As 2025 comes to an end, it’s clear that LinkedIn marketing has changed dramatically. The platform itself isn’t the same one we were using a year ago. The past twelve months brought more updates, more innovation, and more algorithmic shifts than the last five years combined, which is very exciting.

Smarter algorithms now prioritise relevance over reach.

AI-powered tools are reshaping how content is created, repurposed, and analysed.

Video now plays a much bigger role on LinkedIn.

And a completely new era of outreach has emerged through AI-driven voice messaging, transforming how businesses build relationships and accelerate LinkedIn lead generation.

All of this is happening while businesses face real pressure: tougher markets, tighter budgets, more competition, and buyers who are more cautious than ever. Those challenges won’t magically disappear in 2026 — which raises the question:

How do we show up better next year than we did this year?

The answer is simple: with the right focus, the right strategy, and the right mindset, you can hit the ground running in 2026 and turn LinkedIn into your strongest channel for visibility, trust, and growth.

Whether your goal is more reach, more influence, or more qualified sales conversations, the resolutions below will help you build a LinkedIn presence that actually delivers for your brand, for your audience, and for your pipeline.

Here are the LinkedIn resolutions worth committing to if you want stronger visibility, deeper trust, and higher-quality opportunities in 2026.

1. “I Will Post More Consistently on My Personal Profile.”

If there’s one place where trust is built fastest on LinkedIn, it’s through personal profiles. People pay attention to people long before they engage with a Company Page. And in 2026, that human element is becoming even more important.

The platform is shifting towards:

  • Short, high-impact content that’s easy to consume.
  • Consistency from creators rather than occasional posting.
  • Real voices and lived experience instead of polished corporate messaging.

In other words, everything personal profiles naturally do well. But this isn’t guesswork; we tested it.

A few months ago, we ran a simple experiment: we asked everyone on our sales and operations teams to post more regularly on LinkedIn. We didn’t tell them what to post. We said post whatever you want.

Some posted LinkedIn marketing tips.

Some wrote about industry frustrations.

Some shared short stories from their careers and personal lives.

Most of them had never posted before with small followings, and to be honest, plenty were nervous about putting themselves out there for the first time, but they bravely did it anyway.

The results were pretty staggering.

In just two weeks, those posts generated:

👁️  26,234 impressions

🤝  14,242 reach

📞  65 booked call leads

📌  A 32% increase in leads the following week

All of it organic as well, no ads, no boosts, no budget. It was the compound effect of real people showing up consistently and speaking in their own voice.

If first-time posters with small networks can drive those kinds of numbers, imagine the impact when:

  • A CEO posts,
  • or a Head of Sales,
  • or a founder with years of experience,
  • or an industry expert with something meaningful to say.

The potential reach, influence, and trust-building power are enormous.

We share the full results of our study and show you exactly how to put this strategy to work for your business.

Posting on LinkedIn can feel intimidating at first, but the upside is huge. If you post just once a week, you’ll already outperform 95% of LinkedIn users.

A simple approach for 2026:

  • 1 post per week (insight, story, lesson learned, opinion, simple video).
  • Keep it human, useful, and relevant to your audience.
  • Don’t overthink it. Authenticity wins.
  • Remember: consistency beats perfection.

The takeaway is simple: you don’t need a huge audience or perfect content to make an impact on LinkedIn. You just need to show up. 

When you post consistently, in your own voice, you build visibility, trust, and momentum far faster than you think. Start small, stay human, and commit to one post a week. The results will come.

2. “I Will Finally Optimise My LinkedIn Company Page… And Actually Post There Too”

Yes, your personal profile is incredibly important. But your LinkedIn Company Page matters just as much, and in some cases, even more.

Over the past few years, the B2B sales journey has become more fragmented, non-linear, and self-directed. 

Buyers jump between touchpoints, research far earlier, and validate brands before ever speaking to a human. That means your Company Page is no longer a “nice extra.” It’s a credibility checkpoint — a place buyers visit to answer one question:

“Is this a company I can trust?”

