How do I get good on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the channel most makers and independents undervalue — partly because so much of it is performance and sales. That's exactly why there's room to be the genuine one.
Your profile is an identity, not a CV
Treat your profile as a plain statement of who you are, what you do and who it's for — the same name and description you use everywhere else, so the robots and the humans join the dots. That consistency is doing real work; the how is in Why should I keep my name and description the same everywhere?.
Post real work, not performance
Share the actual stuff: a piece you made and the thinking behind it, a lesson from a job that went sideways, an honest opinion on your craft. No humble-brags, no "thrilled to announce", no hard sell. Write it in your own voice (How do I use AI to write without sounding like a robot?) and keep a rhythm you can hold — one good post a week beats five in a burst.
Keep it steady, keep it honest
LinkedIn rewards showing up consistently far more than going viral once. Little and often, in your voice, always linking home. It's one channel in the plan — see Your first six weeks: a starter plan.
The prompt
“You're my LinkedIn coach. Here's how I write [paste a few sentences of your own, or ask bernard for your website's voice]. I'm a [what you do] serving [who you help]. Draft me a week of LinkedIn posts in that voice — sharing real work, lessons and useful thoughts, not humble-brags or sales pitches. Then suggest how to tidy up my profile so it matches the rest of my presence.”
The [bracketed] parts are yours to fill in. First time? Connect bernard to your AI over MCP — a one-time setup in bernard → your site → Use your own AI — then paste the prompt above.
Questions people ask
- Isn't LinkedIn full of cringe?
- It's full of cringe because most people either sell hard or perform. You stand out by just being genuinely useful and honest about real work — the same voice you'd use anywhere. Quiet and real beats loud and fake.
- Does bernard post to LinkedIn for me?
- No — posting is yours; bernard won't pretend to do it. bernard handles the on-site half, where anything you publish waits for your approval before it goes live. LinkedIn should always link back to that site.