Want more people to follow you on LinkedIn? You’re in the right place! I’ll show you how I got 60,000 followers in just 2 years. This helped Dakota Robertson make $1 million last year. The best part? You don’t need to start with many followers or spend hours commenting every day.
Let’s look at 7 simple steps to help you grow your LinkedIn following fast.
Summary
The article outlines seven effective strategies to rapidly grow your LinkedIn following, based on the experiences of successful users. The strategies focus on optimizing your profile, creating engaging content, leveraging AI for ideas, and building a strong network. By following these steps, you can enhance your visibility and attract more followers on LinkedIn.
Key Points
- Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: Use a professional photo, catchy headline, and engaging About section to make a strong first impression.
- Master Content Creation: Utilize the GAP framework to produce growth, authority, and personal content that resonates with your audience.
- Use AI for Content Ideas: Leverage tools like ChatGPT to generate numerous post ideas quickly.
- Engagement Strategy: Actively comment on posts and join engagement groups to increase visibility.
- Build a High-Value Network: Connect with relevant professionals and personalize connection requests.
- Optimize Posting Schedule: Post regularly at optimal times for maximum engagement.
- Leverage LinkedIn Features: Utilize articles, polls, and LinkedIn Live to interact with your audience.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly increase your LinkedIn following and engagement.
Strategy 1: Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Maximum Impact
Your LinkedIn profile is like your online business card. It needs to look good and grab attention! Here’s how to make it shine:
Pick a good profile picture: Choose a clear, professional photo where your face takes up most of the space. Use good lighting and a plain background.
Create a cool banner: Show what you do, proof that you’re good at it, and what people should do next. For example, my banner says “I help people write better and build their brand”. It shows I’ve been in Forbes. And it tells people to check out my free course.
Write a catchy headline: Answer these questions:
- What do you do?
- Who do you help?
- Why should people care?
- Why should they trust you?
Keep it short and simple. Mine says: “I help business owners get more clients with their personal brand. I’ve helped 150+ clients make millions. Get my free branding course.”
Tell your story in the About section: Use the STAR method:
- Situation: Set the scene
- Task: Explain the problem
- Action: Say what you did
- Result: Share what happened
Show off your best work: Use the Featured section to highlight your best stuff. Add a nice picture and clear title to catch people’s eye.
Example: John, a marketing expert, updated his profile using these tips. He got 50% more profile views in just one month!
“Your LinkedIn profile opens doors to new chances. Make it count!”
The STAR Framework for Your “About” Section
Use the STAR framework to create a compelling story in your “About” section. This method helps you showcase your achievements in a clear, structured way.
– Situation: Set the context for your professional experience
- Describe the company, project, or challenge you faced
- Provide enough background for readers to understand the scenario
– Task: Explain the specific responsibility or challenge you were given
- What was your role?
- What were the goals or objectives?
– Action: Describe the steps you took to address the situation
- What specific actions did you take?
- How did you overcome obstacles?
- What skills did you use?
– Result: Share the outcomes and lessons learned
- What were the measurable results of your actions?
- How did your work impact the company or project?
- What did you learn from this experience?
Example: “As a new marketing manager at a startup (Situation), I was tasked with increasing our social media engagement by 50% in six months (Task). I developed a content calendar, ran A/B tests on post types, and engaged influencers in our industry (Action). As a result, we saw a 75% increase in engagement and a 25% growth in followers, leading to a 15% boost in product sign-ups (Result).”
Tips for using STAR in your About section:
- Choose 2-3 key achievements that best represent your skills and experience
- Keep each STAR story concise, focusing on the most impactful details
- Use numbers and percentages to quantify your results when possible
- Tailor your stories to match the skills and experiences most relevant to your target audience or desired role
“Your LinkedIn About section is your career highlight reel.
Strategy 2: Master the Art of LinkedIn Content Creation
To grow on LinkedIn, you need to post stuff people want to read. Use the GAP framework to make sure your content hits the mark:
Growth content: Write about trending topics or big names in your field. This gets people interested and brings traffic to your profile.
