You wrote a killer post. Click publish.
Then… nothing.
No likes. No comments. No reach.
It’s not because your content isn’t good. It’s because you missed the first 60 minutes, the algorithmic filter that decides whether LinkedIn shows your post to 50 people… or 50,000.
We’ve tested this across dozens of posts. What we’ve consistently found: If your post doesn’t get traction in the first hour, it rarely takes off later.
In this guide, you’ll see:
- How LinkedIn decides what gets momentum
- What silently kills your post in that first hour
- A tactical, minute-by-minute checklist to maximize reach
- How Podawaa helps (without triggering spam filters)
How LinkedIn Ranks Your Post in the First Hour
When you hit “Post,” LinkedIn doesn’t show it to your full audience. Instead, it runs a micro test.
Here’s how that test typically works in the first 60 minutes:
0–10 min: The Soft Launch
LinkedIn shows your post to a small sample of your network (less than 10%). It watches for:
→ Early engagement (likes, comments)
→ Dwell time (do people stop scrolling?)
→ Spam signals (e.g. outbound links, generic comments)
If you're aiming to increase reach during this phase, understanding your LinkedIn engagement rate can help you benchmark performance.
10–30 min: The Expansion Test
If your post performs well in the soft launch, LinkedIn expands the reach to more people. You might notice:
→ A surge in impressions
→ People from different regions or job titles engaging
→ A few shares or saves
30–60 min: The Greenlight
This is the decision point. If your post shows:
→ Strong comment-to-like ratio
→ Good dwell time
→ Signs of quality engagement
Then LinkedIn greenlights broader distribution over the next 2–6 hours.
If you’re not sure what kind of content tends to perform well, check out these LinkedIn post examples for inspiration.
What Kills Your LinkedIn Post in the First Hour
If your post fell flat (and you’re wondering why), here’s what might’ve gone wrong:
1. You posted at the wrong time
Timing plays a major role in your post’s visibility. If your audience isn’t online when you publish, LinkedIn assumes the content isn’t relevant, and reach drops quickly.
For B2B audiences, mornings during the workweek (typically between 8–10 a.m. local time) are often the sweet spot.
Posting outside your audience’s active hours can cost you that valuable early engagement window.
Need help with timing? Here’s the best time to post on LinkedIn backed by data.
2. Your hook didn’t stop the scroll
Your post may have valuable insights, but if the opening doesn’t grab attention, users will scroll past it in seconds.
A soft opinion, vague setup, or slow intro can all kill momentum before it starts. Instead, begin with a bold statement, an unexpected stat, or a clear benefit to the reader.
Something that immediately answers, “Why should I care?”
Want better intros? Read this framework on how to write a viral LinkedIn post that gets replies.
3. You ghosted your own post
Publishing and walking away is one of the most common mistakes creators make.
LinkedIn monitors activity in the first 15–30 minutes to determine if a post is worth promoting further.
If you’re not replying to early comments, reacting to feedback, or staying visible, you risk signaling inactivity, and the algorithm takes note. Show up, reply, and guide the conversation.
4. You dropped a link in the post
LinkedIn prefers keeping users on its platform, so adding outbound links directly in your post can limit your visibility. Posts that redirect users to external sites are deprioritized in the feed.
If you need to include a link, add it in the first comment instead; it’s a simple workaround that preserves reach without removing value.
What to Actually Do in the First 60 Minutes After Posting
This isn’t about “hacks.” It’s about doing the right things (at the right time) with intent.
Here’s how to treat your first hour like a launch window:
0–5 Minutes: Prime the Post
Right after publishing, stay online and present. Drop a TL;DR or bonus insight as the first comment to give early viewers something extra to engage with.
If you’re including a link, place it in the comments (not the post) to avoid hurting your reach.
Respond to any comments immediately. These first signals tell LinkedIn your post is alive and worth watching.
Need post ideas fast? Try these ChatGPT prompts for LinkedIn posts.
5–15 Minutes: Light Distribution
Once the post is live and active, gently share it. DM 2–3 trusted peers who might resonate with the content, no mass-spamming here.
You can also share the post in a relevant Slack group or ongoing DM thread.
If you notice a minor typo, feel free to tweak it, but avoid editing the whole post, as that can reset the algorithmic momentum.
15–45 Minutes: Stay Active
This is the time to show LinkedIn (and your audience) that you’re engaged.
Scroll through your feed and leave meaningful comments on a few other posts. Stay visible. Keep responding to any replies on your own post.
Watch how your impressions, saves, and comments are trending; those are stronger signals than likes alone.
Curious what metrics actually matter? Learn more about LinkedIn analytics and metrics.
45–60 Minutes: Reinforce the Post
As you approach the 1-hour mark, help your post go the distance. Drop a second comment with extra context, a follow-up thought, or even a quick summary.
You can also reposition the post slightly for your audience, for example, “If you’re in B2B sales and not tracking this, it matters.”
Asking a simple question is another great way to invite more comments and keep the thread alive.
How Podawaa Helps You Win the First 60 Minutes on LinkedIn
Podawaa is your AI-powered LinkedIn assistant designed to help you get smarter distribution, real engagement, and a head start in the algorithm, all without triggering spam filters.
1. Boost Your Post with a Direct Link
Start by pasting the direct LinkedIn URL into Podawaa. This lets you immediately start pushing visibility to your latest post, no guessing, no delay.
- Just copy your post link
- Paste it into Podawaa
- Hit “Boost this post”
2. Choose the Right Audience for Targeted Reach
Podawaa uses AI or lets you pick your exact audience based on:
- Language: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
- Industry: From Digital Marketing to Finance, Legal, HR, and more
- Profession: Developers, creators, coaches, and more
With industry-specific targeting, your post lands in front of the people most likely to care, which means higher engagement, better comments, and more reach. That’s real personal branding power on LinkedIn.
3. Add Likes (The Smart Way)
Engagement drives visibility, and Podawaa lets you add likes strategically:
1. Choose how many likes: 20 (Free), 50, 100, or up to 250 (Gold)
2. Control the speed:
- Standard delivery: Gradual likes over 12–48 hours
- Super fast: Likes and comments within 1–6 hours (perfect for time-sensitive posts)
This isn’t fake engagement. It’s tactical support to help your content pass the algorithm’s early filters.
4. Add Realistic, Human-Style Comments
Comments matter more than likes, and Podawaa helps you generate or manage them smartly:
- Write your own custom comments
- Choose from a pre-saved list
- Or let AI generate meaningful comments that spark conversation
Early comments = more dwell time = better visibility.
The Algorithm Doesn’t Hate You—It Just Needs Proof
Podawaa helps you build real traction. Making sure the right people see, engage with, and care about your content.
- Post with purpose
- Stay active for the first 60 minutes
- Use Podawaa to maximize visibility, not manufacture it
Add Podawaa to Chrome for Free and stop letting great content go unseen.