Is LinkedIn my new best friend?

Oct 24, 2025

Hello everyone,

Few weeks ago, I was writing about the fact that I was not sure if Instagram was still the place to be for finding work. I received many messages and replies with alternatives and one social media came back really often: LinkedIn.

I was never a fan of LinkedIn for its “corporate” feel. Too much startup or AI bullshit to me. But as I said in that post, I worked with my wife, which is a big LinkedIn user to prospect for new clients.

The idea was to look for many outdoor brands, find their Art Directors there and send them my Licensing Portfolio. We spent some time referencing around 60 companies and 150 people. I did rework my profile and started to focus my posts on my visuals and collabs.

I was really surprised I could contact so many people, and so easily. Of course, many of them don’t spend much time on LinkedIn. but overall I could contact them and show them my work. I did not have much replies to be honest even if many of them did connect with me.

I have several ideas about it: they don’t look for anyone right now or they are not interested. But the thing is, these companies work mostly with creatives when they do their collections. Which is most of the time twice a year. So this is more of a long term initiative. Brands contact you when they need a visual.

Among the replies I had, most people told me they did not have any opportunity right now but they would contact me when they do. I even had some good conversations via DM with some big brands I would love to work with.

After a long month of prospection, I was a bit frustrated to not get any lead. But I never really did prospect before in my life so I learned that yes no deal for now, but I had to be patient and be present/visible regularly on the platform, so people you contacted see your work and may remember you the time they need something.

Because if I did not get leads yet, many people did connect with me, which is a good first step. Also it gives me the opportunity to see their posts, comment them when it is accurate and also see what they read, like and comment.

And this is something really interesting to me. Within 2/3 weeks, I had access to really interesting posts about the outdoor industry, giving me more insights on what is going on there. I could also connect with new people, Art directors but also other people gravitating in the outdoor and surf industry.

I could learn for example that times are difficult for these brands. Most got acquired by venture capitals, taking them in mass market, so they lose their identity and communities. Also the tariffs put in place by Trump had the consequences to raise prices of equipment. For example I did read that small stores were closing because people keep their equipment longer, repair them instead of buying new ones. And last point but not the least, with cutting costs, they try to do most of their visuals internally.

Over a month or so, my LinkedIn timeline changed. Content became more and more interesting and made me slowly becoming part of that industry. And I really like LinkedIn for that. There is still lots of bullshits and standardised content but overall the experience is great.

The only big drawback I see so far is that LinkedIn has the same kind of shitty algorithm than Instagram: you have to like, comment so your posts get reach. Also if you post a link or try to sell something, your post is ghosted.

Yep, nothing beats a newsletter these days to reach your community.

But so far, I am really happy with it. I still share on Instagram but I spend now more time on LinkedIn, for the opportunities but also for the education I get from the outdoor industry.

We will see in the coming months if it does take me somewhere but so far so good.

What is your experience of LinkedIn? Are you there? Did you try it yet? What do you think? Please let me know :)

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?