Ever scrolled through LinkedIn and thought, “Wow, that person’s killing it!”?
You know those people who have a killer personal brand with huge followers and tons of engagement and whose profiles scream, ‘I’m the real deal.’
Well, let’s get it real: LinkedIn isn’t just for job hunting anymore.
It’s a place where people can find clients and grow their businesses, establish themselves as thought leader, and even become micro-celebrities (yes, you read that right!)
And the secret sauce? A strong LinkedIn personal brand!
But here’s a million dollar question: How to build a strong personal brand on LinkedIn?
Don’t worry! You’re at the right place. This blog covers everything you need to know about LinkedIn personal branding.
So, keep reading!
What is a personal brand?
Who comes to your mind when you hear the word: Digital marketing expert?
Gary Vaynerchuk, Neil Patel, or anyone else?
Well, that’s the power of personal branding!
Think like this: you’re not just another face in the LinkedIn crowd. You’re THE face people think of when they need an expert in your field. Sounds pretty awesome, right?
Your personal brand is like your professional alter ego. It’s not about creating a fake persona (please don’t do that!) but about showcasing your best, most authentic version of yourself. It’s your unique combination of skills, experiences, and personality that sets you apart.
To be precise, your personal brand is what people think of you when they hear your name. It’s a mini-marketing campaign, but instead of selling a product, you’re selling… well, YOU!
Why build a personal brand?
Now, you might be thinking, “Do I really need to build a personal brand? Isn’t it just for influencers, celebrities, or CEOs?”
Well, personal brand is all about creating opportunities, establishing yourself as a thought leader in the industry, and opening doors you didn’t even know existed. Here’s why you should focus on building a personal brand:
- Stand out from the crowd.
- Act as a magnet and attract opportunities.
- Create a legacy beyond your current job title.
- Build trust and credibility within the industry.
- Connect with like-minded people and grow your network.
A strong LinkedIn personal brand can help you grow at a 10x speed.
Here’s what Mishka Rana, CEO @Iconify, says, “Your LinkedIn personal brand is your personal billboard, your digital resume, your 24/7 salesman. Show up, share your story, and promote yourself unapologetically. If you won’t, then who will? Your brand is your power—don’t just build it; own it.”
Why LinkedIn? Isn’t it just another social media platform?
Ah! Now comes the real question, “Why LinkedIn?”
Well, LinkedIn is a goldmine for professionals looking to build their personal brand. Here’s why:
- Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn is all about business. Here, people switch to a professional mindset when they log in.
- Connect with industry leaders, potential clients, and like-minded professionals in your field.
- Share your thoughts, articles, and achievements with an audience that’s actually interested in professional content.
- Many companies use LinkedIn as their primary recruiting tool. A strong presence here can land you your dream job.
Interesting, right?
Now that you know “why,” let’s quickly move to “how.”
How to build your LinkedIn personal brand?
Alright, now let’s get to the point: How do you build your personal brand on LinkedIn?
Well, it’s not rocket science – all you need is a top-notch strategy, consistency, and, yes, self-promotion skills!
Here’s a step-by-step process:
1. Craft an Irresistible Profile
Your profile is your digital first impression, so make it count! Here’s how to make it pop:
- Professional Photo: Get a high-quality headshot that looks approachable yet professional. Also, don’t forget to smile (studies show that smiling makes your picture more likable and competent.)
- Headline: Don’t simply add your job title in the headline. Instead, use this space to tell people what you do and who you help. For example, instead of “Marketing Manager,” try “Helping B2B SaaS Companies 10x Their Lead Generation | Marketing Strategist & Growth Hacker.” A quick tip: try LinkedIn headline generator to come up with SEO-optimized headlines.
- About section: Tell your story! What drives you? What are your key achievements? What value you can bring to the table? Make your about section personal and authentic. Try the LinkedIn Summary generator to come up with a captivating summary in seconds.
- Banner: Don’t leave this blank! Use a custom image that represents your industry or personal brand. You can also add your contact details here.
- Experience: Don’t just list job duties. Highlight your key achievements and quantify results where possible.
- Skills & Endorsements: List relevant skills, and don’t be shy about asking colleagues to endorse you, as it helps to build credibility.
- Recommendations: Request recommendations from people you’ve worked with. These act as powerful social proof of your expertise. Also, you can try the LinkedIn Recommendation generator to create a personalized recommendation for someone you have already worked with.
Example: Check out Justin Welsh’s LinkedIn profile. It has a clear, high-quality headshot with a captivating banner. The headline is to the point and clearly conveys what he does.
Remember, your LinkedIn profile is the foundation of building your personal brand. Focus on creating a well-optimized LinkedIn profile first.
