Your Impressions Are Tanking. Good.

Let’s rip the band-aid off: Your reach is down. You used to get 10,000 views on a post about your morning coffee, and now you’re scraping for 500.

You might think the platform is broken. It isn't.

The LinkedIn algorithm is working exactly as intended. It is actively killing off the noise. The days of "bro-etry" (one-sentence paragraphs), engagement bait, and "I’m delighted to announce" fluff are over.

The platform has stopped rewarding Breadth (how many people see you) and started rewarding Depth (how many people actually give a damn). If your numbers are dropping, it’s because you were reaching everyone, but connecting with no one.

It’s time to stop chasing vanity metrics and start building a backbone.

The New God: "Deep Dwell"

To survive 2026, you need to understand one thing: Deep Dwell.

In the old days (2024), a "Like" was currency. If someone scrolled past, tapped a thumb, and kept moving, you won.

Now, the LinkedIn engagement metrics 2026 track Time on Post. They measure:

Did they stop scrolling?
Did they click "see more"?
Did they actually read the carousel, or just swipe through?

This is the "Deep Dwell" score. A fleeting impression is now worthless. A user who stops, reads, and thinks? That is the only signal that matters.

Likes are for Ego. Saves are for Revenue.

Here is the hardest pill to swallow: A "Like" is a polite nod. It costs the user nothing. It means nothing.

In the current landscape, the new currency is the "Save."

Think about your own behaviour. You "like" posts to be nice. You Save posts because they are valuable. You save resources, checklists, and deep insights that you need to use later.

A "Save" (or a specific Share via DM) is what we call Constructive Friction. It takes effort. It tells the algorithm: "This isn't just noise. This is an asset."

Case Study: Real Data: How Personality Beat Polish

Real Talk: How Hunters Stopped Being "Just Another Agent"

In the property world, most brands chase vanity metrics by posting endless "Just Listed" photos. People scroll past them instantly.

We worked with Hunters Sedgley to stop broadcasting and start engaging. We shifted their strategy from static listings to personality-led video content that encouraged conversation, sharing, and "Dark Social" DMs.

The Shift: We traded "corporate polish" for relatable human humor.

The Result: By focusing on content that people actually wanted to watch and talk about, the metrics shifted from passive views to active community building.

Interactions (The Real Metric): Up 483%.
Reels Engagement: Up 8,400%.

They stopped trying to sell a house in every post and started building a brand that the West Midlands actually wanted to hear from.

3 Content Formats That Actually Get "Saved"

Stop posting opinions and start posting resources. If you want people to hit that bookmark button, you need to give them something they can't afford to lose.

Here are the three formats we use at Vertebrae Social to drive "Saves":

1. The "Anti-Hero" Checklist (PDF Carousel)

Most people post "5 Things To Do." Boring. Flip it. Post "5 Expensive Mistakes You Are Making Right Now."

Format: A dense, 8-slide PDF.
Why it works: Fear of loss is powerful. People save "Mistake Lists" to audit themselves later.
Example: "The 5 Safety Compliance Errors That Will Fine Your Manufacturing Plant in 2026."

2. The "Swipe-File" Framework

Give away your secret sauce. Literally. Share the exact template, script, or framework you use to solve a problem.

Format: Text post with a clear "Cut and Paste this" section.
Why it works: It’s immediately useful. It turns your feed into a toolkit.
Example: "Here is the exact email script I use to close £50k deals (Steal this)."

3. The Deep-Dive Diagram

Visuals stop the scroll. But not stock photos. Upload a high-res image of a process map, a flow chart, or a technical diagram.

Format: Single Image (Document).
Why it works: It forces "Deep Dwell." The user has to pinch, zoom, and study the image. The algorithm loves that dwell time.

Your Profile Needs to Handle the Heat

You can fix your metrics and drive all the "Deep Dwell" traffic in the world, but if your profile looks like a ghost town, you will lose the lead.

Content gets them to the door; your profile invites them in.

Before you post your next "Saveable" carousel, you need to ensure your headline, bio, and visuals are gritty enough to convert.

Read our Master Guide: How to Survive the LinkedIn Algorithm Update 2026 to fix your foundation first

Why Vertebrae Social?

We don't do fluff. We don't do "glossy."

At Vertebrae Social, we build brands for the people who actually do the work. We love the "unsexy" industries—from metal recycling in Birmingham to pest control manufacturing.

We know that obsessing over LinkedIn engagement metrics is a headache you don't need. So we do it for you. We extract your expertise and turn it into content that looks, feels, and sounds like you—just with a stronger backbone.

We don't chase trends. We chase impact.

About The Author

Samantha Wiltshire Founder, Vertebrae Social

I’m a social media strategist who believes in the power of grit over gloss. I help founders stop shouting into the void and start connecting with the right people. As part of LinkedIn’s first Creator Accelerator programme, I saw the shift to "Deep Dwell" coming a mile off. I trade in authentic stories and career-changing impact. Let's get to work.

LinkedIn Engagement Metrics 2026 Frequently Asked Questions

Because you're boring the algorithm. It no longer rewards reach; it rewards "dwell time." If people aren't stopping to read, LinkedIn stops showing your post.
A Like is a vanity metric. A Save is a signal of high intent. The algorithm prioritises content that provides enough value to be bookmarked.
It is the amount of time a user spends consuming your content (reading, watching, clicking). High dwell time boosts your reach to qualified leads, even if your total impressions are lower.