🏆 Build A Real LinkedIn Audience

This week, I’ve collected the most helpful posts, articles, and videos on LinkedIn for you.

In today’s issue:

• Luke Shalom: Forget thought leadership

• Justin Mecham: How to master LinkedIn growth

• Haris Halkic: Lessons learned after 1 year

• Luke Shalom: Forget thought leadership

My LinkedIn Growth Blueprint

A year ago, I had no followers or engagement.

Now, with 37,000 followers, I’ve turned LinkedIn into a career and focus on projects I love.

I created the LinkedIn Growth Blueprint to help you do the same. It’s a 2.5-hour guide packed with:

• Visual templates: Cheat sheets and carousels to adapt easily.

• Post performance stats: Insights into what works and why.

• Commenting strategy: A step-by-step approach to effective engagement.

• Post creation process: Tools and workflows to save time.

This blueprint gives you everything you need to grow smarter, build an audience, and achieve your LinkedIn goals.

Act now 

What LinkedIn Taught Me In A Year

Last weekend, I shared what I’ve learned from my journey on LinkedIn—from zero engagement a year ago to building a living on this platform.

The focus isn’t just on growth, but on lowering stress and creating meaningful connections.

Key Lessons Learned:

1. Consistency wins

   • Show up daily, even when engagement feels low.

   • Growth takes time and effort—don’t quit too soon.

2. Serve your audience

   • Solve problems your audience cares about.

   • Always think, “What’s in it for them?” when creating content.

3. Focus on relationships, not just followers

   • Real engagement and connections are more valuable than high follower counts.

   • Respond to comments and build genuine conversations.

4. Be authentic

   • You don’t need to be perfect or an expert to start posting.

   • Authenticity resonates more than polished perfection.

5. Play the long game

   • Content builds trust over time, not just likes.

   • Consistent engagement often turns into clients, collaborators, and supporters.

Forget Thought Leadership

Luke Shalom explains why chasing "thought leadership" on LinkedIn is misleading and suggests focusing on becoming "Known Well" in your industry instead. This strategy directly ties to revenue and helps solve your buyer's biggest problems.

Why "thought leadership" doesn’t work

• True thought leadership takes decades to build.

• It doesn’t directly generate revenue.

• Buyers don’t care about it; they care about solutions to their business problems.

What to focus on instead

• Aim to become “Known Well” in your industry.

• Being Known Well is realistic, short-term, and tied directly to sales.

• Accounts with 5K-10K followers often earn 7 figures, outperforming larger influencer accounts chasing vanity metrics.

How to become Known Well

• Post daily targeting:
  → One ideal client persona.
  → One pressing problem they face.
  → One clear solution.

• Avoid distractions like chasing follower counts or trends. Focus on value for your audience.

The long-term effect

• Building your Known Well presence over time can naturally lead to thought leadership—but with results tied to your revenue goals first.

How To Master LinkedIn Growth

This guide from Eric Partaker, Justin Mecham, and Justin Wright offers practical strategies to grow your LinkedIn presence and engagement effectively.

The Key Takeaways:

1. Optimize Your Profile

• Use a professional headshot with a smile (400x400px).

• Banner size: 1584x396px. Highlight your services or expertise.

• Keep your headline under 220 characters. Use clear, impactful language.

• Include a strong CTA in your featured section (e.g., links to your site, newsletter, or portfolio).

2. Craft Engaging Content

• Use infographics, carousels, and text posts with strong hooks.

• Hook examples: "75% of people quit because of toxic managers" or "12 truths every employer needs to know."

• Use simple language. Include numbers, stats, or relatable scenarios.

3. Posting Strategy

• Post 1-5 times a week at 8-9am ET. Engage for at least 30 minutes after posting.

• Use content formats like JPGs, PDFs, or carousels to increase engagement.

• Repurpose top-performing posts after a few months.

4. Engage To Grow

• Comment thoughtfully on posts. Never post and ghost.

• Respond quickly to comments to build connections.

• Create value in your comments by teaching or adding unique perspectives.

5. Build Relationships

• Build a network of strong, relevant connections.

• Engage with larger accounts for broader reach and support.

• Ask for reposts or include a P.S. in your post with a direct question.

6. Avoid Common Mistakes

• No spamming or overposting. Keep posts concise and easy to read.

• Avoid corporate jargon or salesy pitches. Make it relatable.

• Don’t copy-paste content directly from ChatGPT without personalizing.

7. Choose Content Themes

• Stick to 3-5 main topics related to your expertise or interests.

• Talk about broader topics occasionally to expand your reach.

• Use a pyramid strategy: iterate, evolve, and analyze what works.

8. Top Tools For LinkedIn Success

• Use analytics tools to track post performance.

• Try Canva for graphics and polls for engagement.

TO GO

Daniel Korenblum: How to build real authority on LinkedIn

SalesDaily: LinkedIn prospecting done right

Lara Acosta: Please stop using AI on LinkedIn.

Jasmin Alic: My LinkedIn "Wrapped" this year

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