And LinkedIn knows this, which is why the platform is investing heavily in Company Pages, giving them:

  • More detailed analytics (audience insights, follower demographics, post performance).
  • Better visibility in LinkedIn search.
  • Expanded Premium Page features to strengthen brand storytelling.
  • Higher reach for Pages that post consistently.

In other words, LinkedIn is quietly rewarding companies that take their Page seriously.

During the audits we’ve run this year, one trend kept appearing: people were posting on their personal profiles but completely ignoring their Company Pages. 

Your New Year’s resolution?

  • Make sure your profile is fully optimised — banner, tagline, specialities, website link, About section, product/services pages.
  • Post 2–3 times per week, ideally educational and helpful content that addresses real audience challenges with the occasional company update or behind-the-scenes moment to keep things human.
  • Treat your Company Page as a real business asset, rather than a box to tick.

When your Company Page is clear, active, and genuinely useful, everything else you do on LinkedIn works better:

  • Your outreach lands better.
  • Your personal posts carry more weight.
  • Your ads perform stronger.
  • Your credibility compounds.

A well-optimised Company Page doesn’t just support your LinkedIn presence. It strengthens every touchpoint across the entire buyer journey.

For more articles on building a stronger LinkedIn Company Page, explore these next:

3. “I Will Leave Hashtags Behind.”

Hashtags had their moment and, sadly, it is coming to an end.

For years, LinkedIn encouraged users to add hashtags so the algorithm could categorise posts. But things have changed.

The platform no longer depends on hashtags to understand context. LinkedIn’s algorithm now analyses your entire post from the wording, phrasing, imagery, engagement patterns, and even comment sentiment to determine who should see it.

In other words, hashtags are now a tiny signal in a system driven by much smarter technology.

Yes, a couple of relevant hashtags can still help reinforce themes, but they no longer influence reach in any meaningful way. What matters now is:

  • the focus of your topic,
  • the strength of your hook,
  • and your consistency over time.

High-quality, audience-focused content outperforms any hashtag strategy.

So, what does that mean for the new year:

  • Use hashtags sparingly, only if they genuinely help the reader understand the topic.
  • Prioritise clear messaging and strong positioning instead of keyword-stuffing.
  • Focus instead on posting consistently rather than optimising the bottom line of your post.

In 2026, your reach depends on quality, relevance, and usefulness, not a cluster of #hashtags tacked on at the end.

There are more changes to the algorithm including that will shape content marketing strategies in 2026, including:

  • how early comments can boost or bury your posts,

  • why external links now work differently,

  • the growing importance of short-form video, and

  • how smaller, tighter networks can sometimes outperform the big ones.

If you want to learn more about how the algorithm works and how to stay visible as it keeps evolving you can read our recent blog here:

4. “I Will Pay Closer Attention to My SSI Score And The Habits That Drive Results on LinkedIn.”

Most people on LinkedIn have seen the term “SSI score” without fully understanding what it means. Understandably, SSI isn’t something LinkedIn talks about much.

So here’s the simple version:

Your SSI (Social Selling Index) is one of the clearest indicators of how effectively you’re using LinkedIn.

It looks at things like:

  • How strong your profile is.
  • Whether you find and connect with relevant people.
  • How much you engage with others.
  • Whether you’re building meaningful relationships.

It’s not a measure of your talent, your sales ability, or your influence. It’s just a snapshot of your LinkedIn habits.

Here’s why SSI deserves more attention in 2026:

  • Higher SSI scores are consistently linked to better visibility.
  • People with strong SSI scores generate more opportunities through LinkedIn.
  • Sales teams with higher SSI scores outperform those with lower ones.
  • The score often reveals gaps in your activity before your pipeline does.

A high score doesn’t magically bring you more opportunities, nor does a low score stop you from succeeding on LinkedIn. But it does signal whether you’re showing up in a way that actually works. 

If your SSI is low, it’s usually because your profile isn’t strong enough, you’re not engaging consistently, or you’re not connecting with the right people, all of which directly affect your outcomes on LinkedIn.

