Many users sign up to LinkedIn without a plan for how they’ll grow their personal brands on the platform.
Here’s the deal: You cannot build a solid online brand through trial and error, especially on LinkedIn. It requires a meticulous, coordinated effort to achieve the desired visibility and grow your network.
In this article, we’ll discuss all you need to know about LinkedIn personal branding and provide some real examples for inspiration.
Let’s get to it!
TL;DR—Do’s and Don’ts of LinkedIn Personal Branding
LinkedIn is an effective tool for growing your personal brand, but you must adhere to various best practices.
If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the do’s and don’ts during LinkedIn personal branding:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Optimize your LinkedIn profile. | Do not overlook your LinkedIn performance metrics. |
| Engage with your peers. | Avoid sharing content that doesn’t align with your LinkedIn personal brand. |
| Post engaging content regularly. | Don’t include details that could water down your brand. |
| Leverage LinkedIn premium features. | |
| Participate in LinkedIn groups. | |
| Gather LinkedIn endorsements. |
Can’t find time to maintain your LinkedIn profile and engage your followers regularly? Outsource to an expert.
At Crackerjack Marketing, we have worked with 125+ clients, including executive-level managers, consultants, and founders, who we’ve helped grow their brands through LinkedIn.
Book a free consultation with us today!
What is Personal Branding, and Why Does It Matter?
Personal branding involves shaping how people perceive you professionally, personally, and socially. It consists of creating a public persona where your skills, values, and reputation distinguish you from others in your niche.
Creating a personal brand is not a one-time event, as you must continually reinforce the public perception of your identity.
Additionally, a personal brand is not static. It should evolve alongside your career progression and personal development.
But does personal branding matter? Yes!
And here’s why:
- Helps you differentiate your brand from others
- Gives you control over your narrative and public perception
- Lets you showcase your unique value and expertise in your niche
- Builds trust and credibility, creating networking opportunities
How to Use LinkedIn for Personal Branding
Now that you understand personal branding and why it is essential, let’s outline how to use LinkedIn to grow your online brand image:
Share Your Achievements
Add your professional accomplishments on LinkedIn to help you stand out. The celebrations signify career progression, which generates interest in your profile and boosts visibility.
Some users assume that winning an award is the only achievement worth sharing on LinkedIn, but this is not the case. You could share a successful project you undertook at your company, such as a systems overhaul, and highlight your role.
Highlight your Professional Expertise
Showcase your skills on LinkedIn to establish authority in your niche and position yourself as a thought leader.
Pick the most relevant skills that align with your current career path. You could also highlight current programs you are undertaking and the expected completion dates.
Capitalize on Your Employer’s Reputation
Does your company maintain a strong brand image on LinkedIn? If so, you can leverage the employer branding on LinkedIn to enhance your professional reputation on the platform.
In addition to adding the company to your employment history, you can engage with its posts, including highlighting your input in the company’s achievements.
Build a Strong Network
Your network is a significant indicator of your personal brand value. While you could establish part of your network offline through in-person interactions, LinkedIn lets you connect with peers globally.
This helps you create a larger, more diverse professional and social network, elevating your personal brand.
Benefits of Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
Below are valuable incentives for establishing a LinkedIn personal brand:
- Credibility: Verifiable information on LinkedIn, including your educational background and professional accreditations, helps establish your brand as authentic and trustworthy.
- Thought Leadership: Sharing professional and industry insights on LinkedIn helps you position yourself as an influential personality in your niche.
- Job Opportunities: A strong personal brand attracts job offers and partnerships, which help you create new income streams. Besides formal employment, other job opportunities include consultancy and guest speaking gigs.
- Networking Opportunities: A reputable LinkedIn brand makes it easy to connect with other thought leaders. You are also likely to receive a high response rate when you request other personalities to collaborate on projects.
How to Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
Forging a personal brand on LinkedIn requires intentional, strategic effort. Otherwise, you risk hurting your brand or stunting its growth.
Below are eight proven methods for creating a strong online reputation on LinkedIn:
1. Optimize LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first point of contact with potential partners. As such, we recommend completing it to create a strong first impression.
Here are practical tips for revamping your LinkedIn profile:
- Pick a high-quality profile photo and make it publicly visible.
- Create a cover/background image that relates to your work or passion.
- Craft a concise headline that summarizes your current role or status.
- Fill out your education and skills sections.
2. Engage with Your Peers
Grow your LinkedIn network by connecting with users with similar interests or shared goals.
A large LinkedIn network reinforces your brand and helps you position yourself as a thought leader.
Tip: Personalize your connection request messages to increase the acceptance rate and form the basis for a long-term relationship with your peers.
3. Post Engaging Content Regularly
Create engaging content for LinkedIn to encourage your target audience to interact with your profile. Use diverse post types, including images, native videos, and polls.
However, we discourage posting content that doesn’t align with your target audience, as this could hurt your brand.
4. Leverage LinkedIn Premium Features
While LinkedIn is free to join and use, it offers premium features that can enhance your visibility.
For example, you can check people who viewed your profile and initiate connections and engagement.
Additionally, if a reputable personality views your LinkedIn profile, you can send InMails, which LinkedIn associates with a 1.6X higher response rate than free users.
5. Participate in LinkedIn Groups
Relationship building is a core tenet of growing your LinkedIn personal brand. Join LinkedIn groups where you can share expert insight on industry news and trending issues.
Over time, you will likely be considered a top voice in the group, elevating your brand.
You could also create exclusive LinkedIn groups and invite members with similar interests. This further reinforces your position as an authority in your field.
6. Gather LinkedIn Endorsements
LinkedIn recommendations are a quick way to gain credibility and social proof. They encourage users to accept your connection requests and engage with your posts.
A LinkedIn endorsement from a prominent figure could also fast-track your brand growth.
