Want to Build Real Trust on LinkedIn? Engage 10X More Than You Post
| June 19, 2025
If you’re only showing up to post on LinkedIn, you’re missing the point of the platform and the opportunities it can create. Too many professionals treat LinkedIn like a digital billboard. They publish a post, hope it performs, and then move on. But here’s the truth: posting alone isn’t enough. If you want conversations that lead to business, you need to show up for others consistently.
That’s where the 10:1 rule comes in. For every one post you publish, aim to leave ten meaningful comments on other people’s content. When you engage with others in a genuine and thoughtful way, you make them matter. And when you make them matter, you matter.
Why Ten Comments Outperform One Post
Every thoughtful comment serves a purpose:
1. It shines a light on the original author.
You’re not just acknowledging their post. You’re helping it reach more people and giving it extra weight through your response.
2. It puts you in front of the right people.
The author’s network sees your name. If your comment is strong, they begin to associate you with insight and credibility.
3. It opens the door to real conversations.
Commenting is often the first step toward trust. It shows interest and understanding without asking for anything in return.
Posting is important, but commenting is where relationships begin.
Surface-Level Comments Don’t Build Anything
Quick likes and vague compliments don’t move the needle. They don’t start conversations. They blend in with the noise. When you leave a thoughtful comment, you’re doing something different. You’re building connection. You’re showing that you understand the topic. You’re creating a small moment of value that doesn’t go unnoticed. This doesn’t require a strategy deck or a huge time investment. It just requires showing up with intention.
Three Comment Styles That Create Results
Below are three types of comments you can make regularly. Each one is designed to strengthen your network, create conversation, and elevate your presence. I’ve packaged them using the CRISPY™ framework so you can easily run them in ChatGPT or askSSL.ai.
1. Comment to Align with the Author as a Thought Leader
This is where you respond to someone’s post in a way that shows you’re in the conversation too.
Context: I want to leave a thoughtful comment on a LinkedIn post by someone in my network. My goal is to be seen as a peer in this space.
Role: Act as a strategic LinkedIn voice who adds value without taking over.
Inspiration:The post is about [insert link or copy].
Scope: Write a comment that affirms the post, offers a unique thought or question, and invites others to respond.
Prohibitions: Don’t repeat the post. Avoid generic praise.
You: Ask if there is any specific focus I’d like to mention about the post before generating the comment.
2. Comment to Engage with Other Commenters and Start Conversations
Most people only engage with the author. But other commenters are often ideal contacts too.
Context: I want to reply to other commenters in a way that creates meaningful conversations and leads them to want to learn more from me.
Role: Act as a helpful and curious peer.
Inspiration: Focus on asking thoughtful questions or adding a quick insight based on their comment.
Scope: Write a reply that encourages continued dialogue and shows I’m a resource worth connecting with.
Prohibitions: Don’t include links or try to pitch anything.
You: Ask what the original comment said and whether I want to respond with a viewpoint or a question.
3. Comment in the Form of a Reshare with Perspective
This is one of the most underused tools on LinkedIn. When you reshare a great post and add your perspective, you build influence while lifting someone else.
Context: I want to reshare a post from someone in my network and add my take without making it all about me.
Role: Act as a peer who brings additional insight while highlighting the original author.
Inspiration: The post is about [insert topic]. I want to add [insert insight].
Scope: Write a short reshare caption that gives a hook, adds my point of view, and encourages others to check out or follow the original author.
Prohibitions: Don’t rewrite their post or overshadow their message.
You: Ask for the post topic, the angle I want to add, and whether I want a call to action.
Engagement Isn’t About Volume. It’s About Making Someone Feel Seen.
When you slow down and engage with purpose, you create a shift in how people perceive you. You become more than a name in their feed. You become someone who brings clarity, value, and conversation.
This is what builds trust. Not flashy content or clever hooks. It’s the small, repeated moments of showing up with something real to say. If you want your content to perform better, start by showing up more for others. Comment with intention. Ask a question. Share a relevant perspective. Add to the conversation. Over time, people will start to see you as a trusted voice in their space—not because you shouted the loudest, but because you showed up the most consistently with something worth saying.
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