Authority content: Show off what you know! Share tips, case studies, and how-to guides. This proves you’re an expert and gives people a reason to follow you.
Personal content: Share your stories, views, and experiences. This helps people feel close to you and builds true fans.
Example: Sarah, a fitness coach, used the GAP framework for her posts. She wrote about:
- Growth: How to use ChatGPT to make a meal plan
- Authority: A step-by-step guide on how to get more views on LinkedIn posts
- Personal: How she overcame a big challenge in her fitness journey
Her engagement went up by 200% in just two weeks!
“Great content is the fuel that makes your LinkedIn grow!”
The GAP Framework for LinkedIn Content
The GAP framework helps you create a balanced content strategy that attracts and retains followers.
– Growth content:
- Focus on trending topics or industry news
- Share content that appeals to a wider audience
- Example: Discussing the impact of AI on your industry
– Authority content:
- Showcase your expertise and provide value
- Share tips, how-to guides, and case studies
- Example: A step-by-step guide on optimizing LinkedIn profiles
– Personal content:
- Share your unique stories and experiences
- Build connections with your audience
- Example: Sharing a lesson learned from a professional challenge
Tips for using the GAP framework:
- Aim for a balance of all three content types
- Use Growth content to attract new followers
- Use Authority content to establish credibility
- Use Personal content to build genuine connections
Strategy 3: Harness the Power of AI for Content Ideation
Never run out of things to post about! Here’s how to use AI (like ChatGPT) to get lots of content ideas:
- Tell the AI about the GAP method
- Share info about yourself and who you want to reach
- Ask for 25 questions for each part of GAP
- Use the answers to create your posts
Example: Let’s say you’re a career coach. You could ask ChatGPT:
“I’m a career coach helping people find jobs they love. Can you give me 25 questions about current job market trends (Growth), 25 questions about effective job search strategies (Authority), and 25 questions about my experiences helping clients land their dream jobs (Personal)?”
This gives you 75 post ideas in just a few minutes!
Here’s a sample of what ChatGPT might generate:
| Content Type | Sample Questions |
|---|---|
| Growth | 1. How is AI changing job search strategies in 2024? |
| 2. What are the fastest-growing industries for job seekers this year? | |
| Authority | 1. What are the top 5 resume mistakes to avoid in 2024? |
| 2. How can job seekers use LinkedIn to stand out to recruiters? | |
| Personal | 1. What was your biggest challenge when starting as a career coach? |
| 2. Can you share a success story of a client who made a major career change? |
Remember to add your own thoughts and experiences to these AI-generated ideas!
This method gives you loads of ideas that fit your brand and help your audience.
Example: Tom, a sales trainer, used ChatGPT to come up with 75 post ideas in just 30 minutes. He had enough content planned for the next three months!
“AI is your helper for endless LinkedIn post ideas!”
Strategy 4: Implement a Winning LinkedIn Engagement Strategy
Even great content needs people to see it. Here’s how to get more eyes on your posts:
1. Comment on other posts
- Make a list of 50-100 accounts in your field
- Look for accounts with 1,000 to 500,000 followers
- Comment on their posts every day
- Add your own thoughts, don’t just say “Great post!”
- Try to leave 20-50 good comments a day
2. Join engagement groups
- Find 5-10 other people trying to grow on LinkedIn
- Agree to comment on each other’s posts
- This helps everyone’s posts reach more people
- But be careful not to overdo it, LinkedIn doesn’t like it if you go too far
Example: Sarah, a marketing expert, started commenting on 30 posts a day. After a month, her own posts got 3 times more views!
Here’s a simple way to write good comments:
- Say something nice about the post
- Add your own idea or experience
- Ask a question to keep the talk going
Example: “Great post on email marketing! I’ve found that subject lines with emojis get 25% more opens. Have you tried using emojis in your campaigns?”
