Given that it is #ChristmasEve, albeit that the original job listing (q.v.) was posted on December the 12th, I would have thought that they could have come up with a more seasonally apt metaphor for a star that designates a goal. (-:
I suspect that #RaymondChen has not been the only one over the years to observe that if one follows a north star one ends up at the North pole, irrespective of the real goal. #Polaris isn't a goal. It's a latitude measuring device. Billions of navigators from history must be rolling in their graves.
https://mastodonapp.uk/@JdeBP/115772536307305071
#ChristmasTide #Advent #Microsoft #BusinessBollocks #LinkedIn #Microspeak #astronomy #Magi #StarOfBethlehem
You haven't even reached the underlying job listing, yet. (-:
https://mastodonapp.uk/@JdeBP/115772536307305071
#Microsoft #AI #LLMs #BusinessBollocks #LinkedIn
Funny that you should ask. I went to the LinkedIn post, and there's a hyperlink there to the actual job listing on Microsoft's WWW site.
It is patently LLM-written. The 'Responsibilities' section shouts that fact the loudest.
https://careerhub.microsoft.com/careers/job/1970393556639051
Amusingly, for a job that deals in rewriting things in Rust, actual experience with that language is an optional requirement, whereas >= 6 years experience in Python or JavaScript fulfils the mandatory requirement.
Mind you, job listings have been autocompleted using boilerplate, especially by recruitment agencies, for decades.
#Microsoft #AI #LLMs #rustlang #BusinessBollocks #LinkedIn
It's a (since updated) LinkedIn post. One can, alas, ask that question of more than one #LinkedIn post.
#Microsoft #AI #ReverseCentaurs #rustlang
Wondering if LinkedIn Business Manager is right for you? In this post I explore the top 3 reasons to adopt this powerful tool
Read more đ https://lttr.ai/AmbNw
#linkedintips #linkedin #LinkedInBusinessManager

Well, good luck with this project.
"My goal is to eliminate every line of C and C++ from Microsoft by 2030. Our strategy is to combine AI *and* Algorithms to rewrite Microsoftâs largest codebases. Our North Star is â1 engineer, 1 month, 1 million lines of codeâ"
#Microsoft #Rust #RustRewrite #RustAIRewrite #LinkedIn #SoftwareEngineering #C #CPlusPlus
(original source: https://x.com/valigo/status/2003424923365355972)

« J'ai scrollé #LinkedIn pendant 2h et j'ai perdu foi en l'humanité » (via #Tiffasoa) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTFtpCkkg4k
LinkedIn Advertising for Freelance Designers and Creative Studios: Is It Worth It? https://weandthecolor.com/linkedin-advertising-for-freelance-designers-and-creative-studios-is-it-worth-it/207504

LinkedIn Advertising for Freelance Designers and Creative Studios: Is It Worth It?
Should You Risk Your Creative Budget on LinkedIn Advertising Right Now?
Letâs be honest: the price tag on LinkedIn advertising is enough to make any creative flinch. But looking past that sticker shock reveals the best targeting tool available for landing high-ticket design projects. If youâre wondering whether your budget will actually yield a return next year, you arenât alone. This report breaks down exactly why LinkedIn is worth it for independent designers and studios. Considering the platform drives 80% of all B2B leads and consistently beats out Meta and Google on ROI, itâs an investment that demands a closer look.
Accessing the right decision-makers is half the battle, and LinkedIn allows you to reach the people who truly value (and pay for) high-end design. Itâs a refreshing alternative to the low-bid environment of sites like Upwork. This report is an invitation to measure your current marketing against real industry standards. It is especially critical right now: as AI creates new challenges for designers, your campaigns must work harder to position your specific, human experience as a vital strategic asset.
Analyzing the Fundamental Costs of Professional Networking
Metric TypeAverage LinkedIn Advertising BenchmarkComparison to Other NetworksCost Per Click (CPC)$5.00 â $10.00Significantly Higher Than MetaClick-Through Rate (CTR)0.44% â 0.65%Lower Volume But Higher IntentCost Per Lead (CPL)$150 â $400Premium Price for Qualified LeadsConversion Rate10% â 15%3x Higher Than Facebook LeadsEngagement Rate3.4% MedianStronger Professional InteractionComparing LinkedIn ad costs to platforms like TikTok is apples and oranges. While the buy-in is higher, the audience quality is in a different league. You are effectively paying to skip the line and get in front of decision-makers with real budgets. This means that while your cost per click goes up, your eventual deal size usually follows suit. Plus, there is a hidden value in efficiency: you spend far less time vetting low-budget leads that go nowhere. Think of the higher cost as an investment in a cleaner, more profitable sales pipeline.
