🍴How to write LinkedIn posts like Jerry Seinfeld writes jokes

I have a confession. I’ve never watched a full episode of Seinfeld.

My family loves it. I know it’s iconic, but I never got into it.

However, I can appreciate Jerry Seinfeld’s ability to write episodes and jokes that people still quote to this day.

So, how does he do it?

The New York Times gave us a glimpse into his process, and while watching this clip, I quickly noticed the similarities between his joke-writing and LinkedIn post-writing.

How to write LinkedIn posts like Jerry Seinfeld writes jokes

Rule #1: Make the first line count.

Seinfeld said the first line of a joke has to be funny.

It sets up the entire bit. If you can get people to laugh immediately, you're on the right track.

Your first sentence sets up your entire post on LinkedIn. If you get people’s attention with it, your chances of holding it are good.

Rule #2: Get Descriptive.

In the NYT video clip, Seinfeld takes us through his process of writing a joke about Pop-Tarts.

In it, he talks about breakfast before this invention. He said:

I loved that.

He could have said it simply, but descriptions keep people interested.

He used his words to paint a picture in your mind and explain how bad breakfast was before Pop-Tarts.

You can do the same in your LinkedIn posts.

Instead of sticking to the basics, take a step back and read through your content.

Where can you add more detail to make the words jump off the screen?

How can you make your vision crystal clear to your readers?

Here’s an example:

Instead of saying, “I walked into my boss’s office.”

You could say, “I could hear the fluorescent lights buzzing as I walked into the office. My boss’s back was to me as she finished typing something on her computer. She spun her chair around in my direction and….”

You’re saying the same thing, but the second example gives you just enough to feel like you’re there.

That storytelling element keeps your eyes glued to the screen to find out what happens next.

My post 🍴Get descriptive touches on this subject.

Rule #3: Make your words work harder.

Writing a good joke is somewhat of a science.

It’s a balancing act of detail and trimming the fat.

You need to keep people’s attention from start to finish.

Same for a LinkedIn post.

It’s Kaplan’s Law of Words in action.

Simply put, “If a word isn’t working, it’s working against you.”

This principle is about keeping your words concise and getting to the point with purpose.

Rule #4: Find connective tissue.

When writing a joke, Seinfeld says he needs “connective tissue” to pull ideas together in a way that makes sense.

That same sense of fluidity is necessary on LinkedIn. You need to create a connection and smooth transition with your words that leads readers from beginning to end.

It’s like a puzzle. You have all the pieces (ideas) scattered on a table, and it’s your job to put them together.

Rule #5: Simple writing takes time.

Seinfeld’s punchline of this Pop-Tarts joke was…

In the interview, he says that line took him a long time.

He realizes it sounds like nothing, but as he puts it, “The wronger something feels, the righter it is.”

It’s like Mark Twain’s famous line, “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.”

I truly believe LinkedIn post writing is an art.

Ideally, you tell your story in 10 - 15 sentences and avoid big chunks of text.

You balance creativity with fact/opinion and get people to engage with you in the comments.

Doing this requires a learned level of simplicity.

It takes time to write content that’s worth people’s time.

The Hemingway App is one of my favorite free apps to help tighten writing.

Add your content, and it’ll grade your copy and tell you how to improve its readability.

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