LinkedIn's algorithm is now penalizing posts that read as fully AI-written, cutting their reach. For EdTech marketers already stretched thin, this isn't a minor algorithm tweak. It's a signal that authenticity is becoming the real ranking factor, and content strategy needs to catch up.
At the same time, October is in full swing with conferences and the usual run of thematic days, all stacking on top of each other. The right amount to take on usually comes down to capacity, picking a couple that fit the brand rather than trying to hit them all.
This field notes episode covers what's moving fast right now, the shift in what earns reach on LinkedIn, why email still works despite the spam flood, and which fall conferences and dates are worth prioritizing.
What You’ll Learn
1️⃣ Why fully AI-written LinkedIn posts are losing reach, and what actually works instead
Posts fully written by AI are now getting 30 to 40% less reach on LinkedIn, per data from expert Richard van der Blom. AI educator Charlie Hills, who grew from 3,000 to 250,000 followers, treats AI as a research and consistency tool rather than a ghostwriter. The test before publishing is simple, would this sound like something only its author could have written.
2️⃣ Why a smaller, active email list beats one that's bigger but flooded with spam
More than half of all email is now spam, and over half of that is AI-generated. Despite the flood, email is still one of the only channels a brand truly owns, and only 3 to 5% of any list is ready to buy at a given time. A smaller, active list consistently outperforms a bigger, inactive one.
3️⃣ Which fall conferences are worth prioritizing
October is one of the busiest conference months of the year. FETC's prices increase at the end of the month, NCTM's national math conference lands around the same time, and Digital Citizenship Week runs October 20 - 24, carrying extra weight given current AI uncertainty in schools. CETA and the EdWeek Market Brief Summit follow in early-to-mid November, before attention fades the week before Thanksgiving.
Why It Matters
EdTech marketing teams are often small, stretched across content, outreach, and events, with little room for guesswork. Knowing that AI-written posts cost reach changes how a team should spend its time on LinkedIn, pointing effort toward authentic voice rather than volume. The same logic holds for conferences and email, where budgets are tight and chasing every deadline or inflating a list is a worse bet than building fewer, trusted relationships deliberately. For teams working to earn trust with skeptical school and district leaders, all three threads point to the same idea, consistency and a human touch matter more than speed or automation in each case.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Richard van der Blom's LinkedIn Algorithm Insights Report 2026
The annual study of LinkedIn organic performance behind the finding that fully AI-written posts earn less reach.[Good human alert] LCG makes a small commission from your purchase, but wouldn't recommend it if it wasn't going to fundamentally affect the way you post and engage on LinkedIn!
Richard van der Blom on LinkedIn
Elana's go-to source for what's actually working on LinkedIn right now.Richard van der Blom's Tribe
The community where Elana attended the masterclass discussed in this episode.AuthoredUp
The LinkedIn analytics company Richard partners with to gather his data.Charlie Hills on LinkedIn
The UK-based AI educator who grew from about 3,000 to more than 250,000 followers, and the guest presenter in Richard's masterclass.All About MD Files and How to Create Them
A primer on markdown files and how to use them to give AI tools context about you, your voice, and your audience.Barracuda: Half the Spam in Your Inbox Is AI-Generated
Research with Columbia University and the University of Chicago finding that 51% of spam emails were AI-generated as of April 2025.LCG's Email Marketing Strategy Article
Elana's deep dive on how education brands can break through a flooded inbox.Join the LCG Email List
LCG's newsletter with curated education and marketing resources, and downloadable tools.The EdTech Marketer's Planner
LCG's free annual planner with every date covered in this episode.How to Tell If Your EdTech Product Is Ready to Go to Market with Kate Busby
The episode on product validation Elana references when talking about why proof beats projection.Why This EdTech Startup Hired Marketing Before It Had a Product with Karen Borchert
The episode where Karen shares the conference tip Elana mentions, booking the demo right at the booth.How to Appreciate Teachers All Year Long
The episode Elana recorded while she had COVID, with longtime educators on what really matters when appreciating teachers, in May and beyond.Erin Mote on LinkedIn
CEO of InnovateEDU and Elana's first LinkedIn spotlight, on why innovation in education moves at the speed of trust (read her post).A Parent Wanted Screens Out of His Child's School. Here's What I Told Him
The District Administration article by Edward Hilton, CTO of Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, on inviting a skeptical parent in to see how technology is really used.Syeda Iqra on LinkedIn
Elana's second LinkedIn spotlight, on why the founder with six paying schools got the term sheet. Read Syeda's postConnect with Elana: LinkedIn
Conferences and Deadlines:
EdTech Week
NYC's edtech festival, including the Shark Tank pitch competition and an invite-only CEO Summit, October 13 - 15.MassCUE Fall Conference
The MassCUE Fall Conference returns to Gillette Stadium on October 14 - 15.NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' annual meeting, October 28 - 31 in Denver, CO.FETC 2027 Registration
Registration for the Future of Education Technology Conference, with prices increasing on October 30.SETDA Leadership Summit & Ed Forum
Taking place in Washington, DC, November 1- 4.EdWeek Market Brief Summit
November 11 - 13 in Nashville, TN.NCTE Annual Convention
The National Council of Teachers of English's convention, November 19 - 22 in Philadelphia, PA.NYSCATE Annual Conference
November 22 - 24 in Verona, NY.Bett USA
The world's largest EdTech show, launching in the US November 8 - 10, 2027, at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN.
Elana Leoni, Host
Elana Leoni has spent nearly two decades helping education organizations grow through strategic marketing and storytelling. Over the past nine years, she has built and scaled Leoni Consulting Group, an education marketing agency that has partnered with more than 50 education and EdTech brands. Earlier in her career, she led marketing for Edutopia (The George Lucas Educational Foundation).
About All Things Marketing and Education
What if marketing was judged solely by the level of value it brings to its audience? Welcome to All Things Marketing and Education, a podcast that lives at the intersection of marketing and you guessed it, education. Each week, Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, highlights innovative social media marketing, community-building, and content marketing strategies that can significantly increase reach, relationships, and revenue.
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