Why Creative Studios Are Shifting Their Budgets
Data from 2025 confirms why top agencies are reallocating funds: LinkedIn ad spend has risen from 31% to 39%, backed by an impressive 113% ROAS. This performance significantly outpaces legacy channels like Google Search and Meta, which are finding it harder to deliver positive returns for high-value B2B services. LinkedIn stands out as the only platform consistently generating profit for expensive design contracts while offering granular targeting for niche UX needs. Consequently, shifting resources here is less of a gamble and more of a requirement for sustainable studio revenue.
Comparing ROAS Across Major Ad Platforms
Advertising Platform2025 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)Status for B2B Creative ServicesLinkedIn Advertising113%Profitable and Highly RecommendedGoogle Search Ads78%High Intent But Often UnprofitableMeta (Facebook/IG)29%Strong Awareness But Poor ConversionTikTok AdsNot BenchmarkedGrowing Reach for Young FoundersThe data confirms what many of us already suspect: LinkedInâs high entry cost is justified by the sheer quality of the leads. You canât just look at the cost of a click; you have to look at the value of the pipeline. Right now, LinkedIn influences 35% of all new deals in the professional services sector. That is relationship-building at scale, and it pays dividends over months of engagement. When you consider that landing just one major corporate client often covers a full year of ad spend, the math changes. It stops being an expense and starts looking like the primary engine for your studioâs growth.
Selecting Ad Formats That Showcase Visual Expertise
LinkedIn finally offers ad formats that treat your design portfolio with the respect it deserves. We are seeing Document Ads become an absolute powerhouse for studios that want to showcase their best work. This format lets prospects swipe through your PDF case studies or lookbooks right in their news feed, creating a seamless, interactive experience. With engagement rates averaging between 1.5% and 3%, they grab attention far better than static images. Best of all, you can track exactly how far a potential client scrolls, showing you definitively which projects are capturing their imagination.
The Strategic Value of Document Ads
Performance MetricDocument Ad BenchmarkStrategic ImplicationEngagement Rate1.5% â 3.0%Highest Interactive FormatClick-Through Rate0.3% â 0.5%Lower Clicks Due to Native ConsumptionCompletion Rate35% â 45%Strong Retention for Visual WorkCost Per Click (CPC)$4.00 â $10.00Standard Professional BiddingRetargeting SignalExtremely HighViews Signal Deep IntentDocument Ads put your mini-portfolio exactly where it needs to be: in the middle of your clientâs professional feed. The feature gives you the flexibility to lock high-value resources behind a lead generation form, making it easy to gather contact info from serious prospects. However, if your goal is simply to get known, keeping your files ungated is the smarter play. Ultimately, you want to deliver insight before you ask for a favor. Providing a helpful guide or toolkit demonstrates your expertise first, which makes the eventual sales call much cheaper to acquire.
Humanizing Your Design Brand With Thought Leader Ads
We all know the old adage: people buy from people, not from faceless corporate logos. LinkedInâs Thought Leader Ads finally operationalize this by allowing you to put ad spend behind posts written by you or your lead designers. Because these posts look and feel like organic content, they bypass the âad blindnessâ that kills traditional campaigns. The result is a 1.7x higher click-through rate compared to standard image ads. Itâs a simple but powerful shiftâusing your paid budget to amplify your best thoughts and case studies rather than just your company logo.
Why Authenticity Drives Creative Sales
Winning a major creative contract usually comes down to chemistry and visionâthings that are hard to convey in a standard banner ad. Thought Leader Ads bridge that gap by letting you promote content directly from your personal profile. Whether youâre sharing a recent win or a raw look at your design process, that transparency resonates with executives who are exhausted by corporate speak. Even better, these posts have serious staying power. They donât decay as quickly as standard ads, meaning you can keep your studio top-of-mind without constantly churning out new creative assets.
