LinkedIn is not social media - it’s a business platform creatives can no longer ignore
- Bolormaa Erdenebileg
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
During the ADFEST, one of the most thought-provoking workshops I attended focused on a question many creatives are quietly asking: how should we actually be using LinkedIn today?
Titled “LinkedIn for Creatives - The 2026 edition,” the session challenged a long-held perception—that LinkedIn is a purely corporate, overly formal platform with limited relevance for creative professionals.
Instead, it presented a much clearer reality.
LinkedIn is no longer just a social media platform. It is a business-critical ecosystem where visibility, credibility and opportunity converge.
The real issue is not presence - it’s positioning
Most creatives already know they “should” be on LinkedIn. Their clients, collaborators and potential partners are already there.
The challenge, as the workshop highlighted, is not participation - but positioning.
Many creatives hesitate because:
The platform feels dominated by corporate voices
They are unsure what is worth sharing
Their feed often feels irrelevant or low-quality
Connecting with unfamiliar people feels unnatural
These are not capability gaps. They are mindset gaps.
LinkedIn today rewards clarity of thought, not corporate tone. And for creatives, that creates a powerful advantage.
From corporate platform to human platform
One of the most valuable takeaways from the session was a simple but important shift:
People do not connect with brands. They connect with people behind them.
LinkedIn has evolved into a space where professional credibility is increasingly built through human expression. This includes not only sharing company updates, but also:
Personal insights and perspectives
Reflections on work and process
Everyday professional moments - even small milestones
Even something as simple as acknowledging a birthday or a team achievement can contribute to building a more relatable and trustworthy presence.
This does not dilute professionalism. It strengthens it.
A more effective content model: individual vs company
The workshop also introduced a practical and highly relevant content approach:
Individual profiles should carry a more structured, professional tone—focused on expertise, insights, and value-driven content.
Company pages should lean more into human storytelling—showcasing team culture, employee voices, and the people behind the brand.
In many cases, organizations attempt to do the opposite—resulting in content that feels either too corporate or too impersonal.
When used correctly, this dual structure creates a stronger, more credible presence across both levels.
LinkedIn as a growth lever, not a content channel
Perhaps the most important reframing from the workshop was this:
LinkedIn is not a place to simply “post content.”It is a platform to build:
Visibility
Trust
Relationships
Opportunities
For creatives, this is particularly significant. In an industry where reputation and network often determine access to opportunities, LinkedIn becomes a strategic growth tool - not just a communication channel.
Finally, what this workshop ultimately reinforced is that LinkedIn is not about being louder—it is about being clearer, more intentional, and more human.
For me, it marked a shift in perspective.
Not from whether to use LinkedIn,but from how casually I had been approaching it to recognizing it as a platform that, when used strategically, can meaningfully shape professional direction and opportunity.
By Senior Journalist Perspective
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