Do you think that the follower count only matters on Instagram? What if I tell you you’re wrong? Increasing your followers on LinkedIn can significantly enhance your professional network, boost the visibility of your content, and open up new opportunities for business and career growth. In this article, you will find more information on why followers are important and how to grow your audience on LinkedIn.
- Why is it important to have followers on LinkedIn?
- How to get more followers on LinkedIn?
- In a nutshell…
Why is it important to have followers on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn followers are the people who have chosen to keep up with your updates on the platform. What makes followers different from connections? When you connect with somebody on LinkedIn, your content appears on the person’s feed, and their content is visible on your feed. With followers, they can see your updates without you having to be “subscribed” to theirs. So they are more like fans who don’t want anything in return but just admire you from a distance.
Now, why do followers matter? Having a lot of connections is great and beneficial for your public image, but a large number of followers has the power to position you as a thought leader in your field. These are the people who decided to sign up for your content because they find it useful and inspirational.
For company pages, the bigger the follower count, the better for the business. This gives you more brand awareness, potential customers, or employers, and is also an indicator that your marketing team is doing a good job and that people consider your content intriguing and valuable.
Now that you know how important LinkedIn followers are, it’s time to learn how to gather more of them. After all, there are plenty of fish in the LinkedIn sea – more than a billion users are on the platform; you just have to catch them. And while only 1% publish actively, it shouldn’t be too hard to stand out, right?
How to get more followers on LinkedIn
When expanding your followers’ network, the first thing you need to know is that this is not something that happens overnight – it’s a long-term process that requires constant effort. To put it simply, once you light the spark in those followers, you have to keep the flame burning. Here are some ways to do it:
1. First impressions matter
People choose whether to follow you or not based on your appearance on the social media platform. To make a good first impression, make sure your profile looks complete and professional. Use a high-quality profile photo and a strong headline that clearly shows who you are and what you do. Creating a custom LinkedIn URL is another way to make a strong impression and stand out.
The About section is also essential as this is where all the important information from your profile is resumed. A well-written About section should include who you are, what your experience is, what you offer, what are your goals, and most importantly, a strong call to action.
Skills is another profile section that brings great value to your public appearance. LinkedIn allows you to add up to 100 different skills – this is the place where you can state all you can do without looking too self-centred – get the most out of it.
One section that is not included in the default profile appearance, but I highly recommend using, is the Featured section. You can add it through the Add profile section button right under the Connections count on your LinkedIn profile. The Featured section allows you to pin on top of your profile as many pieces of content as you want – you can add posts, newsletters, articles, links, or media.
Remember to use this section wisely – do not overfill it with meaningless posts, and aim to show yourself in the best light. It is a good idea to keep your featured content up-to-date and relevant to your current industry. Let’s say you have recently entered the Marketing world after years of working in Science. In this case, the scientific content has no place in the Featured section anymore.
Staying up to date applies to your whole profile – it is typical for most people to constantly develop themselves as professionals, so their LinkedIn profile has to serve as a visual representation of their latest achievements.
2. Create high-quality content
A lot of people mistake LinkedIn for Facebook or Instagram, posting daily updates, memes, and other content unrelated to their field of expertise. Don’t be like them. Of course, it is okay to express your funny personality and show your individuality, but try to keep it professional.
Share content that provides value to your target audience. This could include industry insights, how-to guides, thought leadership articles, and relevant news. It is important not to portray yourself as an expert in everything – pick one or two main topics for your content and no more than three subtopics. This way, you can stand out as a professional in your niche, and people will associate your image with that specific industry.
At the beginning of this article, we mentioned how building a community on LinkedIn is a never-ending process. Consistency is the key to success on social media. Aim to post content regularly to stay on top of your connections’ feeds. Three times a week might be a good start to maintain engagement, but if you have more to say, feel free to post even more often.
Content planning can save you from inconsistency, writer’s block, or lack of time. Try to create a content calendar with all your ideas – this way, your posts will be more organized, and you can be assured that you always have backup content for days when you don’t have the time to create something new.
3. Experiment with formats
To gain more followers, you have to make sure you keep your audience entertained all the time. Do not stick to only one content format – you have plenty of options to share your expertise, so use them all! Incorporate images, videos, and infographics into your posts. Write articles and even consider starting a newsletter to keep your followers engaged and up-to-date with your industry.
Remember that creating and publishing content is only half of the work. Always track your performance using LinkedIn’s analytics tools. This way, you can identify what type of content resonates most with your audience, the optimal times to be active on the platform, and more. If you only create content without analysing its performance, it’s like going blindfolded through the network. And how can you build connections with your followers if you can’t see them?
4. Engage with your audience
Gaining followers on LinkedIn has never been about the numbers – it’s about building an audience and establishing connections with it. So, your job doesn’t stop with creating and sharing content. You also have to show your audience that you value their input and are interested in building relationships.
Do your best to always reply to comments on time – people don’t like to wait. Of course, no one expects you to refresh the notifications tab every minute and reply to each comment seconds after it has been posted. However, you can set aside specific times in the day for this task. If you make replying to comments a routine each morning and afternoon, it should not take more than 15 minutes a day.
Don’t just focus on your content. While it is important to connect with the people who already follow you, staying active outside your profile is crucial for attracting a new audience to your personal brand. Engage with posts from others in your industry by leaving thoughtful comments and sharing your point of view on important topics related to your niche.
Another way to expand your follower base is by participating in LinkedIn Groups relevant to your industry. Share your expertise and network with other professionals in your field. Contributing to articles on the platform is also a great way to stand out and can potentially earn you a Top Voice badge.
5. Stay connected offline
While we talk about social media, true success is when people recognize you in the real world as well. Being active outside of LinkedIn can also help you expand your network. Attending – and, if you are lucky and experienced enough, speaking at – industry events can be crucial for building your image and connecting with more people.
In a nutshell…
Increasing your followers on LinkedIn is a long-term process that requires time and consistent effort. By optimising your profile, creating valuable content, and engaging with your audience both on and off social media, you can significantly boost your follower count and expand your professional network. If you don’t know where to start, you can always count on our team! Check out all our professional LinkedIn services.
