Becoming a LinkedIn influencer might sound overwhelming, but it’s more achievable than you think.
With over 900 million LinkedIn users, the platform has opportunities to share your expertise, build meaningful connections, and stand out in your industry.
The key? Focus on creating your personal brand, sharing valuable content, and engaging with your audience. Ready to take your LinkedIn presence to the next level?
Let’s break down what it takes to become a LinkedIn influencer and truly shine.
What is a LinkedIn Influencer?
A LinkedIn influencer is someone who stands out as a leader in their field.
These are the people you notice on your LinkedIn feed because their posts teach you something new, challenge the way you think, or make you see things differently. They don’t just blend in—they have a voice that grabs your attention.
Think of a LinkedIn influencer as a mix of a teacher, storyteller, and community builder. They share valuable insights about their particular industry, like trends, tips, or lessons they’ve learned.
Their goal is to educate their audience, inspire them to take action or think deeply, and sometimes even entertain with relatable or funny LinkedIn stories.
But here’s the thing: LinkedIn influencers don’t just post and disappear. They’re active members of the community.
They reply to comments, engage in conversations, and genuinely interact with their audience. For example, if someone asks a question in the comments, an influencer will likely take the time to answer thoughtfully.
In short, Being a LinkedIn influencer is all about creating connections and delivering value. They’re not just posting for likes—they’re there to build relationships and make an impact.
Recommended Reading: How to Get More LinkedIn Connections
Why Become a LinkedIn Influencer?
Here are the key reasons why becoming a LinkedIn influencer is worth it:
Build Your Reputation: Share your expertise and become the go-to person in your field. People will recognize you as a trusted thought leader.
Expand Your Reach: Go beyond your current network and connect with new audiences who engage with and share your content.
Unlock Opportunities: Attract brand deals, collaborations, speaking gigs, or consulting work. Doors open when people see your value.
Grow Your Business: Use LinkedIn to promote your services, attract clients, and even sell products or courses.
In short, being a LinkedIn influencer helps you grow professionally, connect with more people, and take your career or business to the next level.
How to Become a LinkedIn Influencer: 7 Strategies
Becoming a LinkedIn influencer isn’t about luck; it’s about having a plan. Here’s how you can start:
1. Build Your Personal Brand
Define Your Brand and Goals
Your personal brand is what makes you you. It’s how others perceive you online. To define it, ask yourself these key questions:
- What do I want to be known for? Are you an expert in marketing, a problem-solver in tech, or a voice for leadership?
- Who is my target audience? Knowing who you want to reach—whether it’s CEOs, job seekers, or fellow creatives—will shape your content.
- What value can I offer them? Think about the insights, tips, or inspiration you can share that will make people want to follow you.
Be authentic! People connect with real, relatable individuals, not just polished profiles. Staying true to your values and personality builds trust, which is the foundation of any personal brand.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Your profile is like your business card—it’s the first thing people see. Here’s how to make it shine:
Professional Photo: Use a clear, high-quality photo that represents you well. No selfies or casual shots!
Here's a great example of one of the top influencers on LinkedIn regarding Digital Marketing, Neil Patel.
Catchy Headline: Your headline is prime real estate. Instead of just your job title, explain what you do or how you help others. For example, “Helping Startups Scale Through Data-Driven Marketing.”
Custom URL: Replace the random numbers in your LinkedIn URL with your name or brand (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName). Here's an example using name and last name:
Here's another example of the top influencer on Linkedin, Gary Vaynerchuk. See different examples of other LinkedIn influencers as well and get inspired by the best.
Complete Your Profile: Fill out everything—your experience, skills, education, and even your summary. The more complete it is, the more credible you appear.
A polished profile not only looks professional but also increases your visibility in LinkedIn searches and other social media platforms.
Create a Unique Value Proposition
What sets you apart from the crowd? Your unique value proposition (UVP) is the answer to that question. It’s what makes people think, “I need to follow this person!”
For example, maybe you have a knack for simplifying complex topics or a creative way of sharing industry trends.
Highlight this in your LinkedIn posts and profile. Be specific about what makes you different and how you can help your audience.
Remember, people follow influencers who add value to their lives. Whether it’s through insights, actionable tips, or inspiration, your UVP is the key to standing out.
2. Craft a Winning Content Strategy
Having a solid content strategy is the backbone of becoming a LinkedIn influencer. It’s not just about posting anything—it’s about consistently sharing the right content to engage your audience. Here’s how to do it:
Plan Your Content Strategy
Consistency is the golden rule for growing your influence on LinkedIn. It’s not enough to post occasionally—you need a plan. Here’s how to stay organized:
- Mix it Up: Keep your content interesting by trying different formats like personal stories, industry articles, quick videos, infographics, or even polls. Variety keeps your audience engaged.
- Focus on Value: Think about what your audience needs. Are there common questions you can answer? Problems you can solve? Your content should help, teach, or inspire.
- Post Regularly: Aim to post 3–4 times a week. This keeps you visible without overwhelming your audience. Here are the best times to post on LinkedIn in 2025.
To stay on top of your schedule, use tools like Podawaa. It’s an automation platform that helps you plan, post, and analyze your LinkedIn activity.
Podawaa offers insights into the best times to post and shows what content works best with your audience.
With affordable pricing, it’s great whether you’re just starting or already growing your influence. Add Podawaa to Chrome for free.