How to Target the C-Suite and Brand Directors
The beauty of LinkedIn advertising is that it allows you to curate your audience rather than just broadcasting to it. You can zero in on the exact decision-makers you needâspecifically the VPs, Partners, and Directors in Marketing or Biz Dev. But the most underused feature is the ability to filter by company growth. This lets you find the organizations that are currently expanding and have the budget to match. By combining these filters, you ensure that every dollar you spend is going toward someone with both the need for design services and the power to hire you.
Effective Targeting Facets for Design Services
Targeting CategoryBest Attributes for CreativesWhy It WorksJob SeniorityDirector, VP, CXO, OwnerReaches the Budget HoldersJob FunctionMarketing, Product, DesignFinds Those Managing BrandsCompany Growth20%+ Annual GrowthSignals Budget and ExpansionMember TraitsJob Seeker, Frequent TravelerIdentifies High-Value InfluencersMatched AudiencesCRM Lists, Site VisitorsRetargets Warm Leads EffectivelyOne of the most common mistakes is suffocating the algorithm by making your audience too small. To get the best performance, you generally want to give the system a playground of at least 50,000 people. If you need to get granular, Boolean search strings are a great way to hone in on niche design needs without breaking the campaign. Conversely, features like âAudience Expansionâ can help you uncover similar professionals you might have missed. The smartest strategy is to start with a slightly broader net and refine it later. Once the data rolls in, your demographic reports will reveal exactly which job titles are actually booking calls, allowing you to tighten your focus based on reality rather than guesswork.
The Strategic Importance of Video for the Design Process
For designers, LinkedInâs evolution into a video-centric network is a massive advantage. You can finally move beyond flat JPEGs and use motion to explain your process or unpack intricate UX solutionsâcontent that typically sees 5x higher engagement. However, you have to design for the device. Since 80% of professional browsing happens on smartphones, your work needs to be optimized for vertical viewing. If your ad doesnât look stunning on a small screen, you are effectively invisible to the vast majority of your audience.
Video Ad Specifications and Benchmarks
Video Metric2025 Target for Design AdsBest Practice RecommendationView Rate20% â 30%Start With a Problem HookCompletion Rate35% â 45% (Short)Keep Content Under 30 SecondsCost Per View$0.10 â $0.50Focus on Quality Over QuantityAspect Ratio4:5 Vertical or 1:1 SquareOptimized for Mobile Feed ViewEngagement5x Static PostsUse Captions for Silent ViewingCreative directors donât just want to see the shiny final render; they want to see the thinking that got you there. LinkedIn video is perfect for these short bursts of storytelling, allowing you to unpack the strategy behind your best work. A pro tip? Donât bury the lead. If you put your core message or call to action in the first few seconds, you ensure that even the fast scrollers catch your value. Beyond the creative benefits, the data is invaluableâyou can build retargeting lists based on who actually watched, making video the single best tool for staying top-of-mind.
Integrating Your Ads With AI Search and Answer Engines
Search is evolving, and âAnswer Engine Optimizationâ (AEO) is the new SEO. With tools like Perplexity becoming primary search interfaces, the priority is ensuring these systems view your studio as a trusted fact. AI models favor authoritative, structured data, and they look at traffic quality to verify that authority. Thatâs why LinkedIn advertising is so valuable right nowâit feeds your site the kind of high-value professional traffic that teaches the AI you are worth citing. Itâs not just about humans seeing your work anymore; itâs about training the engines to recommend you.
Tactics for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
AI SignalHow Designers AdaptWhy It Boosts CitationsStructured DataUse Schema.org MarkupHelps AI Identify Your Servicesllms.txt FilePlace in Root DirectoryDirects AI Bots to Key ContentContent FreshnessUpdate Portfolio QuarterlyAI Favors Recent Expertise SignalsDirect AnswersUse FAQ SectionsProvides Snippets for AI ResponsesAuthority LinksCite Reputable SourcesBuilds E-E-A-T for Your BrandTo get picked up by these engines, you need to think like a machine. They crave structureâclear headings and bulleted summaries are much easier for them to parse than long blocks of text. Throwing in hard statistics or expert quotes helps too, boosting your citation odds by roughly 25%. This is where your ad spend supports your organic growth: LinkedIn ads drive the human traffic that proves your content is actually relevant. On the technical side, donât ignore your llms.txt file; itâs the standard way to tell these crawlers exactly what they can and canât use. The goal is a strategy that speaks two languages: one for your human clients, and one for the algorithms that guide them.
