Vulse ArtVulse Art
Home/How-to Guides

How LinkedIn's Advertising Features Performed In 2023

  • How-To Guides|
  • LinkedIn Strategy
blog-image

2023 marked a transformative year for LinkedIn, especially in the B2B advertising sector.

 

The platform rolled out several enhancements, notably predictive audiences and revenue attribution reporting, significantly enhancing its allure for B2B marketers.

 

This article explores these developments, assesses their impact, and identifies areas for further enhancement.

 

The Shifting B2B Ad Landscape In 2023

 

While Google has navigated through various challenges in the B2B space this year, LinkedIn has notably advanced. The B2B advertising scene has witnessed a shift, with LinkedIn becoming increasingly integral in B2B ad strategies. The trend has shifted from targeting cold audiences to more effectively nurturing leads across the sales funnel, leveraging LinkedIn's robust B2B audience.

 

The Highlights Of LinkedIn's 2023 Ad Updates

 

Elevating Brands with Thought-Leadership Ads

 

LinkedIn's thought-leadership ads have emerged as a highlight among the platform's new offerings. These ads empower businesses to amplify LinkedIn content strategies from their organisational thought leaders. Their personal touch makes these ads more engaging, ideal for top-of-the-funnel marketing approaches.

 

AI-driven Predictive Audiences: A Game Changer

 

Predictive audiences, utilising AI to identify potentially valuable users, represent another significant advancement. This feature allows advertisers to harness LinkedIn’s extensive business data for targeted audience creation, addressing the need for more nuanced customer profiling.

 

Delving into Deals: Revenue Attribution Reporting

 

LinkedIn’s revenue attribution reporting lets B2B companies dissect the role of LinkedIn ads in successful business deals. This feature offers invaluable insights into the impact of LinkedIn’s advertising on business outcomes.

 

Exploring the LinkedIn Ad Library

 

A recent innovation, the LinkedIn ad library, permits users to scrutinise competitor ads via keywords or company names. This tool extends its insights beyond typical sponsored content, including conversation ad examples.

 

Segmenting Companies for Enhanced Targeting

 

The platform's improved company segmentation tools now enable advertisers to categorise target accounts based on engagement level. This functionality is key to refining bidding and targeting strategies, considering the engagement level with your content.

 

Targeting with Precision: Services Interest Targeting

 

This feature, similar to in-market audiences, is designed to target individuals actively engaged in topics relevant to a company’s solutions. Though currently limited in scope, it shows potential for more targeted advertising within specific sectors.

 

Opportunities for LinkedIn’s Ad Platform Evolution

 

Despite the strides made in 2023, LinkedIn has opportunities for growth and improvement. Expanding service interest targeting categories and enhancing audience targeting tools would be particularly beneficial. As LinkedIn continues to evolve, B2B marketers need to stay updated with these changes to maximise the platform's advertising capabilities.

Vulse ArtVulse ArtVulse Art
Vulse Art

You May also be interested in

  • blog img

    Simple LinkedIn Post Framework For Employee Advocates To Boost Reach And Trust

    In this guide, we share a repeatable, tested framework your employees can use to write LinkedIn posts that increase reach, drive engagement, and protect authenticity.Use these steps to coach advocates, run quick experiments, and measure wins.Learn a 5-part LinkedIn post framework optimized for employee sharing.Includes example templates, testing tips, and measurement signals.Designed to keep posts authentic while improving reach and CTR.Why a simple framework mattersMany employee advocates want to help but don’t know how to turn ideas into posts that perform on LinkedIn.A clear, short framework reduces friction and preserves each person’s voice while aligning content with business goals.Purpose: teach non-writers a reliable structure that balances authenticity and discoverability so your program drives measurable results.The 5-part LinkedIn post frameworkUse these five elements in order. Not every post needs all five, but this sequence is your baseline for consistent performance.1. Hook (1–2 lines)Start with a single strong sentence that creates curiosity, states a clear benefit, or challenges an assumption. Short hooks drive more clicks and reduce scroll fatigue.Examples: "Why our launch failed in week one" or "3 small habits that doubled my focus."2. Value or story (2–4 short paragraphs)Deliver practical value or a concise personal story. Keep paragraphs to one or two sentences. Bullet lists work well here to make ideas scannable.3. Evidence or microcase (1 paragraph)Add one concrete data point, a quick example, or a mini case that supports the claim. This builds credibility without turning the post into a long read.4. Clear human CTA (call to action)End with a simple CTA that invites conversation, not sales pressure. Examples: "What do you think?" "Share a tip below." "If you’ve tried this, tell me how it went."5. Don't forget accessibilityFinish with alt text for any image you attach which helps accessibility and sometimes keeps posts clear if images don’t load.Post templates advocates can useProvide employees with short, fill-in-the-blank templates they can personalize. Templates reduce decision fatigue and increase adoption.Lesson template: “Hook. What happened. What I learned. One tip. CTA.”How-to template: "Problem. Quick steps (3 bullets). Result. CTA asking for others’ tips."Thought starter: “Contrarian statement. Brief rationale. One question to the audience.”Practical coaching tips for managersRun a 20–30 minute workshop to introduce the framework.Use live examples from your team’s LinkedIn to map posts to the format. Short group edits show how to maintain voice while improving structure.Encourage employees to keep a swipe file of ideas and snippets they can quickly turn into posts. Consider pairing new advocates with a mentor for the first 6–8 posts.Test and measure what mattersFocus on simple, meaningful metrics that reflect both reach and quality:Impressions and engagement rate (likes + comments divided by impressions)Qualitative signal: number of meaningful comments or DM leadsDownstream signal: clicks to content, topic mentions, or demo requestsRun A/B tests on hook styles, post length, and CTA phrasing for two weeks per test. Use internal tracking or a platform like Vulse to capture advocate-level performance.Quick checklist before publishingDoes the first line create curiosity or state a benefit?Is the post under 250 words and broken into short paragraphs?Is there a clear CTA that invites conversation?Have you added 2–4 relevant hashtags and alt text for images?Common pitfalls and how to avoid themAvoid making posts read like ads. If a post feels promotional, remove the sales language and add a human insight.Don’t over-hashtag; three focused tags often outperform a long list. Finally, respect employees' voices-coaching should be optional and framed as skill development.Ready-to-run experiment (7 days)Day 1: Run a 30-minute training introducing the framework.Days 2–6: Each advocate posts using one template. Track impressions and comments.Day 7: Review results and share top-performing hooks and CTAs with the team. Repeat with minor tweaks.For examples and case studies on advocate-led content that scaled, see our resources.Author:Questions and answersQ: How often should employee advocates post?A: Start with one post per week per advocate. Consistency matters more than volume; increase frequency only after measuring quality and engagement.Q: How do we keep posts authentic while aligning to brand goals?A: Use frameworks and templates, but let employees personalize language, anecdotes, and opinions. Offer optional topic buckets rather than rigid scripts.Q: Should we require approval before posting?A: Prefer guidance over gatekeeping. Use lightweight checks for regulated industries, otherwise encourage speed and authenticity with optional review for new advocates.

