The 10 Worst LinkedIn Comment Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

You comment on 10-15 LinkedIn posts every day. You're doing the work. You're showing up consistently. But somehow, your profile views aren't increasing, no one's connecting with you, and your comments seem to disappear into the void.

The problem isn't your effort level. The problem is you're making one or more of the ten critical mistakes that kill comment visibility and credibility on LinkedIn. These mistakes are surprisingly common, and they're costing you more than just wasted time. They're actively hurting your professional reputation.

Here are the ten worst LinkedIn commenting mistakes and exactly how to fix each one.

The LinkedIn Commenting Mistakes Killing Your Visibility

Before we dive into specific mistakes, understand what's at stake. Every comment you leave on LinkedIn sends signals to two audiences: the LinkedIn algorithm and actual human readers.

The algorithm decides whether to show your comment prominently, bury it, or flag your account for spam-like behavior. Human readers (including the post author) decide whether you're worth connecting with, ignoring, or blocking.

Most of these mistakes hurt you with both audiences simultaneously. Fix them, and you'll notice immediate improvements in profile views, connection requests, and actual replies to your comments.

Mistake #1 - The Generic "Great Post!" Comment

This is the single worst offender, and it's everywhere.

"Great post!" "Thanks for sharing!" "Love this!" These comments require zero thought, add zero value, and signal to everyone that you didn't actually read the content. You're just performing engagement theater.

Why it kills your visibility: The LinkedIn algorithm specifically looks for comments that generate further engagement (replies, reactions to the comment itself). Generic praise generates none. The author has nothing to respond to, and other readers scroll right past.

What it signals to the author: You're either a bot, someone trying to game the algorithm without adding value, or someone who doesn't actually care about their content. None of these make them want to connect with you.

THE FIX: Reference something specific from the post in your comment. Quote a line, mention a data point, or react to a particular insight. If you can't think of anything specific to say, the post probably isn't worth commenting on in the first place.

Example transformation:

• Bad: "Great post!"
• Good: "The data point about early engagement in the first hour is exactly what I've noticed with my content. Do you see the same 12x reach multiplier, or does it vary by industry?"

Mistake #2 - Commenting Without Reading the Full Post

This mistake is closely related to #1, but with an added layer of embarrassment. You skim the headline and first paragraph, then drop a comment based on assumptions about what the rest says.

The problem? Your comment often reveals you didn't actually read it. Maybe you ask a question that's answered in paragraph three. Maybe you make a point that contradicts something the author specifically addressed. Maybe you misunderstand the entire premise.

Why authors spot this immediately: After publishing hundreds of posts, I can identify comments from people who only read the headline within seconds. They respond to what they think the post says rather than what it actually says.

Credibility damage: This mistake doesn't just waste your time. It actively damages your credibility. You look sloppy, rushed, or dismissive of the author's effort.

THE FIX: Spend 90 seconds reading the entire post before commenting. Use this quick skim technique: Read the first paragraph fully, scan the H2 headers or main points, read the conclusion. You'll grasp the full argument in under two minutes and your comment will show it.

Mistake #3 - Making It About You (The Self-Promotion Hijack)

We've all seen this one: Someone writes a thoughtful post about a professional topic, and the first comment is "This reminds me of my product/service/company. Check out what we do at [link]."

This is the LinkedIn equivalent of interrupting someone mid-conversation to hand them your business card and walk away.

Why it backfires spectacularly: Even if your product is genuinely relevant, leading with self-promotion signals that you view the post as a free advertising opportunity rather than a genuine conversation. The author and other readers immediately tune you out.

THE FIX: Share relevant experience without explicitly selling. If your product/service genuinely relates, mention the problem you solved or insight you gained without naming your company or linking.

Example transformation:

• Bad: "This is exactly why we built [Product Name]. Check out how we solve this: [link]"
• Good: "I spent six months testing different approaches to this exact problem. The breakthrough came when we shifted from [X] to [Y]. The engagement rate jumped 3x. Happy to share what we learned if useful."

The second version demonstrates expertise and offers value. If someone wants to know more, they'll check your profile or ask. You don't need to force it.

Mistake #4 - Writing Novel-Length Comments

There's a time and place for detailed comments, but most people overdo it. If your comment is longer than the original post, you've gone too far.

When long comments work: Deep industry discussions, technical explanations, or when you're genuinely adding substantial new information to the conversation.

When they don't work: 95% of the time. Most LinkedIn users are scrolling on mobile during short breaks. A wall of text in the comments section doesn't get read. It gets skipped.

Optimal length data: Based on analyzing thousands of high-performing comments, the sweet spot is 3-5 sentences or 40-80 words. This is long enough to add real value but short enough to actually get read.

THE FIX: Write your full thought, then edit ruthlessly. Cut it by 30-40%. Make every sentence earn its place. Use line breaks to create visual breathing room.

Pro tip: If you genuinely have a lot to say, write a post in response instead of a comment. Tag the original author. This positions you as a peer adding to the conversation rather than someone camping in their comments section.

Mistake #5 - Never Asking Questions

Comments that make statements are fine. But comments that ask thoughtful questions generate significantly more replies and visibility.

The one-way communication problem: When you make a statement and stop, the conversation ends. The author might react to your comment, but there's no natural next step.

When you ask a specific question, you're inviting continuation. The author feels prompted to respond. Other readers see an active discussion forming.

THE FIX: End 30-40% of your comments with a thoughtful question. Not lazy questions like "What do you think?" but specific ones that extend the original post's thinking.

Question formulas that work:

• "Have you tested this with [specific variation]?"
• "How does this change when [contextual factor]?"
• "Would you recommend [Option A] or [Option B] for [specific use case]?"

