
- Some don't respond (that's okay)
Questions to Ask
- What do you enjoy most about working there?
- What skills matter most for roles like this?
- How has your role evolved since you started?
- What surprised you about the company or industry?
After the Chat
Keep in touch. Congratulate them on milestones. Check in when they change jobs. The people who helped you once are likely to help again.
Messaging & Cold Outreach
In 2025, short beats long. Hiring managers and recruiters skim messages on their phones between meetings. Your message needs to be readable in 15-20 seconds.
The 3-1-1 Formula
- 3 words of context ("Fellow TechJoy alum", "Saw your talk")
- 1 line specific about them
- 1 micro ask
The TACO Close
Tiny Ask, Clear Outcome
- "Could you share one suggestion on...?"
- "Is it worth applying for X, or is Y a better fit?"
- "If there's a better contact, happy to reach out."
Example Messages
To an alum:
> "Hello, fellow TechJoy alum here. I saw your post about onboarding developers. One quick question: if you had to pick between Spring Boot and Flask for AI-focused projects, which would you suggest?"
To a hiring manager (after applying):
> "Hi Priya, I applied to the full-stack role on Monday. Two strengths I'd bring: designing REST APIs and building low-code solutions. Would a quick note on your top success criteria help me tailor my examples?"
To a recruiter:
> "Hi Taylor, I'm a full-stack developer with Python, React, and low-code experience. Based in [city], open to hybrid or remote. If you're open, is there one opportunity I should have on my radar this week?"
Follow-Up Sequence
| Day | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Initial connection note |
| Day 3 | First follow-up ("Bumping this in case it was buried...") |
| Day 7 | Value-add note (share a relevant article) |
| Day 14 | Graceful close ("Closing the loop so I don't crowd your inbox...") |
Posting: Show Your Work
Posting makes you visible to people beyond your immediate network. Recruiters often find candidates through their posts and comments.
Frequency
2-3 times per week is the sweet spot—visible without oversharing.
Post Types That Work
Learning journey posts:
> What you're coding, building, or struggling with
Project work with insight:
> Not just "I made this" but "Here's what I made and why it matters"
Industry commentary:
> Your reaction to AI trends, tech news, hiring changes
Gratitude posts:
> Shout out to mentors, teammates, or people who helped
Post Structure
- Hook line - Draws people in (only a preview shows before "see more")
- Body (3-5 sentences) - What you're working on, why it matters, what you learned
- Call to action - Ask a question, invite comments, share gratitude
Example Post
> "This week I built my first full-stack project at TechJoy Academy. It challenged me to think about user flows and debugging in new ways. I learned that breaking problems into smaller parts makes solutions faster and cleaner. Curious how others approach debugging when they're stuck on code."
Commenting: Add Value Every Time
Comments put you directly on recruiters' and hiring managers' radar. They care about what you think.
Don't Write
> "Great post!"
Do Write
> "This is spot on. I've been applying this in my projects by [specific example]."
Strong Comment Starters
- "This aligns with what I've been seeing in my projects."
- "I agree with your point on [X]. In my experience, [Y] has also been important."
- "Thanks for sharing. I've been exploring similar approaches in my coding journey."
The Comment → DM Strategy
- Comment on someone's post
- Follow up with a DM referencing your comment
- The DM feels warmer because you've already engaged
Hashtag Strategy
Hashtags categorize your posts, expand visibility, and signal keywords to recruiters.
Best Practices
- Use 3-5 hashtags max
- Mix broad and niche tags
- Check activity before using (inactive hashtags won't help)
Example Hashtags
- #FullStackDeveloper
- #OpenToWork
- #React
- #AI
- #CareerGrowth
- #TechHiring
- #WomenWhoCode
Following Companies
When you follow a company, your interest shows up in recruiter searches. This signals that you're interested in their organization—even before you apply.
Follow:
- Target companies you want to work for
- Companies where people in your network work
- Companies posting about topics you care about
Time Investment
10-15 minutes a day is enough to stay visible.
- Scroll your feed
- Comment on 1-2 posts
- Post 2-3 times per week
- Send a few connection requests
Key Takeaways
- 70-85% of roles are filled through networking
- PEAR framework - Connect with Peers, Employers, Alumni, Relevant communities
- Personalization formula - Context + Relevance + Small Ask
- Nurture relationships - Consistency, curiosity, gratitude, value sharing
- Coffee chats work - Ask questions, follow up, stay in touch
- Short messages win - 3-1-1 formula, TACO close, 15-20 seconds to read
- Post 2-3 times weekly - Learning journey, projects, industry commentary
- Add value in comments - No "great post"
- Use 3-5 hashtags - Mix broad and niche
- Follow target companies - Signals interest to recruiters
- 10-15 minutes daily - Consistency > perfection
Your Action Items
- Identify 5 people using the PEAR framework to connect with this week
- Send personalized connection requests (Context + Relevance + Small Ask)
- Send one genuine check-in to an existing connection
- Comment on 2 posts in your feed this week (add value, not just "great post")
- Write your first post—or your next one
- Follow 3 target companies
- Set a daily reminder: 10-15 minutes of LinkedIn engagement
This series is based on career coaching from Chelsea Scott, adapted for SpokeToWork.com.
Previous: Part 3: Build Proof—Skills, Projects & Recommendations
Series Complete
You've now covered the complete LinkedIn optimization playbook:
- Get Found - How recruiters search and how to show up
- Tell Your Story - Headline, About, and Experience that connect
- Build Proof - Skills, projects, and recommendations that validate
- Stay Visible - Networking and engagement that keep you top of mind
The goal isn't perfection—it's presence.
Have questions? Check out our other guides or reach out through the contact page.