Question: What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to engaging with others on LinkedIn?
“More views mean more chances to grow. Comment smart!”
Strategy 5: Build a High-Value LinkedIn Network
Your connections are like your LinkedIn family. They help you reach more people. Here’s how to grow your network:
- Accept requests from people in your field or who you want to reach
- Send friendly requests to others
- Look for people with good profile pictures and shared connections
- Send as many requests as LinkedIn lets you each day
Remember to talk to your new connections. Ask them questions or share something you liked about their profile.
Example: Tom, a sales trainer, focused on growing his network for a month. He added 500 new, good connections and saw his posts reach 3 times more people!
Here’s a simple template for sending connection requests:
“Hi [Name],
I noticed we’re both in [shared industry/interest]. I’d love to connect and learn more about your work in [specific area].
Looking forward to sharing ideas!
[Your Name]”
“Your LinkedIn network is like a garden. Take care of it, and watch it grow!”
Strategy 6: Optimize Your LinkedIn Posting Schedule
Timing can make a big difference. Here’s how to get it right:
- Post 3-7 times a week
- Find out when your audience is most active
- Use a tool like Tappo to schedule your posts
- Try posting at 11 am EST if you’re not sure when to start
Here’s a simple posting schedule to start with:
| Day | Time | Content Type |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 AM | Growth |
| Tuesday | 3:00 PM | Authority |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM | Personal |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM | Growth |
| Friday | 3:00 PM | Authority |
Remember, this is just a starting point. Keep track of which posts do best and adjust your schedule.
Question: What time of day do you find you get the most engagement on your LinkedIn posts?
Example: Emma, a marketing consultant, used to post randomly. When she started posting 5 times a week at 9 am and 3 pm, her average post views doubled!
“Post regularly, and your LinkedIn following will grow like a happy plant!”
Strategy 7: Leverage LinkedIn’s Native Features
LinkedIn has many tools to help you grow. Here’s how to use them:
- Write long articles to show what you know
- Use polls to get people talking and learn from them
- Try LinkedIn Live to talk to your audience in real-time
- Use hashtags to help more people find your posts
Don’t try to use all of these at once. Start with one or two and see how they work for you.
Example: Alex, a tech blogger, started using LinkedIn polls every week. 80% more people started talking about his posts, and he got 1,000 new followers in just two months!
Here’s a simple plan to use LinkedIn’s features:
- Write one long article a month about a big topic in your field
- Do a poll every other week to learn what your followers think
- Use 3-5 relevant hashtags on each post
- Try LinkedIn Live once a month to answer questions from your followers
“Use LinkedIn’s tools, and watch your following grow fast!”
Let’s Sum It Up: Your Plan for LinkedIn Success
Here’s a simple plan to get you started:
One-time setup:
- Make your profile look great
- Set up your AI helper for ideas
- Make your list of people to engage with
Daily:
- Handle connection requests (2-10 minutes)
- Reply to comments (5-20 minutes)
- Comment on other posts (30-90 minutes)
Weekly:
- Come up with post ideas
- Create content in batches
- Schedule your posts
Monthly:
- Check your top posts and learn from them
Start using these tips today, and watch your LinkedIn following grow! Share your success stories in the comments below.
FAQ
1. How often should I post on LinkedIn to grow my following?
Answer: Try to post 3-7 good posts each week.
2. What’s the best way to make my LinkedIn profile better for more followers?
Answer: Use a good photo, write a clear headline, and create an interesting “About” section using the STAR method.
3. How can I get more people to like and comment on my LinkedIn posts?
Answer: Use catchy first lines, create helpful content using the GAP framework, and talk to others by commenting on their posts.
4. Is it good to use AI tools for making LinkedIn content?
Answer: Yes, AI tools can help you think of ideas and save time, but always add your own thoughts to keep it personal.
5. What’s the GAP framework for LinkedIn content?
Answer: GAP means Growth, Authority, and Personal content. It’s a good way to create different types of posts that people will like and follow.
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