The surprising power of AI in LinkedIn storytelling
How I wish it were still 20 years ago…
Back then, you could post content on your blog and over time, start getting free, organic traffic from Google or social media.
Marketing was so much simpler. No fancy tricks. No complex algorithms. Just quality content and time.
But then things changed.
Algorithms took over. Free traffic started drying up. Paid ads became the default, and the days of effortless organic growth began to fade.
Platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Google started prioritizing revenue, forcing creators and businesses to pay for reach.
These days, unless you already have a large, highly engaged following, posting content won’t get you far.
If you want traffic, you’re expected to pay. It’s gotten so serious that most companies now allocate a significant marketing budget each year, something that wasn’t always necessary.
Just take a look at LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter). Try posting a link to your business or newsletter. The algorithm will tank your reach. Why? Because these platforms want to keep users on their sites, not clicking away. It’s brutal out here.
That said, it’s not all doom and gloom.
From my experience across platforms, including Google Search, there’s still one thing that moves the needle: engagement.
If people interact with your content, it gets seen. If they don’t, it disappears into the algorithm void like a swimming pool without water beautiful, but useless.
So in today’s guide, I’m going to show you how you can use AI to create a LinkedIn post that has the potential to go viral and grow your business organically.
Step 1: Get your LinkedIn profile ready
I'm assuming you already have your LinkedIn profile set up.
If not, start there.
For now, I won’t go into profile optimization, but there's one crucial update you should make before posting:
Add your website or newsletter link to your profile.
This tiny tweak makes a big impact when your post gains traction, people will click through to learn more about you.
Why it matters:
Showcase your work - Whether it's a blog, personal website, portfolio, or company site, this builds credibility and gives people more context about what you do.
Drive traffic - LinkedIn’s organic reach is still alive (barely). A clickable link can direct interested viewers straight to your site.
Stand out - Most people don’t optimize their profile. A visible, relevant link shows you’re intentional and professional.
Boost your brand - It reinforces your personal or business brand. Especially important if you’re building an audience or selling something.
Make it easy- Curious recruiters, collaborators, and clients shouldn’t have to dig. Help them discover you.
Here’s an example image of what this looks like:
Try it out and let me know how it goes.
If you want a deeper dive into optimizing your LinkedIn profile, check out this excellent guide from Guillaume Moubeche:
Step 2: Choose a topic that can go viral
Once your profile is sorted, it’s time to pick a viral-worthy topic aligned with your brand or business.
Whether you're using AI or not, the topic itself is key.
Later in this post, I’ll share examples of viral AI-generated posts, but let’s start with a non-AI example that blew up:
Lara Acosta's Viral LinkedIn Post
What made it work?
The topic: It’s controversial, thought-provoking, and timely.
The visual: Clean, attention-grabbing image.
The hook: Strong first line that pulls you in.
(Sorry for the detour, but it’s worth studying what works!)
Since this post is about business growth, I suggest choosing a topic that directly solves a problem your audience is facing.
Remember: most people don’t scroll the internet just for entertainment, they're looking for solutions.
Here’s how I approach it:
A. Use Reddit to find content ideas
Reddit is a goldmine for uncovering real problems, fresh perspectives, and viral trends in any niche.
Start by exploring the right subreddits based on your content area. If you're in the food or small business space, these are great places to begin:
r/Donuts – everything donuts
r/Baking – recipes and food passion
r/SmallBusiness – see what other founders are talking about
r/FoodPorn – visual inspo and food styling trends
r/AskReddit – great for finding viral prompts
r/Entrepreneur – marketing, hustle, and growth ideas
B. Find high-performing threads
Once you're in the right subreddit:
Use the search bar (keywords like “donuts,” “marketing,” “customer story”)
Sort by Top > All Time or Hot to surface what’s worked
Look for:
Repeated questions
Strong opinions or debates
Unique takes or emerging trends (e.g., donut walls at weddings)
C. Turn Reddit threads into LinkedIn posts
Take a Reddit thread and give it a LinkedIn spin:
Reddit Thread: “Why are artisanal donuts $5 each?”
LinkedIn Post: "Customers sometimes ask why our donuts cost $5. Here’s exactly what goes into handcrafting them fresh every morning…
Reddit Thread: “I just quit my job to start a donut truck.”
LinkedIn Post: "3 lessons I’ve learned from launching a donut business after leaving my 9-to-5."
D. Look for repeatable patterns
Track what consistently performs well:
What emotions are triggered? (humor, nostalgia, curiosity)
Which post formats go viral?
What’s a fresh take you can bring from your niche?
Step 3: Use AI to Turn Ideas into Posts
Once you have a good idea, you can use AI to help craft the post, but be smart about it.
There are many tools that claim to create “viral” content. That’s misleading. The prompt you give the AI is what really matters.
Here are 4 AI tools that actually deliver good LinkedIn results:
Taplio - Lets you generate posts in the voice of top LinkedIn creators and gives analytics on trends.
EasyGen - Designed to balance automation with authenticity, helping you stay consistent with minimal effort.
SayWhat – Focuses on transforming your spoken thoughts into polished LinkedIn posts, helping you share ideas effortlessly and authentically.
MagicPost - Built specifically for LinkedIn, using advanced models and smart algorithms to generate engaging content.
Tips for writing high-impact posts
Start with an 8-word hook - Short and scroll-stopping. Example: “This AI tip saved me 5 hours weekly.”
Include at least 2 niche keywords - (e.g., AI, automation, marketing, prompt engineering)
Make the benefit obvious - Don’t be vague, show clear outcomes.
Example: “Use this prompt to write emails 5x faster.”Deliver real value - Share the actual tip, tool, or takeaway. No fluff.
Add a visual - Screenshot, chart, or before/after image makes your post pop.
Make it personal - Talk from your own experience. People connect with you. Example: “I used this prompt after struggling with writer’s block.”
End with a question - Drives engagement and invites conversation.. Example: “What’s your go-to AI tool right now?”
Once you’ve followed the steps above, you can use one of the LinkedIn post generators I mentioned or just use ChatGPT 4.0 (the latest version) and voilà, you’ll have a post that could skyrocket your reach.
Check out these real-world examples of people who’ve used AI to win big on LinkedIn:
Jodie Cook used ChatGPT to create posts that saved her time, and drove serious engagement.
Just look at this one:
Dr. Bart Jaworski leveraged LinkedIn and AI to go viral and build an audience of 125K+ followers.
Watch the video below.
Will McTighe, founder of saywhat.ai, says most people use AI wrong. They just ask for a post and hit “publish.” Will shows how he grew 320,000 followers in a year, step by step.
Lara Acosta has used AI to craft viral posts for her clients. Her results speak for themselves.
Summary
AI can help you create LinkedIn content that goes viral, if you use it correctly.
Engagement is what drives virality. Without it, even the smartest AI post will fall flat.
Based on my experience (although LinkedIn’s exact algorithm remains a mystery), the key metrics are:
Comments
Impressions
Likes
Time to engagement (especially in the first 30–60 minutes)
Here’s how impressions generally break down:
1,000–5,000: Good traction, especially for smaller networks
5,000–10,000: Strong engagement, solid content
10,000–50,000+: Potentially viral
50,000+: Definitely viral, especially if comment and like counts are high
Pro tip: Always respond to comments, especially within the first hour after posting. That’s when the algorithm is watching closely.
Final thoughts
Have you used AI to write LinkedIn content that went viral (or close)?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, I’d love to learn from your experience.