I've been running a small LinkedIn engagement circle for about three months now - six people in similar niches, no bots, no 'nice post' nonsense. Here's what I've learned so far.
On the plus side, initial visibility definitely improves. The algorithm seems to reward early engagement from trusted accounts. One of my posts hit 2x the normal organic reach within the first hour thanks to three genuine comments from the group. That part feels legit.
But there's a catch. If the engagement isn't relevant - someone from your circle posts about SaaS and you're in e-commerce - it looks forced. Followers notice. I actually had a colleague DM me asking why a completely unrelated person kept commenting on my stuff. Credibility takes a hit when the connection feels off.
My takeaway: keep the circle small, same industry or adjacent vertical, and only engage when you'd actually read the post anyway. If it's just a quid pro quo arrangement, you're better off posting into the void. Quality over quantity - always.
Anyone else tried this? Keen to hear how it's played out.
