Example posts are critical for teaching LiGo your preferred writing style and voice. This guide will help you select the best examples to ensure your generated content sounds authentically like you (or how you want to sound).
What You'll Learn
How example posts influence your generated content
How to select examples based on your current LinkedIn presence
Options for those new to content creation
Strategies for matching examples to your theme
Common mistakes to avoid when selecting examples
Note: LiGo's AI by default learns from all of your past posts, and public profile data to create highly authentic and customized content. However, for certain "post types", you might want to "fine-tune" the writing style to some of your past posts, or someone else's posts (only to copy their writing style). That is where example posts can really help.
Why Example Posts Matter
Example posts serve as the voice template for LiGo's content generation. While your content theme tells LiGo what to write about, example posts teach it how to write in your style. They influence:
Tone and Voice: Professional, conversational, inspirational, etc.
Sentence Structure: Short and punchy vs. detailed and explanatory
Content Structure: How you organize ideas and paragraphs
Storytelling Approach: How you introduce concepts and build narratives
Linguistic Patterns: Word choices, phrases, and linguistic flourishes
The right examples ensure your generated content feels authentic and consistent with your existing presence.
Key Factors for Choosing Example Posts
There are three critical factors to consider when selecting your example posts:
1. Your Current Writing Style and Experience
If you've been creating LinkedIn content already, prioritize examples from your own writing:
Select your best-performing posts: Choose content that received strong engagement
Pick representative examples: Choose posts that reflect how you typically write
Include your favorite posts: Select content you're most proud of
Consider diverse formats: Include different types of posts you create (stories, lists, how-tos)
Choose recent examples: Select more recent content that reflects your current style
Pro Tip: Your own content is always the best choice if you're satisfied with your current writing style, as it ensures the most authentic voice in your generated content.
2. Preferred Style for those New to Content Creation
If you're new to LinkedIn content or want to develop a different style:
Select from thought leaders: Choose posts from LiGo's catalogue of thought leaders whose style you admire
Use content from favorite creators: Copy and paste posts from LinkedIn creators whose approach resonates with you
Mix and match: Consider using multiple examples with different elements you appreciate
Choose aspirational content: Select posts that represent how you want to sound
Evaluate readability: Choose examples that feel natural to read aloud
Pro Tip: When using others' posts as examples, focus on their writing style and structure rather than their specific topics. LiGo will apply that style to your theme's topics.
3. Alignment Between Examples and Your Theme
The strongest results come when your example posts align with your content theme:
Topic relevance: Choose examples that cover similar topics to your theme
Audience alignment: Select posts that speak to the same audience you're targeting
Purpose consistency: Use examples with a similar purpose to your content theme
Complexity match: Ensure examples reflect your desired complexity level
Industry context: When possible, use examples from your industry or adjacent fields
Pro Tip: While topic alignment isn't critical, it can significantly boost the quality of your generated content. If your theme is about software development leadership, examples about leadership (even from different fields) will work better than examples about unrelated topics.
Step-by-Step Guide to Selecting Example Posts
Follow this process to choose the most effective example posts:
Step 1: Assess Your Current LinkedIn Presence
Before selecting examples, evaluate your existing content:
Review your top-performing posts: Which received the most meaningful engagement?
Identify your signature style: What patterns do you notice in your writing?
Consider feedback: What have connections commented about your writing style?
Note content gaps: Are there styles or approaches you'd like to incorporate?
Step 2: Choose Your Style Source
Based on your assessment:
If you like your current style:
Sort your posts by engagement
Select 2-3 posts that best represent your voice
Ensure they showcase different aspects of your writing style
If you want a new style or haven't posted much:
Browse LiGo's thought leader catalog
Look at content creators you admire on LinkedIn
Select 2-3 posts that exemplify your desired style
Save these posts for use as examples
Step 3: Evaluate Theme Alignment
For each potential example post, ask:
Does this post cover topics similar to my theme?
Does it speak to an audience similar to my target audience?
Does it demonstrate the level of expertise I want to convey?
Is the complexity level appropriate for my audience?
Prioritize examples that align well with your theme, but don't discard a perfect style match just because the topic differs.
