LinkedIn: love it, hate it, or just quietly lurk? In this episode of Work in Progress, Larone and Courtney get real about how to make LinkedIn actually work for you, without turning into a “thought leader” parody.

From building real relationships to creating content that doesn’t make you cringe, we’re breaking down what it takes to stand out on the platform in 2025.

💬 If you’ve ever thought:

✔ “Do I really need to post on LinkedIn to get noticed?”

✔ “How do I network without being that person in the DMs?”

✔ “What even counts as good engagement?”…this one’s for you.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• Why engagement > follower count (especially in 2025)
• How to optimize your profile for visibility + credibility
• What kind of content actually gets read
• The do’s and don’ts of connecting without being corny
• How to curate your feed and protect your peace

⏱ Chapters:

01:44 – Our Love-Hate Relationship with LinkedIn

04:56 – How LinkedIn Has Evolved

07:43 – Optimizing Your Profile (Yes, Again)

09:30 – Engagement > Follower Count

15:18 – Managing Time & Energy on LinkedIn

16:52 – Using LinkedIn with Intention

21:13 – What Makes Content Land

24:24 – LinkedIn Emotions Are Real

26:47 – Building Relationships That Matter

30:34 – Setting LinkedIn Goals That Serve You

💡 Bottom line: You don’t have to become a brand to use LinkedIn well. But you do need a strategy.

🎧 Hit play, then send this to a friend who either posts way too much or hasn’t updated their profile since 2019.🔑

Follow CJ on Instagram ⁠Here⁠ or LinkedIn ⁠Here⁠

Follow Larone on Instagram ⁠Here⁠

Keywords: LinkedIn strategy, LinkedIn for professionals, how to network on LinkedIn, personal branding, engagement tips, optimizing your LinkedIn, professional networking 2025, career growth tools, social media for career development