    Loading

    Simple LinkedIn Post Framework For Employee Advocates To Boost Reach And Trust

    by - Rob Illidge -

  • blog img

    The Complete Guide To Employee Advocacy Training For High-Impact LinkedIn Results

    This article explains how to build a practical, repeatable microlearning program to turn employees into confident LinkedIn advocates.Here's our step-by-step 6-week plan, module ideas, delivery tips, and ways to measure and sustain participation.Short, weekly modules increase completion and confidence.Design modules for profile polish, content curation, posting, and compliance.Use cohort challenges, badges, and reporting to reinforce habits and show value.Why microlearning works for employee advocacyLong training sessions are a participation killer. Microlearning breaks onboarding into tiny, targeted bursts that employees can finish on a commute or between meetings.For employee advocacy, the goal is not to create social media experts but to build repeatable, brand-safe habits.Micro-modules reduce friction, increase retention, and let you iterate content based on performance and feedback.6-week microlearning onboarding planThis ready-made plan balances skill, confidence, and compliance. Each week includes a 5–12 minute lesson, a practical task, and a quick quiz or reflection.Week 1: Why advocacy matters and low-friction first stepsExplain program purpose, expectations, and benefits. Task: like or share one company post with a personal note.Week 2: LinkedIn profile polishTeach headline, summary, and experience tweaks that improve discoverability. Task: update headline and add a short summary line aligned with role.Week 3: Content types and curationShow the 3 content types you want (company news, thought leadership, human stories). Task: save or suggest 3 shareable pieces from a provided content pack.Week 4: Simple post frameworksTeach a 3-part post formula: hook, value, CTA. Task: draft and publish a short post using the template.Week 5: Compliance and brand guardrailsCover what employees can and cannot say, privacy rules, and how to escalate questions. Task: complete a 3-question compliance quiz.Week 6: Amplify and measureShow how advocacy ties to metrics: reach, profile views, referral traffic. Task: compare week 1 and week 6 metrics and share one learning.Essential micro-modules to includeProfile optimization checklist3 quick post templates with examplesContent curation playbook and a monthly content packShort compliance scenarios and a one-question escalation flowSimple metrics dashboard and how to read itDelivery formats and tools that improve completionChoose formats that match how your people work. Mobile-first video, bite-sized emails, and chat nudges outperform long PDFs.Short videos (60–120 seconds) and captionsInteractive quizzes and reflection promptsSlack or Teams nudges and cohort channels for peer feedbackMicro-certificates or badges delivered via email or LMSUse your employee advocacy platform for content distribution and tracking. For example, integrate with your content hub to push curated packs and track clicks.Motivation, reinforcement, and measurementTraining is only useful if habits stick. Combine social proof, recognition, and visible metrics to keep momentum.Cohort challenges: small groups complete tasks together and share results.Visible leaderboards: show top contributors and sample wins.Recognition rituals: highlight stories in internal newsletters or town halls.Tie your program to outcomes. Use simple KPIs like participation rate, average reach per post, and referral traffic to campaigns. If you need a measurement framework, see our guide on proving advocacy impact.Common roadblocks and how to fix themLow completion: reduce module length and add a 1-minute reward (badge or recognition).Fear of posting: offer templates, peer review, and a private practice channel.Compliance concerns: build clear do/don't examples and a fast escalation path.Content scarcity: provide a monthly content pack and allow employees to suggest ideas.Scaling beyond onboardingAfter the initial 6-week program, keep momentum with monthly micro-modules - product updates, customer wins, or personal storytelling prompts.Couple learning with incentives and recognition programs to sustain long-term participation and measurable results.Q: How long should each micro-module be?A: Aim for 5–12 minutes of content plus a 5-minute task. Shorter modules increase completion and repeat engagement.Q: What metrics prove training success?A: Participation rate, active advocates, average reach per post, profile views, and referral clicks to campaigns are practical starting KPIs.Q: Can we run onboarding without a dedicated advocacy platform?A: Yes, but platforms dramatically ease distribution, tracking, and content packaging. If you lack one, use a mix of email, Slack channels, and a simple spreadsheet for tracking.

