Everywhere, MikeWorldWide’s in-house influencer marketing and content agency, and SocialHP, a LinkedIn analytics and SaaS platform, have released a groundbreaking report analyzing the LinkedIn habits of U.S. LinkedIn Top Voices and Fortune 500 CEOs.

The report, titled "Maximizing LinkedIn Engagement: Lessons from Top Voices and Fortune 500 CEOs," provides a data-driven look at how the most influential LinkedIn leaders use the platform to:

• Shape industry conversations
• Build credibility
• Foster deeper audience connections

Analyzing 220 LinkedIn Top Voices and 149 Fortune 500 executives from November 2023 to November 2024, the study uncovers what separates high-performing LinkedIn leaders from those struggling to gain traction.

Findings: What Drives LinkedIn Influence?

1. Engagement Rates & Top Voices Impact

   • LinkedIn Top Voices achieved an average 6.2% engagement rate across nearly 9,000 posts—far exceeding the platform’s typical 1-2% engagement.
   • This indicates a strong influence and credibility among Top Voice recipients.

2. AI & Trending Topics Drive Conversations

   • AI-related posts by Fortune 500 CEOs generated 54,000 interactions over the year.
   • Topics on authenticity and workplace culture also performed well:
     • Authenticity-focused posts: 3,736 interactions per post
     • Workplace culture content: 1,854 interactions per post

3. The Power of Multimedia Content

   • 80% of high-performing CEO posts included images, documents, or videos.
   • Short-form video is underutilized, appearing in just 12% of CEO posts.
   • Despite this, LinkedIn video content saw a 36% YoY increase in viewership (Oct. 30, 2024 – Jan. 29, 2025).
   • Executives can enhance their "linkfluence" by strategically incorporating more video content.

4. Follower Count vs. Engagement

   • Fortune 500 CEOs average 375,000 followers, placing them in the top 5% of LinkedIn users.
   • However, many of these executives experience low engagement, revealing the need for a more strategic content approach.

The Strategic Imperative: Building Influence on LinkedIn

Industry leaders emphasize the need for a structured, deliberate approach:

• "LinkedIn is the digital epicenter of thought leadership." – Megan Hueter, Managing Director, Everywhere
• "Executives who prioritize consistent engagement and audience-driven storytelling set themselves apart." – Brad Dickinson, Co-Founder, SocialHP

With LinkedIn surpassing one billion users and Gen Z engagement growing (+13.6% YoY), the platform is evolving into a critical space for executive branding, industry influence, and professional discourse.

For business leaders, LinkedIn is more than a social platform—it’s where reputations are built. This study provides a data-backed roadmap for executives to:

• Stand out in a crowded digital space
• Build trust and credibility
• Maximize their impact through strategic content creation

As competition for visibility intensifies, those who embrace a content-first approach will lead the conversations that shape industries.