The Psychology Behind What Gets Likes on LinkedIn

10/5/2025• 5 min read• By 7TEA1 Team

Every founder wants to write that one post.

The one that triggers a cascade of likes, DMs from investors, and a bump in profile views.
But most posts… land with a dull thud.

So what actually drives people to tap that little thumbs-up icon?

It's not luck. It's psychology.
Here's what you need to know if you want to consistently earn engagement on LinkedIn.

1. Mirror Neurons: "This Feels Like Me"

The human brain is wired to respond to familiar experiences.

When you post a story or struggle that mirrors what your audience is going through, their brain lights up with empathy. That's when likes happen.

Post idea: "I just missed a pitch call because my toddler spilled milk on my laptop. Founder life is chaos sometimes."

This isn't oversharing—it's relatable. And relatability is the shortcut to resonance.

2. Social Proof: "Other People Liked It, So I Will Too"

Ever notice how posts with 50+ likes get even more likes?

That's the bandwagon effect. Humans are tribal. If something seems popular, we're more inclined to engage too.

Hack: Encourage early engagement. Send your post to 2-3 friends and ask them to like/comment within the first hour.

You're not gaming the system—you're giving it momentum.

3. Emotional Triggers: "This Made Me Feel Something"

People don't remember posts.
They remember how your post made them feel.

LinkedIn may be a "professional" platform, but emotional storytelling performs best.

Inspiration: "We almost shut down last month. Here's how we turned it around."
Vulnerability: "I got rejected by 12 VCs this week. Here's what I'm doing next."
Pride: "My co-founder just became a dad. Running a startup and a nursery now."

These emotions build human connection—key for founder-led brands.

4. Cognitive Ease: "This Was Easy to Digest"

The brain likes simplicity. Posts that are scannable, well-formatted, and punchy perform better.

�� Use line breaks.
🔥 Keep paragraphs under 3 lines.
🔥 Use bold or emojis for emphasis (in moderation).
🔥 Kill jargon.

If someone has to work to understand your post… they'll scroll past.

5. Self-Identity: "This Post Aligns With Who I Am"

People like posts that reinforce how they see themselves.

Startup operators love growth hacks.
VCs love crisp insights and market trends.
Designers love beautiful UX rants.

Know your audience. Speak to their identity.
Your post becomes a mirror, not a megaphone.

6. Curiosity Gaps: "I Need to Know What Happens Next"

The best posts create a tension that begs to be resolved.

"We deleted our waitlist. What happened next shocked us."
"This founder lost everything—and built back better."
"I fired our best engineer. Here's why."

This open loop triggers curiosity, and curiosity gets clicks, reads, and reactions.

7. Reciprocity: "You Gave Me Value—Here's a Like"

People reward useful content.

If your post helps someone solve a problem, they're more likely to like it as a thank-you.

Think: Checklists, tools, templates, teardown posts.

Don't be afraid to teach.
Education is engagement.

TL;DR: Want More Likes? Think Like a Human, Not an Algorithm

The best-performing LinkedIn posts aren't written for the feed.
They're written for people.

People who want to feel seen. Learn something. Be inspired. Be understood.

So next time you write a post, ask:

Would this make me stop scrolling?
Does it spark emotion or insight?
Is it easy to consume?

Because when your post hits someone's heart or head—they'll hit the like button.

P.S.

At 7TEA1, we built Jerry to help founders craft posts that sound like them—and actually get read.
No automation. No spam. Just trust-building content.

Want in? Check it out here →