Calculating Your Breakeven and Project ROI
Profitability on LinkedIn comes down to simple math: your project fees need to be high enough to absorb the cost of acquisition. Letâs say your average cost per lead sits at $200. That might sound steep, but when your typical project brings in anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, the margins work heavily in your favor. Because you are selling high-ticket services, you donât need a massive conversion rate to be successful; a single win covers a lot of ad spend. Just keep a close eye on your Return on Marketing Investment (ROMI) to ensure the numbers stay in the green.
A Practical Math Example for Freelancers
Business MetricHypothetical ValueCalculation ResultTarget Revenue$60,000The Goal for the CampaignAverage Project Price$3,000Revenue Per ConversionRequired Sales20 ProjectsTotal Deals Needed to Hit GoalConversion Rate5% (from clicks)Efficiency of the FunnelRequired Clicks400 ClicksTraffic Needed via AdsAverage CPC$5.00Cost of Professional TrafficTotal Ad Spend$2,000The Investment RequiredCampaign ROI2,900%The Final Profitability SignalConsider the potential upside: we see scenarios where a $2,000 investment in LinkedIn ads generates $60,000 in revenue. This kind of return is possible because the intent on LinkedIn is simply differentâpeople are here to do business, not to kill time. This means your conversion rates are often higher than youâd expect, provided you are targeting the right people. But the real magic happens when you factor in lifetime value. Securing just one corporate retainer doesnât just cover your ad spend; it can stabilize your income for the entire year. For high-ticket creative services, the math is undeniably on your side.
Winning the High-Ticket Design Sales Cycle
LinkedIn is not an ATM; it is a relationship engine. For creative professionals, the path from an initial impression to a signed contract takes about 320 days on average. This timeline exists because premium clients rarely make solo decisionsâthey need buy-in from multiple stakeholders, finance departments, and leadership teams. Your job is to nurture them through that long deliberation process. Instead of pushing for an immediate sale, your ads need to act as touchpoints that build trust over time, meeting the buyer exactly where they are in their decision-making journey.
Funnel Budgeting for Creative Studios
The most effective campaigns usually follow a specific financial blueprint: the 60/25/15 rule. The heavy liftingâ60% of your budgetâgoes toward pure awareness to keep your brand visible. Another 25% is dedicated to educating those prospects, perhaps through Document Ads or webinars that prove your expertise. The final 15% is your âclosingâ budget, strictly targeting the warm leads who have already checked out your pricing or contact page. This structure ensures you arenât just hunting for todayâs sale, but constantly fueling tomorrowâs pipeline.
Why Designers Must Avoid Generic âAd-Speakâ
If your design work is unique, your copy shouldnât sound like a template. We need to retire empty fillers like âtop-rated agencyâ or âfast-paced world.â They simply donât land. Executives respond to clarityâcopy that looks them in the eye and addresses their actual business pain. You arenât asking for a favor; you are an expert solving a problem, so speak to them as a peer. If you want to build instant trust, swap the adjectives for hard data. A specific statistic in a headline is worth a thousand buzzwords. Be clear, be direct, and above all, be human.
Copywriting Best Practices for Visual Ads
StrategyTactical ImplementationExpected OutcomeProblem/SolutionState a pain point then solve itHigher Relevant EngagementSocial ProofUse G2 badges or testimonialsBuilds Immediate Brand TrustData-DrivenInclude ROI or growth statsIncreases Authority SignalsAction-OrientedUse âDownloadâ or âRequest DemoâDrives Direct Funnel ActionPersonalizedUse Dynamic Ads with namesCuts Through Digital NoiseLinkedIn advertising allows you to use personal touches like a userâs name or company logo in dynamic ads. This level of personalization makes your message feel like a direct conversation rather than a broadcast. Moreover, keep your introductory text under 150 characters for maximum impact. You must also ensure that your visuals align with your brand identity to establish long-term recognition. Additionally, using emojis can increase your engagement rates by up to fifteen percent in the feed. Therefore, your LinkedIn advertising should balance professional elegance with modern social media engagement tactics.
