Help Wanted – "How Do I LinkedIn? Help!"
Podcast by Money News Network
Hosts: Jason Feifer (Entrepreneur Editor-in-Chief) & Nicole Lapin (Money Expert)
Date: December 2, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode is a hands-on masterclass for anyone mystified or intimidated by LinkedIn. Nicole Lapin, self-professed social media avoider, admits she’s been ignoring LinkedIn, even though her brand and career could benefit. Jason Feifer, a LinkedIn “Top Voice” with nearly 100,000 followers, guides Nicole through the basics and shares actionable strategies for making LinkedIn work—for her, and anyone else looking to build career opportunities, authority, and meaningful connection.
Major Discussion Points & Insights
1. Nicole’s LinkedIn Dilemma and Initial Attitude
- Nicole confesses she neglects LinkedIn:
"If you put a gun to my head right now and asked me for my LinkedIn password, I would be dead." (05:03, Nicole Lapin)
- She’s never had a resume or CV, always getting jobs through broadcast and connections.
- Feels LinkedIn is the hardest platform to outsource and worries about making mistakes in a more professional space.
2. LinkedIn’s Evolution—Why It Matters Now
- Jason explains LinkedIn’s shift:
- Once mainly about job searches and resumes, infamous for spamming your contacts.
- Morphed into a showy brag-fest, but now prioritizes usefulness.
"LinkedIn is very focused on being a platform where people share insights and advice... They want it to be of career value." (06:18, Jason Feifer)
- LinkedIn’s audience is broad; everyone from beginners to accomplished professionals look for actionable advice.
3. The Real Value of LinkedIn
- Jason shares that despite his high profile, engaging on LinkedIn supercharged his visibility and opened valuable doors:
“Once I started taking LinkedIn seriously and posting every day... people started to say, ‘Oh, wow, you’re really blowing up.’” (10:33, Jason Feifer)
- He notes regular, actionable posts drive discovery, networking, business opportunities, and invitations.
4. How to Post on LinkedIn—the Key Formula
- Posts = Short Lessons or Insights
- Each post should stand alone—share a story, lesson, or observation.
- Drop the viral “tricks” from Instagram or Twitter; focus on service and sincerity.
"A LinkedIn post should feel like a little lesson. It should feel helpful. It should feel kind of a little earnest." (12:18, Jason Feifer)
- Algorithm Rewards Usefulness
- Jason describes how LinkedIn’s algorithm now rewards insight and advice, not viral “like bait.”
- Example of a Hook (Structure):
- Use a cliffhanger or open question in the first two lines so viewers click "see more."
- E.g.,
"Would you accept this pitch?"
"Watch out—because you might actually make some of these same mistakes in your own work."
(18:26, Jason Feifer)
5. Practical Tips: Posting, Scheduling, and Engagement
- Keep a running list of possible post ideas from daily experiences.
- Schedule posts for consistency (Jason sometimes writes at night, schedules for the morning).
- Regular insightful posting brings in newsletter subscribers, business leads, and builds authority (even if post reach is lower due to algorithm changes).
- Aim to “be meaningful to the people you reach”—quality over maximal reach.
6. LinkedIn 101 Q&A: Building Connections & Daily Management
- Nicole asks about the basics—connection invitations, DMs, dealing with overwhelming requests.
"I have 337 [connection requests]. Is that a normal amount to have?" (24:40, Nicole Lapin)
- Jason’s practical strategy:
- Accept nearly all connection requests unless obviously spam.
- Use a VA to send a personal-sounding follow-up message, often growing his newsletter list.
- Scan new connections regularly for notable people and interact directly.
- Engagement: Jason tries to reply to comments but doesn’t feel pressured to scroll endlessly—separates posting from consuming.
7. Mindset Shift: LinkedIn Is Not Instagram
- LinkedIn audience is “not fans”—they’re professionals seeking insight and actionable value, not just surface-level updates.
"You have to come into LinkedIn like you're walking into a classroom, and you are for 30 seconds at the front... have something to share." (34:13, Jason Feifer)
- Jason guides Nicole to share insights from her experience (e.g., the distinction between being ‘nice’ and being ‘kind’—a lesson).
8. Nicole’s First LinkedIn Post – Building the Habit
- Jason encourages Nicole (and listeners) to choose consistency over unattainable perfection:
“Don't set the goal at posting every day… maybe it’s post once a week... build towards big things by starting with small things.” (32:02, Jason Feifer)
- Nicole posts for the first time, keeps it simple, and Jason reassures:
“We're not going for strongest. Baby steps. Crawl, walk, run.” (35:15, Jason Feifer)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Social Media Avoidance:
“If I could not be on it, I 100% would… It felt networky. And… I had enough work people that I knew and couldn’t keep up with… I think it's been the one that's been the hardest to outsource, probably.”
(07:55, Nicole Lapin) -
On the Power of Posting Lessons:
“When you do that, what you find is this audience of people who, like, engage. They leave comments, they offer their own insights, they start to follow you, they start to DM you. It's really interesting.”
(14:34, Jason Feifer) -
On Avoiding Scroll Overload:
“I really would encourage you…to separate in your mind, Nicole, break these two things apart in your head right now. Posting, consuming. They're different things.”
(29:12, Jason Feifer) -
On Why to Try LinkedIn at All:
“It is worth figuring out where your people are… and if you haven’t figured out how to engage there, it's worth trying. You're not going to get it right the first time.”
(36:36, Jason Feifer) -
Jason’s Structure for a LinkedIn Post:
Start with a cliffhanger/hook
Include a lesson or insight
End with a gentle call to action
Important Timestamps
- 05:00 – Nicole admits her LinkedIn ignorance/confession
- 06:11–10:33 – Jason explains why LinkedIn MATTERS now, and his personal experience
- 12:18–18:26 – How to write valuable LinkedIn posts; Jason’s real example & structure
- 24:40–28:19 – LinkedIn Connection Management; how Jason handles invites and DMs
- 29:08–30:27 – Differentiating between posting and consuming on LinkedIn
- 31:13–35:36 – Nicole’s first real LinkedIn post! Jason’s advice for sustainable habits
- 36:36 – Closing takeaways on experimenting, engaging, and finding value
Actionable Tips for Listeners
- See LinkedIn as a classroom, not a stage. Share real insights, not just self-promotion.
- Consistency trumps volume. Posting once per week (or biweekly) with value works.
- Separate “posting” from “scrolling.” Don’t let LinkedIn become another mindless feed.
- Use connection requests as an opportunity—politely nurture your network.
- Experiment with message hooks and CTA endings. Track what resonates.
Tone and Takeaways
Nicole brings honesty, vulnerability, and wit (“If you put a gun to my head… I’d be dead”), while Jason is reassuring, practical, and encouraging (“It’s crawl, walk, run. Just do it.”).
The energy is supportive and direct—no jargon, lots of real talk.
This episode de-mystifies LinkedIn and serves as a practical springboard for reluctant or frustrated professionals to finally get value out of the platform by rethinking their habits and approach to sharing work and wisdom.