3. Create Engaging Content
People love content that feels genuine and easy to connect with. Think about the posts you stop to read—they usually have a personal touch. Here’s what works:
Storytelling: Share lessons you’ve learned, challenges you’ve faced, or milestones you’ve achieved. People relate to personal experiences. If you want to get inspired, here are 20 LinkedIn Post Examples to Increase Engagement.
Quick Videos: A 1-2 minute video offering advice or insights can grab attention and feel more personal than text.
Visuals: Posts with images, infographics, or slides perform better because they’re eye-catching and easy to share.
If you are thinking what do LinkedIn influencers post, Here's an example, again by Neil Patel and its featured content.
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Track what your audience likes and adjust as needed. Fun fact: posts with visuals and videos typically get higher engagement, so make use of them.
4. Showcase Your Expertise
Your expertise is what sets you apart. Sharing it in a way that’s clear and helpful builds your credibility and positions you as a leader. Here are some content ideas to try:
- Educational Tips: For example, “5 Ways to Manage Remote Teams Effectively.”
- Industry Insights: Share trends like “The Latest Marketing Trends You Need to Know.”
- Career Advice: Posts like “How to Break Into the Tech Industry” are relatable and helpful.
These types of posts show your audience that you’re knowledgeable reliable and valuable content, making them more likely to engage with and trust you.
5. Grow Your Audience
Growing your audience is all about building connections and fostering engagement. The more people you reach, the greater your influence. Here’s how to do it:
Expand Your LinkedIn Network
Building your network isn’t just about collecting connections—it’s about forming meaningful relationships. Start by:
- Connecting with Like-Minded Professionals: Find people in your industry or those who share your interests. Tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator can help you identify potential connections.
- Personalizing Your Messages: When sending connection requests, include a short, friendly note explaining why you’d like to connect. It makes a big difference.
- Focusing on Quality, Not Quantity: Having a network of engaged, relevant connections is more valuable than thousands of random contacts.
Remember, the professional networking here is about giving as much as receiving. Share insights, recommend others, or comment thoughtfully on posts.
6. Engage with Others
Posting your own content is just one part of the puzzle. Interacting with others is equally important. Here’s what you can do:
Like, Comment, and Share: Engage with posts from people in your field. Thoughtful comments get you noticed and build relationships.
Join LinkedIn Groups: Participate in industry-specific groups. Share your expertise, ask questions, and connect with members.
You will see at the bottom of each LinkedIn influencer what their interests are.
Start Conversations: Ask questions or share insights in your comments to spark discussions.
This kind of interaction shows you’re active and interested in the community, making people more likely to engage with your content too.
Collaborate and Build a Community
Collaboration can take your LinkedIn presence digital marketing strategy to the next level. It’s about working with others to create something bigger.
- Partner with Other Influencers: Co-create content, run webinars, or host LinkedIn Live events together. Collaborations expand your reach to new audiences.
- Host Giveaways or Events: Whether it’s a free eBook, a Q&A session, or a live webinar, these activities create buzz and drive engagement.
- Foster Community: Be the person who connects others. Share your network’s achievements, highlight others’ content, or start a LinkedIn Group focused on your niche.
Building a community around your personal brand makes your audience feel connected to you and each other, strengthening your influence.
7. Measure Success and Monetization
Tracking your progress and finding ways to monetize your influence on social media platforms are crucial steps in growing as a LinkedIn influencer.
Track Your Progress
Regularly check your LinkedIn performance to see what’s working and where you can improve. Focus on these metrics:
- Engagement Rates: Look at the number of likes, comments, and shares your posts receive. These show how well your content resonates.
- LinkedIn Followers Growth: Track how quickly your LinkedIn audience is growing.
- Post Reach: See how many people your content is reaching and adjust your strategy if numbers are low.
LinkedIn’s built-in analytics tools make it easy to monitor these stats. If something isn’t working, tweak your content, posting times, or engagement tactics.
8. Monetize Your Influence
Once you’ve built a solid following, monetization opportunities will start to appear. Here are a few ways to turn your LinkedIn influence into income:
- Partner with Brands: Companies might pay you to promote their products or services in sponsored posts.
- Offer Services: Use LinkedIn to market consulting, coaching, or other professional services.
- Drive Traffic to Your Business: Link your audience to your website, online courses, or other products you sell.
By combining consistent growth with value-driven content, you’ll not only grow your audience but also open the door to meaningful and lucrative opportunities.
9. Aim for Top Voices Badge
Earning the Top Voices badge is more than just an accolade. Here’s why it’s worth pursuing:
- Boosts Credibility: People will see you as a trusted leader in your field.
- Increases Visibility: Your posts are more likely to reach a wider audience, helping you grow your influence even further.
- Opens Doors: With increased recognition, you’re more likely to attract partnerships, speaking opportunities, and other collaborations.
Let Podawaa Boost Your LinkedIn Engagement
Want to master the LinkedIn algorithm and grow your influence? Podawaa is your all-in-one tool to increase engagement, boost visibility, and simplify your content strategy.
- Schedule Smart: Plan and schedule LinkedIn posts in advance to stay consistent.
- Engage Better: Optimize posting times and work with the LinkedIn algorithm to attract more attention.
- Track Results: Use detailed analytics to fine-tune your strategy for better performance.
Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, Podawaa helps you stand out.
Add Podawaa to Chrome for free and start growing your LinkedIn engagement today.