Learn more about LinkedIn profile optimization.
2. Consistently Share Valuable Content
Content is king on LinkedIn, but quality trumps quantity every time. Here are a few ideas:
- Share Insights: Offer your unique perspective on industry trends or news and become a go-to person for the latest happenings in the field.
- Tell Stories: People connect with stories. Share your experiences, lessons learned, and successes (and failures!).
- Write Articles: Showcase your expertise by publishing long-form articles on your LinkedIn profile.
- Create Videos: Use LinkedIn’s native video feature to share more personal, engaging content.
- Infographics: Visual content tends to perform well. Create and share informative infographics.
- Educate Your Audience: Teach your audience something new. How-to posts and tips are always popular.
- Engage: Ask questions, run polls, and encourage discussions in your posts.
- Use Content Mix: Go for a variety of content types – text posts, articles, videos, and images to keep things interesting.
Still wondering how to start? Check out this guide on how to post on LinkedIn to get started!
Example: Have a look at Lara Acosta’s posts. She talks a lot about how to build your personal brand on LinkedIn. Also, apart from text posts she comes up with top-notch video content. Here’s a post you can check out.
Remember, the key is to provide value to your audience. Ask yourself, “Will this help or interest my connections?”
Try the LinkedIn Post generator to come up with catchy posts in seconds.
3. Engage, Engage, Engage!
Creating and posting content on LinkedIn is just 50% – the remaining 50% is how you engage with your followers and build meaningful connections. Here’s how:
- Comment Thoughtfully: Don’t just say, “Great post!” Add value to the comment.
- Respond to Comments: When people comment on your posts, reply! It’s a great way to start conversations and build relationships.
- Support Others: Share and comment on posts from your network. What goes around comes around!
- Message Connections: Don’t be afraid to reach out directly to people you’d like to connect with.
- Join Groups: Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups to expand your network and showcase your expertise.
Example: Check out Jasmin Alic’s post, in which he amazingly explained why you should simply post and ghost.
4. Develop a Consistent Posting Schedule
Consistency is key when it comes to building your brand. However, consistency does not mean posting regularly.
Don’t confuse between consistency and frequency. Consistency is simply sticking to a frequency for a period of time. Simply stay authentic and true to your values.
Your LinkedIn personal brand should be a genuine reflection of who you are:
- Be Yourself: Don’t try to imitate others. Your uniqueness is your strength.
- Stay Consistent: Ensure your messaging, tone, and visual elements are consistent across all your content.
- Show Your Human Side: Share personal stories and experiences. People connect with people, not just professionals.
5. Showcase Your Expertise
By sharing insights and showcasing your expertise in the field, you can position yourself as a thought leader in your field. Here’s a quick glimpse of how you can do it:
- Write Articles: LinkedIn is a great platform that is perfect for long-form content. Share your knowledge!
- Create Video Content: Whether it’s quick tips or longer explainer videos, video content can help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.
- Offer Unique Insights: Don’t just copy what everyone else is saying. Offer a fresh perspective or unpopular opinion (respectfully, of course).
- Host LinkedIn Live Sessions: Use LinkedIn’s live video feature to host Q&A sessions or webinars.
- Share Case Studies: Highlight successful projects you’ve worked on. This ensures
6. Network Strategically
Building your network is crucial for brand growth:
- Connect with Purpose: Don’t just connect with anyone and everyone. Focus on people in your industry or those you genuinely want to engage with.
- Personalize Connection Requests: Always add a note explaining why you want to connect.
- Follow Thought Leaders: Engage with content from influencers in your field.
- Attend Virtual Events: Participate in LinkedIn Events and webinars in your industry. This can help you grow your network quickly.
- Give Before You Ask: Offer help and support to your connections without expecting anything in return.
7. Optimize for SEO
Make it easy for people to find you:
- Use Relevant Keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords in your profile and content.
- Customize Your URL: Create a custom LinkedIn URL with your name for better searchability.
- Add Link to Your Profile: Include your LinkedIn profile link in your email signature and other online profiles.
8. Be Authentic and Consistent
Your personal brand should be a true reflection of who you are:
- Be Yourself: Don’t try to copy someone else’s style. Your uniqueness is your strength!
- Stay Consistent: Ensure your messaging, tone, and values remain consistent across all your content.
- Show Your Personality: Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Professional doesn’t have to mean boring!
9. Measure and Adjust
Keep track of what’s working and what’s not:
- Use LinkedIn Analytics: Check which posts are getting the most engagement and reach.
