{"id":10997,"date":"2026-03-16T22:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T05:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sparktoro.com\/blog\/?p=10997"},"modified":"2026-03-16T22:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T05:57:08","slug":"why-linkedin-might-have-two-algorithms-and-why-marketers-should-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sparktoro.com\/blog\/why-linkedin-might-have-two-algorithms-and-why-marketers-should-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Why LinkedIn Might Have Two Algorithms \u2014 and Why Marketers Should Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We marketers talk about the LinkedIn algorithm as though it\u2019s a single behemoth. But a recent analysis from Christopher Penn<\/a> suggests the platform may be running two separate systems that work together to determine what shows up in the feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One system decides whether your post should even be considered for someone\u2019s feed. The other decides where it ranks once it gets there. If that distinction is even partially accurate, it explains a lot about why some posts take off while others disappear into the lonely island of \u201cWhat Michael B. Jordan\u2019s Oscar win taught me about B2B sales\u201d posts.<\/p>\n\n\n

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One of Amanda’s fancy flow charts<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It also reinforces a mental model I\u2019ve used for years when thinking about social media distribution and behavior:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Social media (done well) is a lot like being a good party guest.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t walk into a party, hop onto the coffee table, and start shouting over everyone. You walk in, find your friends, and join conversations before starting one of your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar dynamic may be happening in LinkedIn\u2019s feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, if you want the quick, conversational version of this analysis, I covered it in a recent episode<\/a> of my new show, the Zero Click Marketing podcast<\/a>. The episode captures my early reaction to Christopher Penn\u2019s guide; this post is the more fully developed version after I had more time to sit with the report. If you\u2019re into quick, thoughtful takes on content, distribution, and how modern marketing actually works, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n