Why you are killing your LinkedIn growth

Let’s get real for a second.

You’re not on LinkedIn to waste time—you want results, fast.

But if you’re like I was, you’re probably making a huge mistake on LinkedIn: trying to speak to everyone. Different audiences, different pain points. You think it’ll bring more opportunities, but all it’s really doing is diluting your message, draining your energy, and slowing down your growth. Trust me, I’ve been there.

I was exhausted trying to build an audience—because I was speaking to everyone

I used to think the more people I could reach, the better. It made sense in my head: different audiences meant more chances for engagement, right? But here’s what actually happened—I got lost in the noise. My content felt scattered. People weren’t engaging because it wasn’t speaking directly to them. Every post felt like a shot in the dark, and I was spinning my wheels trying to please everyone.

Take this, for example: one day I’d be posting about leadership tips for corporate executives, and the next I’d be sharing advice for freelancers on how to land clients. The result? Neither audience cared, because neither felt like I was speaking directly to them. Engagement tanked, and I was left wondering why my content wasn’t resonating with anyone.

I’ll be honest—it was exhausting.

Here’s what turned it around for me: I focused on one audience. Suddenly, my content started hitting home. The right people were paying attention because I was speaking directly to their pain points. My engagement skyrocketed, and I was no longer wasting energy chasing everyone—I was building a community that actually cared.

I couldn’t track what was working—because my strategy was all over the place

Here’s where it really hurt: I had no idea what was working. Some posts got engagement, others didn’t, but I had no clue why. Was it the audience? The messaging? I was throwing stuff at the wall and hoping something would stick, but that’s not a strategy—it’s chaos. And it was frustrating as hell.

One moment I’d be tailoring content to solo entrepreneurs, and the next, I’d be targeting corporate professionals. The problem? When I looked at the analytics, the data was all over the place. I couldn’t figure out which posts were driving engagement or converting into leads, because I was trying to juggle too many conversations at once. I felt like I was constantly guessing, never knowing what actually resonated.

Here’s what changed everything: Once I narrowed my focus to one audience, everything became clearer. I could see exactly which content was resonating, which posts were driving leads, and where my efforts were paying off. I stopped guessing and started building momentum, because I was finally tracking progress that made sense.

I was spreading myself too thin—trying to create content for everyone

Another huge mistake I made? Trying to create content that appealed to multiple audiences. I was stretching myself thin, constantly researching different industries and crafting messages for various groups. One day I was posting about marketing for small businesses, the next about leadership in Fortune 500 companies. The pressure to keep up was overwhelming, and it left me burnt out.

It felt like no matter how much time and energy I put into creating content, it was never enough. And the worst part? I wasn’t seeing the results I expected. All that work was leading to inconsistent posting because I couldn’t keep up, which meant my visibility was dropping. The exact opposite of what I needed.

Here’s what set me free: I stopped trying to be everything to everyone and focused on what I could do well. I honed in on one audience, one message, and simplified my approach. Suddenly, I wasn’t drowning in work, and I wasn’t exhausted from trying to juggle everything. My content became more consistent, and as a result, my visibility increased.

The painful truth (and what you can do about it)

The painful truth? Trying to appeal to multiple audiences on LinkedIn is killing your growth. It’s making everything harder—your content isn’t hitting, your profile is confusing, and you’re running yourself into the ground trying to figure out what’s working. I’ve been there, and I know the frustration of putting in the work and not seeing the payoff.

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be this way. You can turn things around by focusing on one audience, nailing one message, and simplifying your approach. You’ll get clarity, see faster results, and—most importantly—stop feeling like you’re spinning your wheels with nothing to show for it.

Here’s what’s in it for you

If you narrow your focus, you’ll stop feeling exhausted and start feeling in control. Your content will resonate, your profile will convert, and you’ll actually see progress you can track and build on. You’ll go from feeling like LinkedIn is a slog to seeing real, tangible results from your efforts.

So stop trying to be everything to everyone. Pick your audience. Speak directly to them. And watch your LinkedIn growth finally take off.