How to get 200K views on a LinkedIn post

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post that got over 200,000 views on LinkedIn. Let me start off by saying I don't write posts for the goal of getting likes, but I do write posts when I think I have something of value to share, or I'm genuinely curious on the opinion of the professional community.

Whether you're in sales, marketing, or engineering, getting someone to read your messages is an essential skill we all must get good at in the workplace. From creating viral content, to effective prospecting emails, to pitching an infrastructure idea to your colleagues, work gets done over effective communication. If you suck at communication, you're not going to be good at your job.

But what does getting views on your LinkedIn post have to do with good communication? It might have more in common than you think.

The answer lies in what made this post so successful. If I boil it down, it comes down to these 5 things:

1. People can relate to it. Most people on LinkedIn are 25 or older. They can think back to when they were 25 and recount some memories. They understand because they've been there. The more you can get people to relate, the easier time you're going to have communicating to them.
2. It's simple. There are obviously many paths you can take as a 25-year-old professional. But that doesn't mean you have to name them all out! Imagine if I'd listed even 6 scenarios - people wouldn'tve read the original post because it's too long. Keep it simple and you'll be surprised how much more your messages can be.
3. Ask for their opinion. Most people have an opinion and want to give it. Getting input from others is the equivalent of getting their buy in. They now feel like they are a part of the conversation - this is super important as communication goes both ways!
4. It's a topic they care about. No one cares about the elemental composition of glue unless they're a scientist. It's useless information. But everyone cares about if they made the right life decision, whether it's for themselves or a relative.
5. There's no right answer. We all know that $10 is more money than $5. Everyone agrees on that and you'd have no conversation. The less clear the answer, the more potential debate you could spark, and the more conversation you can generate.

So whatever you're writing next, keep these 5 simple rules in mind and see if it makes a difference in the response you get. Did I miss any? I'd love to hear your thoughts.