What actually drives results — the things that grow your visibility, trust, and pipeline — are far more practical:

  • Post content that your audience genuinely finds useful.
  • Being consistent (personal profile and Company Page).
  • Creating conversations instead of waiting for them.
  • Showing personality and expertise in equal measure.
  • Having a profile and a Company Page that builds trust instantly.

When you do these things, your performance improves, whether or not your SSI rises. And interestingly, when your behaviour improves, SSI usually follows naturally anyway.

So, in the new year,

  • Check your SSI regularly.
  • Use it as a guide to strengthen weak areas.
  • Don’t chase a perfect score; instead, focus on the behaviours that increase visibility, trust, and opportunities.

Because here’s the reality: People with higher SSI scores tend to perform better on LinkedIn, not because of the score itself, but because of the habits behind it. And those habits are exactly what fuel effective LinkedIn marketing and strong LinkedIn lead generation outcomes.

Want to understand your SSI in more depth? Read our latest breakdown:

5. “I Will Rethink My LinkedIn Ads Strategy in 2026.”

If there’s one thing marketers should understand going into 2026, it’s that LinkedIn ads continue to outperform.

LinkedIn advertising is already outpacing mid-size competitors, and while CPMs remain 4–6× higher than Meta or TikTok, that price gap isn’t disappearing because the value gap keeps widening.

Here’s the simple reason: LinkedIn is still the only platform where you can reliably put your message in front of:

  • Decision-makers.
  • Budget-holders.
  • Industry specialists.
  • Senior leadership teams.
  • Companies that actually match your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).

WARC forecasts another strong jump in 2026, and the reason is simple: the platform delivers better-quality leads, stronger pipelines, and higher conversion rates. While other platforms sell volume, LinkedIn sells relevance, and that is exactly what B2B marketers are willing to pay for.

And we’ve proven this with data. Earlier this year, we ran a controlled experiment comparing Meta Ads to LinkedIn Ads:

  • Same budget.
  • Same timeframe.
  • Same lead magnet.
  • Same creative.
  • A completely level playing field.

The results served as the foundation of our report, “More Leads or Better Leads?” The Truth About Meta vs. LinkedIn Ads.

Here’s what we found:

Meta delivered more leads, but 51% were completely outside our ICP. They looked good in the dashboard but had no real commercial value.

  • Wrong industries.
  • Wrong company sizes.
  • Wrong seniority.
  • Wrong everything.

Cheap leads, expensive follow-up, and a funnel full of noise.

LinkedIn, on the other hand, delivered fewer leads but 83% matched our ICP.

  • Decision-makers.
  • Correct company sizes.
  • Correct industries.
  • People who could actually use our services and become customers.

Higher cost per lead, yes — but far higher revenue potential per lead.

Meta ads fill your funnel. LinkedIn ads fill it with the right people.

When budgets are tight and ROI matters more than vanity metrics, quality is the differentiator. And right now, LinkedIn wins on quality by a mile.

LinkedIn ads have become one of the most effective ways for businesses to reach real decision-makers and generate meaningful pipelines. If your goals for 2026 include:

  • More qualified leads,
  • Higher close rates,
  • A stronger, more visible brand,
  • Better outbound performance,
  • And a pipeline filled with people who can actually buy

…then LinkedIn Ads deserve a place in your strategy

But to get real ROI from them next year, your focus should shift toward smarter, more intentional advertising:

  • Stop using cost-per-lead as your main success metric. Cheap leads often drain time and resources. Qualified leads are what drive revenue.
  • Lean into LinkedIn’s precision targeting. Industries, job titles, company size, seniority — this is where LinkedIn outperforms everyone else.
  • Pair your ads with strong personal branding and outbound activity. Ads perform better when prospects already know your people.
  • Use lead magnets that offer genuine value. Our Outbound Playbook worked because it solved real problems, and LinkedIn rewards that level of usefulness.
  • Plan for rising costs and understand why they’re worth it. Ad prices increase every year, but so does ROI when the targeting is right.

