What happens when you go viral on LinkedIn?
- Claire Baker
- Dec 25, 2025
- 2 min read
So you've gone viral on LinkedIn. Woohoo!
Be warned...
The LinkedIn algorithm is about to take you on a ride straight into the Valley of Death.
LinkedIn has a ~30 day refractory period after a high-performing post. Here's how it works:
1️⃣ Your post strikes a nerve. Everyone who sees it wants to to "...see more."
They click. They react. They comment. They reply to others' comments.
2️⃣ LinkedIn starts showing the post to more random people. People with no connection to you or your industry.
They see your irresistible hook. They see that their friend has commented. They can't resist either. It catches on like wildfire.
3️⃣ You're on top of the world. Your ship has finally come in. More people have seen your post than live in Boulder, Colorado and they all love you.
Move over, Taylor Swift, there's a new game in town. You start planning your brand as a Thought Leader. Will Oprah come out of retirement to interview you?
4️⃣ LinkedIn shows more of your brilliant stuff to those 3rd, 4th, 5th degree connections. Because these randos aren't in your industry, the message doesn't resonate.
They don't recognize your name or know your your personality. They scroll past. A hundred thousand people ignore you.
5️⃣ As your banger post fades into history, it fades in the algorithm as well.
That post that got 80% engagement is now being outweighed by the dozen other posts LinkedIn showed to the wrong people that are now getting 0.000001% engagement.
6️⃣ LinkedIn decides, "No one likes this loser's content." It stops even showing it to your mom.
Each time you post something, LinkedIn tests it out with some rando. If they don't engage, it's dead. You continue cranking out the most brilliant content known to man, but it's like shouting into the void.
8️⃣ Your reach drops, and then your engagement drops, further suppressing you in the algorithm.
You have to re-build your following as if it's your first week on LinkedIn.
9️⃣ You build again.
It takes time to build enough of a following to not pass through the Valley of Death. You need enough people who know your name, your brand, your style to raise the valley floor. It takes about as much time and effort as training a dog to sort your laundry.
Just remember, you're not getting paid for this. Your post resonated because you know your stuff and you're very good at what you do. Keep doing that. If you want, keep posting about it on LinkedIn.
Or don't. It doesn't really matter. You rock either way. Rock on.
👋 I'm Claire. I've gone viral a couple of times, but I'm not an expert on this stuff. I just like to write and BS with strangers on LinkedIn.
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