Leveraging Long-Tail Keywords for Specialized Design
LinkedInâs dynamic ads let you pull in a userâs name or company logo, instantly turning a generic ad into a personal handshake. It shifts the vibe from a broadcast to a one-on-one conversation. But you have to be quickâkeep your intro text under 150 characters so it lands immediately. And donât be afraid to sprinkle in an emoji; even in a professional setting, a well-placed icon can bump engagement by 15%. The trick is blending these modern social tactics with your studioâs polished visual identity to create something that feels both human and high-end.
High-Intent Long-Tail Keyword Examples
Industry NicheBroad Term (Avoid)Long-Tail Keyword (Target)SaaS BrandingBranding AgencyHigh-intent SaaS branding studio for startupsUX DesignUX DesignerAccessibility-focused UX design for healthcare appsPackaging DesignPackage DesignSustainable packaging design for organic retailFashion DesignFashion DesignerTechnical sportswear design for emerging brandsReal EstateWeb DesignLead generation websites for luxury real estateYou canât just guess what your clients are searching for; you need to dig into the data with tools like Ahrefs or Google Search Console. The goal is to find those specific long-tail keywords and then bridge the gap between your LinkedIn targeting and your website content. By ensuring your ads and your case studies speak the same niche language, you strengthen your visibility across the board. This is especially critical right now, as voice search and AI models increasingly rely on highly specific phrasing to serve answers. In short, the more specific you are, the easier it is to be found.
Comparing LinkedIn to Instagram for Boutique Studios
Instagram is where your peers hang out; LinkedIn is where your clients are. Thatâs the fundamental difference. While the visual environment of Instagram is more appealing, the user mindset is casual and passive. LinkedIn puts your portfolio in front of people who are actively in âwork mode.â It also offers far better intelligence, telling you exactly who is interested in your services. Stop treating them as equals. Use LinkedIn to fill your pipeline and pay the bills, and use Instagram to maintain your brandâs visual legacy.
Platform Battle: Professional Growth vs. Casual Browsing
FactorLinkedIn AdvertisingInstagram AdvertisingPrimary AudienceProfessional Decision-MakersGeneral Consumers / PeersUser IntentLearn, Network, BuyBrowse, Entertain, ConnectB2B Lead QualityExceptionally HighModerate to LowCost Per Click$5.00 â $10.00$0.20 â $1.00Ad Content FocusStrategic Value & ROIAesthetics & LifestyleBest Result ForSigning New Corporate DealsBuilding a Fanbase / AwarenessInstagram is often the default for small businesses because the barrier to entry is low. However, âcheapâ doesnât always mean effective; if your budget is too thin, the system canât gather enough data to optimize your ads. LinkedIn is a heavier lift financially, but it typically delivers the kind of high-value B2B contracts that justify the spend. Of course, you shouldnât abandon Instagram entirely. It remains the best place for nurturing past clients and dominates in visual-first sectors like fashion. Ultimately, successful brands stop choosing sides and use both platforms to build a full-funnel presence.
Structuring Your Native Portfolio for Ad Success
Success on LinkedIn often means unlearning what you know about âgoodâ design. The best-performing ads usually look like helpful articles or industry news, not polished promotions. When you clutter the feed with glossy graphics and giant âBook a Demoâ buttons, you trigger immediate skepticismâor worse, invisibility. Instead, try offering a genuine resource that solves a specific headache for your audience. Run five or six variations of this ânativeâ approach and let the performance dataânot your artistic preferenceâdictate where the budget goes.
