The 2026 LinkedIn AI Strategy (Step by Step) (19 min)
- Release date: 2026-01-27
- Listen on Spotify: Open episode
- Episode description:
Get Charlie's free guide to create genuine LinkedIn content with AI: https://clickhubspot.com/bkh Episode 94: Is AI making your LinkedIn content sound generic or robotic? Discover how to cut through the noise and build a genuine following using LinkedIn’s newest AI strategies with host Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9), and special guest Charlie Hills (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-hills/), a LinkedIn celebrity who skyrocketed from zero to nearly 200,000 followers in just 18 months. Charlie Hills is renowned for redefining AI-powered personal branding and content creation on LinkedIn. He’s not your typical LinkedIn influencer—Charlie helps leading entrepreneurs and professionals craft viral, community-driven content that feels human, not machine-made. In this episode, Charlie pulls back the curtain on his viral content strategy: the CHEF framework (Curate, Heat, Enhance, Feed). You’ll get a step-by-step breakdown of how to use deep research tools, context stacking, and storytelling frameworks to make AI work for YOU—not the other way around. Plus, unlock actionable hacks like Charlie’s “pinned comment” trick and learn how to supercharge engagement, build authority, and keep your feed free from AI slop. Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd — Show Notes: (00:00) Viral LinkedIn Growth Secrets (04:28) Building Authentic Authority Online (08:01) Advanced Deep Research Tools Comparison (10:15) Reverse Engineering Personal Content Style (14:12) Enhancing Writing with Context (16:20) Building Community Through Insights — Mentions: Charlie Hills: https://www.instagram.com/charliehills/ ChatGPT Deep Research Mode: https://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/ Claude: https://claude.ai/ Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw — Check Out Matt’s Stuff: • Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/ • Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/ • YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow — Check Out Nathan's Stuff: Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/ Blog - https://lore.com/ The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano
Summary
- 🔥 AI Slop Epidemic: LinkedIn is flooded with generic AI content; standing out requires a human edge via frameworks like CHEF to avoid recycled outputs.
- 👨🍳 CHEF Framework: Context (gather personal data), Heat (use Projects for persistent context), Enhance (SPICE storytelling), Feed (engage community) creates authentic AI content at scale.
- 📊 Deep Research Hack: ChatGPT’s hidden deep research mode builds comprehensive personal profiles from LinkedIn data, fueling unique story-based content.
- ⚙️ Reverse Engineer Style: Upload past content to AI to analyze and replicate your unique tone, rhythm, and expertise for non-generic outputs.
- 💬 Pinned Comment Trick: AI-generated pinned comments with images boost post performance by increasing engagement time and building relationships.
Insights
Has context engineering replaced prompt engineering as the key to standout AI content?
Time: 7:17 – 7:47
Category: AI Literacy & Public AwarenessAnswer: Charlie Hills argues that mega prompts are outdated; instead, stacking rich personal context like deep research reports on oneself produces more powerful, unique outputs that avoid generic AI slop. This shift enables AI to generate content reflecting individual expertise and stories, helping creators like him grow to 200K LinkedIn followers. (Start at 7:17)
Can AI’s deep research mode uncover more about you than you know yourself?
Time: 8:00 – 10:06
Category: AI in Everyday LifeAnswer: By exporting a LinkedIn profile and enabling deep research in ChatGPT, it conducts extensive searches (e.g., 47 searches, 17 sources in 16 minutes) to compile comprehensive background, achievements, and goals. This creates a rich context repository for personalized content, far beyond manual efforts. (Start at 8:00)
Why are ChatGPT Projects a game-changer for authentic content at scale?
Time: 12:38 – 14:10
Category: AI in Everyday LifeAnswer: Unlike GPTs that forget context, Projects compound uploaded data like deep research and past posts, enabling nuanced, personalized responses that mirror the user’s unique voice and avoid outdated generic advice. This turns AI into a ‘content engine’ tailored to individual expertise. (Start at 12:38)
How does the SPICE framework transform AI drafts into compelling stories?
Time: 15:52 – 16:37
Category: AI & Storytelling/MediaAnswer: SPICE (Situation, Problem, Intervention, Change, Evidence) adds authentic storytelling structure: context, tension, steps taken, outcomes, and proof, making content feel human rather than robotic. It ensures posts prove real experience, boosting credibility on platforms like LinkedIn. (Start at 15:52)
Can pinned AI comments supercharge social media engagement?
Time: 16:46 – 17:47
Category: AI & Social Media DynamicsAnswer: Using AI to generate insightful pinned comments with images keeps audiences glued, increases dwell time, sparks interactions, and builds community without needing real photos. This ‘feed’ step in CHEF completes the content lifecycle by fostering relationships post-publish. (Start at 16:46)