- Try Socialsonic: Socialsonic is a LinkedIn tool that can help you measure your effectiveness in establishing your professional brand, finding the right people, engaging with insights, and building relationships.
- Adjust Your Strategy: Based on what you learn, continually refine your approach.
Phew! That’s a lot to take in, right? Building a personal brand on LinkedIn takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it.
But wait, there’s something more…
Introducing Socialsonic – An AI-powered LinkedIn Personal Branding Tool!
Now, you might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but who has the time to consistently create high-quality content, engage with others, and keep track of everything?”
That’s where Socialsonic comes in. Socialsonic is your AI-powered LinkedIn partner, designed to supercharge your personal branding efforts.
Here’s how Socialsonic can help you grow your LinkedIn presence:
- Content Creation: Socialsonic uses advanced AI to help you generate engaging, relevant content ideas tailored to your industry and audience.
- 10x Engagement: Get suggestions for comments and responses that will help you meaningfully engage with your network.
- Optimal Posting Times: Socialsonic analyzes your audience’s behavior to suggest the best times to post for maximum visibility.
- Performance Analytics: Track your LinkedIn performance with easy-to-understand metrics and get actionable insights to improve your strategy.
- Personal Brand Consistency: Ensure your messaging and tone remain consistent across all your LinkedIn activities.
- Suggests people to follow: Socialsonic analyzes your profile and helps you identify and connect with key influencers and decision-makers in your industry.
With Socialsonic, you can focus on what you do best – being awesome at your job – while it takes care of the heavy lifting in your LinkedIn personal branding journey.
The Ultimate LinkedIn Content Cheatsheet
| Content Type | Ideas | Engagement Booster |
| Text Post | Personal stories Industry insights Career tips Thought leadership | Keep it under 1,300 characters, use emojis |
| Image Post | Infographics Quote cards Behind-the-scenes photos Industry statistics | Use high-quality, relevant images with captions |
| Video Post | How-to tutorials Quick tips Interview snippets Product demos | Keep videos under 3 minutes, add captions |
| Polls | Industry trends Professional opinions Tool preferences Career challenges | Keep options clear, run for 1-2 weeks |
| Articles | Industry news Relevant blog posts Case studies Research findings | Add your insights when sharing articles |
| Engagement Posts | Ask questions Seek advice Share wins Celebrate others | Keep it authentic and use conversational |
Remember: Consistency is key! Aim to post 3-5 times per week for optimal engagement.
Still wondering what to post on which day? Here’s a quick guide:
- Monday: Share an inspiring quote or a motivational story to kick off the week.
- Tuesday: Post an industry insight or a trend analysis.
- Wednesday: Share a how-to guide or a practical tip related to your expertise.
- Thursday: Post about a challenge you’ve overcome or a lesson you’ve learned.
- Friday: Share a more lighthearted post, perhaps about work-life balance or a fun aspect of your industry.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out a few LinkedIn post ideas that can help you spark conversations, grow your network, and enhance your personal brand.
Remember, the best times to post on LinkedIn are typically Tuesday through Thursday, between 8 am to 2 pm in your target audience’s time zone. But always test and adjust based on your specific audience’s behavior. Read more on how often to post on LinkedIn.
Content ideas
Stuck on what to post? Here are some ideas to keep your content flowing:
1. Industry Insights: Share your thoughts on the latest trends or news in your field.
2. Behind-the-Scenes: Give a glimpse into your work life or process.
3. How-To Posts: Share practical tips and advice.
4. Success Stories: Highlight your achievements or those of your clients/company.
5. Polls: Engage your audience with relevant polls.
6. Inspirational Quotes: Share quotes that resonate with your professional philosophy.
7. Personal Milestones: Celebrate your professional achievements.
8. Industry Challenges: Discuss common challenges in your field and potential solutions.
9. Book Recommendations: Share books that have influenced your professional growth.
10. Video Content: Create short videos sharing quick tips or insights.
And there you go! Plenty of content ideas to start with. If you want to simplify this process again, simply go to Socialsonic. The tool will analyze your profile and generate content accordingly.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start your LinkedIn personal branding journey with Socialsonic
Building your LinkedIn personal brand isn’t an overnight thing – it takes time, effort, and, of course, consistency.
However, with the right strategy and tools like Socialsonic, you can build a strong LinkedIn presence that opens doors, attracts opportunities, and establishes you as a thought leader in the industry.
Remember, your personal brand is a reflection of you. Be authentic, provide value, and stay consistent. Before you know it, you’ll be the one people look to for insights and inspiration in your industry.
Ready to take your LinkedIn game to the next level? Start implementing these strategies today, and don’t forget to try out Socialsonic to supercharge your efforts.