    Loading

    The Complete Guide To Employee Advocacy Training For High-Impact LinkedIn Results

    by - Rob Illidge -

  • blog img

    How To Use LinkedIn Articles And Newsletters To Scale Employee Thought Leadership

    In this exclusive guide, we'll show you how B2B marketing and HR teams can use LinkedIn long-form content, specifically Articles and Newsletters, to build scalable employee thought leadership that drives trust, discoverability, and pipeline signals.Purpose: Practical steps to launch and scale employee-written LinkedIn Articles and Newsletters.Outcome: Increased discoverability, shareable assets, and repeatable workflows for employee advocates.Who this helps: Marketing managers, internal comms, and HR teams running employee advocacy programs.Why long-form content matters for employee personal brandsShort posts amplify reach, but Articles and Newsletters create lasting assets.They index on LinkedIn and search engines, demonstrate expertise, and give employees a reusable content hub for speaking, sales enablement, and recruiting.LinkedIn’s own guidance on newsletters and articles shows they help authors build a subscriber base and extend reach beyond a single post. See LinkedIn’s help center for how LinkedIn newsletters work.Three reasons to include Articles and Newsletters in your employee advocacy playbookSearchable credibility: Articles live on the author’s profile and can be found via Google and LinkedIn search.Subscriber momentum: Newsletters create an opt-in audience that notifies subscribers when new issues publish.Repurposable assets: Long-form pieces feed shorter posts, videos, and sales enablement collateral.How to run a low-risk pilot for employee Articles and NewslettersStart small with a 6-week pilot that focuses on coaching, templates, and measurement.Week 0: Select authors and set goalsChoose 4 to 8 employees across sales, product, and customer success.Set simple goals: subscribers, article views, and lead signals from comments or messages.Week 1-2: Train and templateRun a two-hour workshop on topic selection and storytelling. Use practical templates: intro hook, 3 insight sections, and action items.Provide a headline swipe file and SEO tips for LinkedIn Articles.Week 3-6: Publish and amplifyPublish one article per author and convert it into a weekly or biweekly newsletter issue if traction appears.Amplify through employee networks with a simple share kit: suggested post copy, hero image, and tagging guidelines.Editorial and governance rules that keep the program scalableLong form introduces brand and compliance risk if unmanaged.Put straightforward governance in place:Lightweight editorial review for claims and sensitive content.Ownership rules: authors own voice, company reviews for legal or customer references.Republishing policy: who can repurpose company blog content and how to credit sources.Measurement: metrics that matterMeasure both direct and downstream impact.Direct: article views, read time, newsletter subscribers, and engagement rate.Downstream: inbound messages, demo requests mentioning content, and link clicks to gated assets.Track a small set of KPIs and add qualitative win stories from sales and recruiting.Repurposing playbook: get more from each long form pieceExtract 3–5 short posts promoting key quotes or stats.Create a 60–90 second video summarizing the article for LinkedIn native video.Convert article sections into a downloadable slide or checklist for lead capture.Tools such as an employee advocacy platform can automate content distribution and track amplification across the team.Best practices and examplesEncourage authenticity and useful takeaways. HubSpot’s guide to LinkedIn Articles is a practical resource for structure and optimization.Also, review industry thought leadership research to understand what audiences value in long-form content.Tip: Start with customer problems, lessons learned, or unique frameworks rather than promotional pieces. Readers subscribe for insights, not pitches.Questions AnswersQ: Who should own editorial coaching for employee newsletters?A: A cross-functional content lead or communications manager should coach authors, supported by subject matter reviewers.Q: How often should employees publish newsletters?A: Start with biweekly or monthly cadence. Frequency should match the author's bandwidth and the audience response rate.Q: Can company content be republished as employee articles?A: Yes, with clear attribution and small edits to reflect the author voice. Include a republishing clause in your governance doc.

    Loading

    How To Use LinkedIn Articles And Newsletters To Scale Employee Thought Leadership

    by - Rob Illidge -

Revolutionise Your LinkedIn Output Today

Got a question? Give us a call or start your free trail today