
LinkedIn Community Top Voice (Gold Badge) Is Over—Here’s How You Can Still Stand Out
When LinkedIn first introduced the Gold Community Top Voice badge, it created quite a buzz. People were excited to be recognized for their contributions, and it became a symbol of status and expertise for many. However, over time, the value of the badge began to decline, resulting in LinkedIn’s announcement to retire the gold badge as of October 8, 2024. While this change may leave some contributors wondering what comes next, it also offers an opportunity to reflect on why the badge was so popular, how it added value, why it lost its significance, and what LinkedIn could do to bring it back more meaningfully. Why Did the Gold Top Voice Badge Spark So Much Excitement? I’ll admit—I was all in when the gold Community Top Voice badge first appeared. Like many others, I saw it as a symbol of recognition. Who wouldn’t want to be seen as a “Top Voice” on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network? There was an excitement about being part of a select group, and people were eager to share their newly earned badges across their profiles and posts. Here’s why it caused such a stir: 1. Recognition and Status Being awarded