Mistake #6 - Only Commenting on Big Accounts

Everyone wants to comment on posts from people with 50K+ followers. The potential visibility is huge. The problem? So is the competition.

Posts from major LinkedIn influencers get 100-300 comments. Yours gets buried within minutes unless you're consistently one of the first commenters or you write something exceptionally insightful.

Better strategy for visibility: The 80/20 commenting mix. Spend 20% of your comment time on big accounts where competition is fierce. Spend 80% on posts from people with 1K-10K followers where you can actually stand out.

Why this works: Smaller creators are more likely to notice your comment, reply, and check your profile. They're building their audiences and appreciate quality engagement. These relationships often provide more value than being comment #147 on a viral post.

THE FIX: For every comment you leave on a post from a major influencer, leave four comments on posts from smaller but relevant accounts in your industry. Track which generates more profile views and connection requests. You'll likely find the 80% outperforms the 20%.

Mistake #7 - Copying Your Comment Across Multiple Posts

I see this constantly: Someone writes one "thoughtful" comment template and pastes it with minor variations across 15 different posts. It feels like an efficiency hack.

LinkedIn's systems detect this. Even if the exact wording varies slightly, repetitive comment patterns can get flagged as spam behavior. More importantly, when someone clicks your profile and sees you left nearly identical comments on six different posts, it screams inauthentic.

THE FIX: Each comment should be genuinely responsive to the specific post. This doesn't mean starting from scratch every time. It means your comment should reference something specific from each individual post.

If you're finding it difficult to leave authentic, unique comments at scale, tools like the LiGo Chrome Extension can help. It analyzes each post individually and generates context-specific comments based on your voice and expertise. This maintains authenticity while saving time. The free version works across LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and Meta.

Mistake #8 - Forgetting to Engage with Replies to Your Comment

You leave a thoughtful comment. The author replies. You see the notification, think "nice," and move on without responding.

This is a massive missed opportunity and borderline rude.

Relationship-building failure: When someone takes the time to reply to your comment, they're signaling interest in continuing the conversation. Ignoring that signal wastes the relationship-building opportunity you just created.

Algorithm impact: Back-and-forth comment threads signal to LinkedIn that this is an engaging discussion worth amplifying. When conversations die after one exchange, you're telling the algorithm this isn't compelling content.

THE FIX: Set up a notification system that actually gets your attention when someone replies to your comments. Respond within 24 hours. Even a simple "Great point, hadn't thought of it that way" keeps the conversation alive and shows respect for the author's engagement.

Mistake #9 - Commenting Only When You Want Something

Some people have a LinkedIn commenting pattern that's painfully obvious: They go silent for weeks, then suddenly they're commenting everywhere when they have something to promote (new job, new product launch, speaking engagement, etc.).

Pattern recognition by your network: People notice this. Your sudden engagement spike signals that you're only showing up when you need something, not when you have something to give.

THE FIX: Consistent presence strategy. Even if it's just 2-3 quality comments per week, maintain a baseline level of engagement. This makes your presence feel genuine rather than transactional.

When you do have something to promote, your existing engagement history makes it feel like part of an ongoing conversation rather than an extraction attempt.

Mistake #10 - Using the Same Generic Templates

Comment templates can be helpful starting points, but when you use the exact same template structure for every comment, it shows.

Common template pattern I see everywhere: "[Agree with specific point]. In my experience, [similar experience]. [Generic question]."

Using this structure occasionally is fine. Using it for every single comment makes you sound like a bot running a script.

Template fatigue: The more people use the same commenting templates, the more obvious they become to readers. When three people leave structurally identical comments on the same post, even if the words differ, the pattern is visible.

THE FIX: Vary your comment structure. Sometimes lead with a question. Sometimes tell a story. Sometimes offer a contrarian perspective. Sometimes just share a relevant resource. Keep readers (and the algorithm) guessing about what you'll say next.

Better yet, use tools that preserve your authentic voice while helping with efficiency. The LiGo Chrome Extension generates comments based on your established themes and voice patterns rather than generic templates. This prevents the template fatigue problem while still saving you time.

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Transforming Your LinkedIn Commenting Strategy

You now know the ten critical mistakes killing your comment effectiveness. Fixing all ten at once would be overwhelming, so here's the priority order:

Fix immediately (highest impact):

• Mistake #1 (generic comments) - Start referencing specific elements from posts
• Mistake #2 (not reading fully) - Spend 90 seconds actually reading before commenting
• Mistake #3 (self-promotion) - Lead with value, not sales

Fix this week (medium-high impact):

• Mistake #5 (no questions) - Add thoughtful questions to 30-40% of comments
• Mistake #8 (no reply follow-up) - Set up notification system, respond within 24 hours
• Mistake #6 (only big accounts) - Implement 80/20 commenting mix

Fix this month (important for long-term credibility):

• Mistake #4 (too long) - Edit comments to 3-5 sentences
• Mistake #7 (copying comments) - Make each comment contextually unique
• Mistake #9 (only when wanting something) - Establish consistent presence
• Mistake #10 (same templates) - Vary your comment structure

Track your results. After fixing these mistakes, you should see within two weeks:

• Increased reply rate from post authors
• More profile views per comment
• Higher connection acceptance rate
• More substantive conversations starting from your comments

LinkedIn commenting is one of the highest-leverage activities for building your professional network, but only when done right. Avoid these ten mistakes, and you'll separate yourself from 90% of LinkedIn users who keep making them.

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• 15 LinkedIn Engagement Hacks That Actually Work in 2025
• LinkedIn Comment Generator Tools Compared: Free vs Paid Options
• AI LinkedIn Writing: How to Keep Your Authentic Voice (Complete Guide)