I Fell For The Ultimate LinkedIn Hustle Scam - Here's What Happened

Don't make the same expensive mistake as I did

AI image generated with DallE

Last week and today, I posted on LinkedIn again. It had been ages, mainly because I have a complicated relationship with the platform. But I figured—why not give it another shot - this time with another ‘why’ in mind.

As I scrolled through my feed, I hoped to find something fresh, something insightful.

Instead, I found the same repetitive success formulas and productivity hacks.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of these recycled theories. So much of the advice on LinkedIn feels detached from real life—just a collection of conceptual frameworks that sound good but rarely work in practice.

I wonder how this time around, I can bring a more refreshing perspective and content to the platform. (If I have the stamina).

And I judge now, but I used to be that person. Echoing the same content over and over again.

Being a hypocrite

So, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Pretend I’m above all of it. Because, if I scroll back through my own feed, I cringe. Hard.

I started writing on LinkedIn in 2023 out of pure intrinsic motivation. I had gone through significant personal growth, and I wanted to share my learnings.

But soon, I got sucked into the LinkedInfluencer scene. People with massive followings told me how I should grow and what I should do. I consumed all their advice. I believed it all. (You see this happening on Substack too, by the way.)

I followed the ‘rules,’ but the results didn’t come. Frustrated, I doubled down, posting twice a week turned into three, then five. I liked, commented, and replied like a maniac. But nothing changed, so I assumed I was doing something wrong.

I became obsessed. For all the wrong reasons.

The Turning Point

Eventually, I sought help from the “professionals.” I booked an exorbitantly expensive coaching call with one of the so-called best.

And let me tell you, it was a complete waste of money.

I walked away with one crucial lesson: NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS.

At the end of the call, without even blinking, she told me:

"To grow, you need big names commenting on your posts."

She could help with that, she and her friends (other LinkedInfluencers). Of course, they charged money for it. The price? Anywhere from $10 to $50 per comment, depending on the influencer’s follower count. I could even buy a package.

Excuse me, what?!

Never in my life would I pay for a fake comment.

(Obviously, I didn’t say that out loud at the time.)

But I knew, deep within my core, that was a line I wouldn’t cross.

Suddenly, everything became crystal clear. It was all fake. I was disgusted.

I left LinkedIn feeling disillusioned, empty-handed, and like a failure. I felt ashamed for falling into the trap.

I took a break. And I realized, I didn’t miss LinkedIn.

The one thing I did miss? Writing.

I needed a new space where I could write freely, away from the rules and the growth hacks. That’s how I ended up on Substack.

Why I’m Returning to LinkedIn

After nearly a year away, I’m returning to LinkedIn.

On my terms.

Why? Simple: to attract potential clients. I need clients to grow my writing business, I'm trying to build here in public.

But I still feel so much resistance. I’m curious to see how it will play out.

My first post actually did well—over 200 likes and +30k views so far, and I gained some new followers. The best part? It was easy. I took the piece I wrote last week and threw it into ChatGPT with the prompt, “Write me a LinkedIn post based on this article.”

Bam. There it was. No work. Easy peasy. In my voice. (I didn’t use AI for my long-form article, just the LI post.)

So now my thought is going like this:

"I can do this."

"But can I, really?"

"Maybe I should go all in on Substack?"

"And ignore LinkedIn?"

"But then were will I find my clients? On Substack?"

The contradicting voices in my head are loud. And I need to remind myself: "be soft, be soft."

So, for now, I’ll start with one LI post per week and see how it goes. No pressure, no expectations.

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I'm curious to read about your LinkedIn or other Social Media disillusionment experiences. Let me know in the comments!

See you in the next one!

With love,

Marie