Portfolio Page Strategies for High Conversion
Clients look for more than just good visuals; they want to know you understand their business and can move the needle. Your portfolio needs to reflect this immediately. Organize your work into intuitive bucketsâlike âUX Strategyâ or âBrand Identityââso they donât have to hunt for relevance. Trust is built on evidence, so pack your case studies with real metrics and client testimonials. Technical performance matters, too; if your site takes longer than three seconds to load, you have likely lost them. Finally, a small but powerful hack: adding a meeting scheduler to your âthank youâ page can increase your bookings by 200%
Navigating the 2026 Creative Job Market
The âpixel-pusherâ era is effectively over, but the era of the Creative Strategist is just beginning. LinkedIn allows you to control this narrative, shifting the focus from your software skills to your problem-solving abilities. AI struggles with empathy and context, which is why expertise in areas like accessible design is so valuable right now. When you sell your ability to build inclusive, compliant systems, you offer a form of business insurance that clients love. That is your competitive moatâoffering the deep, human insight that machines still canât copy.
The Value of Human Creativity in an AI World
Human AssetWhy It Wins Over AIStrategic PositioningStrategic EmpathyUnderstands brand valuesâBrand Strategy ConsultantâAccessibility KnowledgeEnsures legal complianceâInclusive Design ExpertâCultural ContextUnderstands niche audiencesâTargeted Growth DesignerâComplex Problem SolvingHandles messy business logicâDesign Systems ArchitectâRelationship BuildingBuilds long-term client trustâTrusted Creative PartnerâDonât let the tech takeover scare you. Instead, lean into what makes you uniquely human. Your LinkedIn ads are your stage to share honest takes on design trends or cultural shifts, especially through Thought Leader posts. Clients still crave that personal connection â someone who gets their vision. Use your portfolio to tell that story, showcasing your distinct style. The smartest play isnât to fight AI, but to use these tools to amplify your own voice. Those who master this blend of high-end craft and strategic thinking will absolutely thrive.
Final Verdict: Is LinkedIn Advertising Worth the Price?
LinkedIn advertising is definitely worth it for freelance designers and studios selling high-ticket B2B services. The high cost per click is a necessary filter that ensures you are reaching qualified decision-makers. You must commit to a long-term strategy that includes awareness, education, and direct conversion tactics. Furthermore, you should optimize your digital presence for both human professionals and AI search engines. LinkedIn advertising will help you build a sustainable business by connecting you with clients who value your craft. Therefore, if you are ready to scale your studio, you should launch your first professional campaign today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a realistic monthly budget for LinkedIn advertising?
You should aim for at least three to five thousand dollars per month to gather meaningful data. However, the platform has a daily minimum of ten dollars per campaign for smaller tests.
How do I target high-ticket clients specifically?
You should target job titles like âHead of Brandâ or âCreative Directorâ at companies with large growth rates. Layering seniority filters ensures your ads reach the people who actually sign the contracts.
Are Document Ads better than Video Ads for a portfolio?
Document Ads often have higher engagement rates because users can swipe through multiple pages natively. However, video is better for storytelling and dynamically demonstrating your creative process.
How can I make my LinkedIn ads look more professional?
Use high-quality visuals, short punchy headlines, and clear benefit-driven copy that addresses client pain points. Avoid generic cliches and focus on your unique strategic perspective as a designer.
Should I gate my creative content behind a lead form?
Gating content is best for high-value resources like industry reports or pricing guides. For general portfolio awareness, ungated content is usually better for building trust with new prospects.
Check out other insightful topics and creative work in WE AND THE COLORâs Design section. Feel free to follow WE AND THE COLOR on LinkedIn.
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[newsletter_form type=âminimalâ]#B2B #digitalMarketing #LinkedIn #LinkedInAdvertising #SocialMedia

Una base de datos mal configurada dejĂł expuestos 4.300 millones de registros con datos personales y laborales obtenidos mediante scraping de perfiles derivados de LinkedIn.
El incidente vuelve a poner el foco en los riesgos del uso masivo de datos pĂșblicos y la importancia de proteger la identidad digital.
https://www.noticiasdestacadas.es/base-de-datos-vinculados-a-linkedin
#Ciberseguridad #Privacidad #LinkedIn #Phishing #DatosPersonales #Infosec

LinkedIn keeps whining about verifying my account. Finally I investigated and the website says you can do it in a browser with a CLEAR account.
I'm not super excited about sending photos to websites for auth, but CLEAR already has mine. Should be easy right?
Nope, when I actually try the website says I have to download the LinkedIn app. Fuck that. I don't need their checkmark enough to let them scrape a bunch of personal info off my phone.