Here's what you need to know about LinkedIn's new AI Slop buttonBy Hannah
LinkedIn's new AI Slop button: How to make sure your content never gets flagged.
New feature alert!
LinkedIn's Chief Product Officer Hari Srinivasan shared a post announcing new functionality that will enable users to flag when they feel posts are not authentic and likely heavily AI produced.
So why is this a big deal?
Well if you've spent any time on LinkedIn, it's highly likely you've noticed a certain style of copywriting is flooding the LinkedIn feeds.
Recognise any of these phrases or techniques?
- Inauthentic use of the adverb quietly such as "quietly building".
- Using pivot contrast for example "Not because of this. Because of this."
- Manufactured hooks like "Here's the kicker"
- Grouping lists and arguments into neat groups of 3.
What's the problem with this?
Quite simply it just feels false and creates a feeling of mistrust. Which is pretty much the opposite of what most people are trying to do on LinkedIn.
Most people and businesses are trying to increase visibility of the company they run or work for and themselves. Usually, in the hopes they'll generate opportunities.
Working in social media, we understand why using AI to create content is so appealing. We've all got stacked to-do lists and anything that saves time feels like a win, right?
The problem is, although short-term it might save time, in the long run, it could cost users those very opportunities they're seeking.
Hence why LinkedIn has decided to launch this new feature to help users refine their feeds and reduce the amount of lazy content clogging up the algorithm.
So the questions everyone wants to know are:
- What will happen if your posts get flagged?
- Can you still use AI for LinkedIn posts?
- How can we make sure LinkedIn content doesn't get flagged?
Lucky for you, we’ve got the answers.
What will happen if your posts get flagged?
When someone clicks the new AI slop button, four things happen.
- The post disappears from their feed.
- It gets flagged to LinkedIn’s detection model.
- If a post gets enough flags, the reach of the post will be throttled.
What’s great about this is, everything should improve. Users will privately be given data that shows if people think their content is not authentic. It will show directly in their analytics.
Can you still use AI for LinkedIn posts?
Yes, this isn't a ban on using AI full stop. It's a ban on letting AI do all the writing for you. LinkedIn is getting rid of the ‘enhance your post’ button (which was largely criticised) and replacing it with a grammar checker. A helpful tool that doesn't influence personality or tone.
We think this is quite a sensible approach to take when crafted LinkedIn content. Use it to research, help gather your thoughts and troubleshoot sticking points. Don’t use it to draft the whole thing and start to finish with minimal input. If it doesn’t sound like something you would say IRL, it’s likely not to land well.
How can we make sure LinkedIn content doesn't get flagged?
Does it flow way too well, to the point it sounds unnatural? Don’t be afraid to let it be a bit messy. A tip for achieving this is: read it out loud and ask if it sounds like something you’d say to a colleague or friend.
Make sure you are including your perspective. Think about what you actually want to say and make sure that’s the heart of the piece. That way it’s not a manufactured opinion and it’s unique to you.
It sounds straight forward doesn’t it? But regularly crafting LinkedIn content that gets seen and resonates with desired audiences is not something that everyone has the skill to do.
Marketing departments have an endless amount of responsibilities. Emails, website, SEO, branding, packaging and what feels like 100 social media platforms.
We’re working on LinkedIn for our clients everyday. We produce personalised, ghostwritten LinkedIn content built around genuine conversations we have with clients, every single week. That means our clients can be sure that the dreaded ‘AI slop’ button won’t be pinging on their profile.
If you'd also rather hand your content over to a LinkedIn marketing agency, get in touch and let's talk about what outsourced LinkedIn content could look like for you.
