Hey Reader!

You know the one.

Same people liking your posts. Same faces in your feed. Declining impressions.

You’re not imagining it. It’s real. It’s frustrating.

And there’s a reason for it.

But first...what exactly is the LinkedIn vortex?

When you first get started on LinkedIn, you often find other people on the same journey as you. You become each other’s support system - your “reciprocity squad.”

They like and comment on everything you post. You do the same for them. And it feels good! Validation. Engagement. Momentum.

Let me be clear: These people ARE important.
They’re your colleagues. Your referral partners. Your word-of-mouth.
People you vibe with and want to hang out with daily.

They’re also important because your ideal clients probably aren’t active on LinkedIn and even less likely, actively engaging with your posts. (amiright?)

Remember, most people on LinkedIn are lurkers (which is why you need 2 audiences. Check out this newsletter for more info on this.)

They’re watching, but not commenting.

So your reciprocity squad keeps you visible in THEIR networks too. That’s valuable.

But it can also become a problem

You get comfortable.

You stop bringing new people into your orbit.

LinkedIn’s algorithm notices you’re only engaging with the same 10-15 people.

So it stops showing your content to anyone else. Your visibility tanks. You’re stuck in an echo chamber.

I’ve seen groups where people share links to their posts for support. They completely implode once they realize what’s happening.

Because they’re not building real relationships or reaching new people.

They’re just gaming engagement numbers.

How to get out of the vortex

1. New + Deepen

Simple, but engage with new people daily

Example:

Comment on 5 second-degree connections per day (people you’re NOT connected to yet).

Comment on 5 first-degree connections you don’t usually interact with but could deepen that relationship.

Remember: Comments are micro conversations. It’s like popping over to someone’s desk and saying “Hey! How’s it going?”

1. Change your feed settings

Go to your feed and switch from “Top” to “Recent.”

You can even change your settings so it’s always like that (Settings → Preferred feed view).

Warning: You’ll see less of people you know, but way more variety.

I’ll do this for a day or two just to shake things up. Then switch back because not seeing my friends’ posts gets frustrating.

1. Create targeted searches

Use keywords + filters to find your ideal audience.

Bookmark these searches.

Check them daily for new people to engage with.

Here’s a quick Loom video showing exactly how to do this. (Don’t mind the sweaty look, just finished my workout and realized I forgot to record this!)

The big thing to keep in mind

Your reciprocity squad isn’t the problem.
Stopping at just your reciprocity squad is.

Keep them. Love them. Support them.
But also keep bringing new people into your orbit.

That’s how you stay visible. That’s how you grow.

The three tactics above?
They’re all about meeting new people while keeping your squad. You need both.

Until next time,
Natasha

P.S. If you’re deep in the vortex and need help getting out, that’s exactly what we work on in my program. Building a system that keeps bringing new people into your world while deepening relationships with the right ones so that you can actually get clients on LinkedIn instead of just likes. DM me “Vortex” if you’re curious to learn more.