The businesses winning on LinkedIn aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones investing strategically, prioritising impact over impressions and quality over volume.

If you want the full breakdown, including targeting, spend, outcomes, and the difference in lead quality between Meta and LinkedIn, read the full report here.

6. “I Will Add AI Voice Messaging to My LinkedIn Outreach Because It’s Becoming a Major Competitive Advantage.”

If there’s one LinkedIn trend gaining momentum faster than anyone expected, it’s this: voice messaging is becoming the next real differentiator in outbound.

Voice notes have technically been on LinkedIn since 2018, but let’s be honest… almost nobody used them. Not because they weren’t effective (they were), but because they were impossible to scale. No CEO, founder, or sales team can realistically sit and record 50–100 personalised voice messages a day. So the feature sat untouched, full of potential, but unusable in practice.

That has begun to change thanks to AI voice technology.

You can now create natural, human-sounding messages in your own voice, complete with tone and personality. Something that once took hours is now done in minutes, and it has quickly become one of the most effective ways to stand out on LinkedIn.

Why voice messaging works so well:

  • It stands out immediately in busy inboxes.
  • It carries tone and intent in a way text can’t.
  • It makes cold outreach feel more personal.
  • It builds trust faster than written messages.
  • And even when powered by AI, it still feels human.

We’ve tested this heavily, and the results have been hard to ignore.

Across our early beta campaigns using AI-generated voice messages, we saw:

90%+ response rates.

Up to 40% lead conversion.

Warmer, more natural conversations.

Faster movement from first outreach to booked calls.

It wasn’t just the numbers that shifted. It was how people responded. Replies felt more open and more personal. Prospects were more willing to talk. Voice reintroduces the human element that standard LinkedIn messaging has been missing for so long.

 

AI Voice by StraightIn Speakin LinkedIn Outreach

 

And with tools like SpeakIn, our in-house voice platform, businesses can now:

  • Send personalised voice introductions at scale.
  • Keep outreach friendly and memorable.
  • Save significant time compared to manual recording.
  • Make automated outreach feel more like a real conversation.

This is where LinkedIn outreach is heading: practical, personal, and centred around real human connection.

 

 

Your resolution for 2026:

  • Start testing AI voice in your outbound.
  • Use it as your opener to make a stronger first impression.
  • Follow up with short, clear written messages.
  • Let your voice play a role in how you introduce yourself.

Teams that adopt voice early will gain an advantage long before the rest of the market catches up.

If you want to understand how AI voice is reshaping LinkedIn outreach, take a look at our latest blogs on the topic. We break down the data, the psychology, and the early results so you can see exactly why voice is becoming such a powerful advantage.

The Behaviours That Will Define LinkedIn Success in 2026

LinkedIn is evolving faster than ever, and so are the expectations of the people using it. Audiences want personality, usefulness, and content that provides real value. And the platform is increasingly rewarding those who show up consistently, communicate with purpose, and bring something meaningful to the table.

The resolutions in this guide aren’t trends for the sake of trends. They’re the behaviours LinkedIn is now built around:

  • Posting more human content from personal profiles.
  • Treating your Company Page as a real credibility asset.
  • Focusing on quality over shortcuts.
  • Paying attention to the habits behind a strong SSI.
  • Investing in smarter, more targeted LinkedIn ads.
  • And embracing AI voice as the next major opportunity in outreach.

If 2025 was the year LinkedIn changed, 2026 will be the year those changes start to separate the brands that adapt from the ones that fall behind. 

As you head into the new year, focus on actions that build visibility, trust, and real opportunities. 

Right now is the moment to get ahead on LinkedIn. The brands that embrace these shifts today will be the blueprint others follow tomorrow.

At StraightIn, we’re excited for what’s ahead. We’ve spent years helping businesses strengthen their LinkedIn strategy through Outreach Marketing, Content Marketing, LinkedIn Advertising, and Personal Branding. If you want to put these resolutions into action, get in touch with our team on 0161 518 4740 or email grow@straight-in.co.uk.