Step 4: Select a Diverse Set
Ideally, choose 2-3 examples that demonstrate:
Different post structures (stories, lists, how-tos)
Various content approaches (educational, inspirational, problem-solving)
Different post lengths (some concise, some more detailed)
This diversity gives LiGo more patterns to learn from.
Step 5: Test and Refine
After setting up your theme with initial examples:
Generate several content ideas and posts
Evaluate if the voice matches your expectations
Adjust example posts if necessary to better align with your ideal style
Example Selection Scenarios
Scenario 1: Established LinkedIn Creator
Maria has been posting on LinkedIn for two years and has developed a storytelling approach that resonates with her audience. Her best strategy is to:
Select her 2-3 highest-performing posts that best represent her storytelling style
Ensure these examples cover topics related to her content theme
Include both personal stories and client success stories to give LiGo range
Scenario 2: New to LinkedIn Content
James is just getting started with LinkedIn and hasn't posted much yet. His best strategy is to:
Identify 3-5 LinkedIn creators whose writing style he admires
Select posts from these creators that align with his content theme topics
Use these as examples while he develops his own voice
Replace with his own content once he has enough quality posts
Scenario 3: Changing Direction
Sarah has been posting on LinkedIn but wants to shift to a more authoritative, data-driven approach. Her best strategy is to:
Find thought leaders who embody her desired new style
Select example posts that demonstrate this data-driven approach
Gradually incorporate her own posts as she develops content in this new style
Use a mix of aspirational examples and her own evolving content
Common Example Selection Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Using Inconsistent Examples
Selecting examples with wildly different tones, structures, or approaches can confuse LiGo's understanding of your preferred style.
Solution: Choose examples with some stylistic consistency, even if they cover different topics or formats.
Mistake #2: Selecting Examples Unrelated to Your Theme
While style is primary, content that's completely disconnected from your theme topics may result in stylistic elements that don't transfer well.
Solution: When possible, choose examples that are at least adjacent to your theme's subject matter.
Mistake #3: Using Generic, Forgettable Content
Examples that lack personality or unique perspective won't give LiGo much to work with for creating distinctive content.
Solution: Select examples with clear voice, perspective, and personality-even if they're not your own posts.
Mistake #4: Choosing Only One Type of Post
Using only short, motivational posts or only long, detailed analyses limits the range of content LiGo can generate.
Solution: Include examples with different structures and lengths to give LiGo more stylistic options.
Mistake #5: Using Very Old Content
Your writing style likely evolves over time. Using very old posts may perpetuate approaches you've since refined.
Solution: Prioritize content from the last 6-12 months that represents your current voice.
Advanced Example Selection Strategies
Strategy #1: Style Mapping
Create a style map by identifying specific elements you want to incorporate:
Introduction approach
Use of questions
Paragraph length
Personal anecdote insertion
Call-to-action style
Then select examples that demonstrate each element.
Strategy #2: A/B Testing Examples
If you're unsure which style works best:
Create two different themes with different example sets
Generate content from both
Compare engagement on the resulting posts
Standardize on the approach that performs better
Strategy #3: Targeted Style Evolution
If you want to gradually evolve your style:
Start with examples of your current style
After 1-2 months, replace one example with content representing your desired new style
Continue this gradual replacement to evolve your voice without jarring changes
Common Questions
Q: How many example posts should I provide?
LiGo works best with 2-3 quality examples. More isn't necessarily better-focus on quality and representativeness.
Q: Can I use someone else's posts without permission?
Yes. The example posts are only used to teach LiGo your preferred style; they aren't published or shared. This is similar to showing a writer examples of styles you like.
Q: What if I don't like any of my existing posts?
If you're not satisfied with your current content, use posts from creators whose style you admire. You can replace these with your own content as you develop posts you're proud of.
Q: How often should I update my example posts?
Review your examples quarterly or whenever you notice a significant shift in your preferred style. As you create better content, you may want to update your examples.
Q: Will LiGo copy my examples directly?
No. LiGo learns from the stylistic patterns in your examples but doesn't copy specific phrases or stories. The content will be original while matching your preferred style.