Avoiding automated engagement penalties

Engagement pods are finally on LinkedIn's radar. Daniel Roth (LinkedIn's Editor-in-Chief) just made it public: LinkedIn is actively cracking down on engagement pods, AI-driven comments, and artificial boosts. If you missed the term, here’s the quick version: 👉 Engagement pods are groups (sometimes paid, sometimes automated) that coordinate mass likes or comments, often with bots, to trick the algorithm. To the audience, it looks like success. In reality, it erodes credibility and devalues real conversation. What LinkedIn just said (via Oscar Rodriguez, Head of Trust): • Pods distort the feed. Systems are improving to spot and limit artificially boosted posts. • Third-party tools that enable manipulation are being reviewed, restricted, and may face legal action. • Low-quality patterns (clickbait, auto-comments, promo spam) are being flagged and downranked. Why this matters: ➡️ Credibility is currency. If your account gets flagged for inauthentic activity, reach drops and trust disappears. ➡️ Shortcuts backfire. Vanity metrics today can cost you real influence tomorrow. ➡️ Authenticity wins. Consistent, genuine voices will keep compounding. Do this now: 1/ Audit your tools. Remove any extensions or services that automate likes, comments, or DMs. Settings > Data privacy > Other applications > Permitted services. 2/ Kill the pods. If you’re in engagement groups or “guaranteed likes” threads, exit. Your long-term brand is worth more. 3/ Set a team policy. No pods, no auto-comments. Encourage authenticity and give guardrails. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: this platform rewards real voices. If you’re tempted by “AI engagement” or “guaranteed likes,” think again. LinkedIn is watching, and so is your audience. 👀 LinkedIn does not mess around. Once your account is gone... It is GONE! You will start from 0. Is that a risk you are willing to take? Play the long game. Show up consistently. Let your credibility compound. P.S Are you happy that LinkedIn is enforcing this?

“There’s this AI tool that can auto-comment on posts for me.” That’s what a client told me recently. Here’s the backstory — Her Complete LinkedIn Management contract came to an end.  She didn't want to renew. But she wanted to continue with just the engagement services. So we sent her the cost. And her reply? That one line above. I didn’t waste much time before telling her the truth — It’s the fastest way to destroy your credibility. Here’s why 👇 ➤ LinkedIn’s algorithm keeps getting smarter. ➤ It detects automated patterns. ➤ It spots templated comments. ➤ And yes, it penalizes accounts that use them. But let’s keep the algorithm aside for a second. Your potential clients can tell too. That “Great post!” comment you left on 30 posts in 10 minutes? We all know you didn’t read any of them. That perfectly crafted response that shows up 90 seconds after every post in your niche? It’s obviously scheduled. ✅ Real engagement requires real attention. ✅ Relationships need genuine interest. ✅ Potential clients want to feel seen, not processed. And I get it — you’re busy. But if you don’t have time to engage authentically, don’t engage at all. It’s better to comment thoughtfully on 3 posts than robotically on 30. Because there’s no shortcut to being human especially on a platform built for human connection. What’s one automation you’ve been tempted to use that you know would hurt more than help? #AuthenticEngagement #LinkedInStrategy #NoShortcuts #RealConnections

Welcome to Day 3 of LinkedIn Etiquette 💰 🤖 Are You Using Too Many Automation Tools on LinkedIn? Here’s Why That Can Get You Locked Out Let’s be honest — automation is tempting. Auto-liking, auto-commenting, auto-connecting… it saves time, right? But here’s the catch: LinkedIn is a human-first platform, and the moment your actions start feeling bot-like, your account could be flagged, restricted, or permanently banned. Here’s how to stay safe while still being productive: ⚠️ Avoid third-party tools that scrape data or auto-engage. LinkedIn strictly prohibits them. Many tools promise growth but end up triggering spam detection algorithms. ⌛ Pace your activity. Sending 100 connection requests in 1 hour? Liking 50 posts in 5 minutes? That’s not human — that’s suspicious. 👤 Keep it personal. Use customized connection requests. Comment with intention. Real interactions = real results. 🛠️ Use LinkedIn’s native tools. From creator mode to analytics, LinkedIn gives you plenty of in-house features that help you grow without risk. 🤝 Build relationships, not databases. Automated DMs and mass outreach may get you seen, but not heard. The best connections come from real conversation. Remember: LinkedIn is a professional network, not a numbers game. If you’re building your brand here, let your voice shine — not a robot’s. Have you tried an automation tool that backfired? Or found a human strategy that worked wonders? Drop it in the comments — let’s help others stay safe. #LinkedInGrowth #DigitalAuthenticity #NetworkingTips #OnlineSafety #LinkedInEtiquette #BeHuman

𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑰𝒕 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑨𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. Here's the trap many creators are falling into on LinkedIn: ➡ Over-automation. At first, it seems like a great idea. • Automate outreach. • Automate comments. • Automate engagement. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: When everything sounds automated, ↳ your audience knows. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Your audience came for your authentic voice Not for a robot. They came for: • Real, • Personal connection ↳ Not copy-paste comments. Engagement dies when you stop being human. 𝑺𝒐, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒙? 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 People follow you for YOU, Not a bot version of you. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 Meaningful, genuine conversations are still the best growth hack. Relationships are built in the comments and move to the DMs. 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 Use tools, but never let them replace your human touch. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬? Your audience connects with YOU. Keep it that way. --- 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭? P.S. ♻ If you found this helpful, consider sharing it.

Using AI and automation for LinkedIn DMs (many of you have asked for this post) "Is it really worth it?" "What are the real risks?" "How can I do it right?" The short version is: Be cautious :) The long version? 1. Lack of Personal Connection → Automated messages can feel impersonal, leading to lower engagement. 2. Automated Errors → AI tools can make mistakes, damaging professional relationships. 3. Compliance and Ethical Considerations → Violating LinkedIn's policies can result in account bans. 4. Reputation Damage → Over-reliance on bots can harm your professional image. 5. Missed Networking Opportunities → Automation can miss the subtleties of meaningful networking. Best Practices to Mitigate Risks: - Limit Automation → Use it sparingly for repetitive tasks. - Personalize Messages → Tailor automated messages to maintain a human touch. - Monitor Engagement → Review performance and adjust strategies based on feedback. - Stay Informed on Policies → Keep up-to-date with LinkedIn's terms of service. By being mindful of these risks and implementing best practices, we all can leverage AI and automation effectively while preserving the integrity of our networking efforts on LinkedIn. *** Found this helpful? ♻️ Share it to help someone like you take their first step in Cold Outreach—together, we grow as a community