# Algorithmic Ranking Playbook for X and LinkedIn

Modern feeds reward sessions and quality interactions, not raw clicks. This playbook translates ranking mechanics into concrete publishing and engagement tactics your team can standardize.

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## 1) Core Signals to Influence
- Early velocity window: likes/replies/comments in first 60–120 minutes carry outsized weight
- Dwell and return-to-thread: time spent, scroll-back, comment expansions
- Graph relevance: interaction proximity, author-author edges, topical affinity
- Negative signals: hides, reports, rapid bounce from external links
- Content integrity: duplicate detection, spam heuristics, phrasing entropy

Implication: design the first 2 hours and the first 2 sentences with intention.

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## 2) Structure-Aware Content (Reusable Patterns)
- Contrast First (2–3 lines): name the default advice, then flip with a reason + proof
- Tiny Framework (3–5 bullets): steps under 10 minutes, each a micro-outcome
- Evidence Drop: short claim + metric + artifact (chart/screenshot)
- Diagnostic Question: narrow, answerable prompt that invites practitioners
- CTA Ladder: soft (save/share) → context (link in comments) → hard (resource/DM)

Maintain a library of openers and closers; pair each with a matching visual or snippet.

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## 3) Comment and Follow-Up Ladder
Treat comments as ranking surface area, not afterthoughts.

- T+15m: clarifying comment with an example or checklist
- Threshold trigger: if Likes ≥ X OR Replies ≥ Y at T+60m, post expansion or attach asset
- Reply routing: prioritize high-APS authors; add evidence in 1 reply out of 3
- External link handling: place links in comments; summarize insight in-post to reduce bounce

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## 4) Timing Windows and Heat Maps
- Map historical engagement by local time × day-of-week × structure
- Publish within 2–3 highest-probability windows; schedule follow-up comments accordingly
- Avoid stacking posts that cannibalize each other within 4–6 hours

Example cadence: Mon/Tue/Thu primary posts; Wed/Fri emphasis on replies and assets.

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## 5) Media and UX Considerations
- First-frame discipline: headline + contrast visual within 1s cognition
- Aspect ratio fit per platform; avoid text-dense images that compress poorly
- Thread scannability: short paragraphs, line breaks, bolded key phrases (where supported)
- Accessibility: alt text with topic keywords; improves relevance and usability

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## 6) Measurement and Review
- Structure × time-of-day matrix: promote top quartile combinations
- Comment contribution: % of impressions driven by comments and expansions
- Dwell proxy: time-on-post, expansion rates, scroll-back occurrences
- Risk: monitor hides/negative feedback; pause if thresholds exceeded

KPIs: Reply Like→Reply ≥ 0.35, Profile Click Rate ≥ 2%, Save/Share rate trending up.

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## 7) Execution Checklist
- [ ] Prepare 3 openers per post (contrast, framework, evidence)
- [ ] Pre-write 2 follow-up comments with assets
- [ ] Define thresholds for auto-expansion and human review
- [ ] Schedule in top windows; avoid cannibalization
- [ ] Friday: retire low performers; add winners to the library

The playbook aligns creative craft with ranking mechanics. Ship structured ideas, treat comments as fuel, and bias for clarity and timing over volume.

A senior-level guide to working with feed ranking systems on X and LinkedIn: optimize for early velocity, dwell, and graph relevance with structure-aware content, comment ladders, and timing windows.

Algorithmic Ranking Playbook for X and LinkedIn: Signals, Structures, and Timing

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