For example, if you receive a recommendation from the vice president of a Fortune 500 company, you will likely receive more profile views and connection requests than before the request.
7. Monitor Performance Metrics
Track how LinkedIn users interact with your brand, including profile views, post comments, and shares.
For instance, third-party tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Keyhole provide advanced analytics about your LinkedIn profile, including how to optimize it to boost visibility and engagement.
Do you find the process of LinkedIn personal branding overwhelming? We can help you maintain your LinkedIn profile, including helping you establish thought leadership in your sector.
Contact us today and let our experts help you revamp your LinkedIn personal brand!
LinkedIn Personal Branding Examples
Wondering how to set up your LinkedIn to enhance your personal brand?
Below are examples of well-crafted LinkedIn profiles from reputable personalities:
Example #1: Shadé Zahrai’s Profile
Below is an example of a LinkedIn profile created to capture users’ attention and establish authority.
What we like about Shadé Zahrai’s LinkedIn profile:
- High-quality profile photo
- Custom banner that relates to her expertise
- Concise headline summarizing her skills and current role(s)
- Posting content regularly
Example #2: Scott D. Clary’s Profile
Content creators can use Scott D. Clary’s profile as inspiration for creating their LinkedIn accounts, and for various reasons:
- Brief description of what he does (podcasting)
- Establishes authority in the niche by stating he has over 320,000 newsletter subscribers
Example #3: Bill Ready’s Profile
Bill Ready’s LinkedIn account highlights how executive-level managers and CEOs can set up their profiles.
What we like about the profile:
- Leverages Pinterest’s employer branding to reinforce thought leadership (check the brand logo on the header)
- Posts content fortnightly, which is reasonable for an executive-level manager
- Provides a detailed work history to show their rise through the corporate ladder
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are answers to questions we receive about LinkedIn personal branding:
What Are the Mistakes I Should Avoid while Building My Personal Brand?
Avoid these common pitfalls when growing your brand:
- Ignoring Performance Metrics: This causes you to implement your brand strategy ‘blindly.’ Leverage analytics to identify improvement areas.
- Chasing Online Trends: Looking for a viral moment could hurt your brand value, especially as an executive-level professional. Focus on your branding strategy for long-term success.
- Not Networking: This is a missed opportunity for establishing thought leadership. Connect with peers and participate in groups to grow your network.
- Diverse Audience: Trying to appeal to everyone often waters down your brand. Identify your niche and tailor your brand to the target audience.
Should I Accept Every LinkedIn Connection Request for My Personal Brand?
Yes and no. When starting, you can accept every LinkedIn request to grow your connections and follower count quickly.
However, we recommend vetting the requests to ensure the connections align with your personal brand.
How Often Should I Post Content on LinkedIn?
It depends on your LinkedIn goals. For example, you should post content almost daily if you are looking to grow your LinkedIn personal brand quickly and build a community.
In general, we recommend posting content two to five times every week. This helps keep your audience engaged and establish authority in your niche.
Conclusion—LinkedIn for Personal Branding
Growing your personal brand on LinkedIn requires more than posting content. Your profile must be optimized to create a positive first impression, and the content you post must also be relevant to your target audience.
Are you ready to elevate your brand and differentiate yourself from your peers? You need a personalized LinkedIn personal branding strategy.
However, your tight schedule likely prevents you from checking your LinkedIn profile regularly. You might also find it hectic to write LinkedIn posts every week consistently.
If you’re serious about building your personal brand on LinkedIn, we recommend hiring LinkedIn expert services.
At Crackerjack Marketing, we can help you align your LinkedIn strategy with your personal branding goals.
Schedule a one-on-one call to learn more.
Many users sign up to LinkedIn without a plan for how they’ll grow their personal brands on the platform.
Here’s the deal: You cannot build a solid online brand through trial and error, especially on LinkedIn. It requires a meticulous, coordinated effort to achieve the desired visibility and grow your network.
In this article, we’ll discuss all you need to know about LinkedIn personal branding and provide some real examples for inspiration.
Let’s get to it!
TL;DR—Do’s and Don’ts of LinkedIn Personal Branding
LinkedIn is an effective tool for growing your personal brand, but you must adhere to various best practices.
If you’re short on time, here’s a summary of the do’s and don’ts during LinkedIn personal branding:
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Optimize your LinkedIn profile. | Do not overlook your LinkedIn performance metrics. |
| Engage with your peers. | Avoid sharing content that doesn’t align with your LinkedIn personal brand. |
| Post engaging content regularly. | Don’t include details that could water down your brand. |
| Leverage LinkedIn premium features. | |
| Participate in LinkedIn groups. | |
| Gather LinkedIn endorsements. |
Can’t find time to maintain your LinkedIn profile and engage your followers regularly? Outsource to an expert.
At Crackerjack Marketing, we have worked with 125+ clients, including executive-level managers, consultants, and founders, who we’ve helped grow their brands through LinkedIn.
Book a free consultation with us today!
What is Personal Branding, and Why Does It Matter?
Personal branding involves shaping how people perceive you professionally, personally, and socially. It consists of creating a public persona where your skills, values, and reputation distinguish you from others in your niche.
Creating a personal brand is not a one-time event, as you must continually reinforce the public perception of your identity.
Additionally, a personal brand is not static. It should evolve alongside your career progression and personal development.
But does personal branding matter? Yes!
And here’s why:
- Helps you differentiate your brand from others
- Gives you control over your narrative and public perception
- Lets you showcase your unique value and expertise in your niche
- Builds trust and credibility, creating networking opportunities
How to Use LinkedIn for Personal Branding
Now that you understand personal branding and why it is essential, let’s outline how to use LinkedIn to grow your online brand image:
Share Your Achievements
Add your professional accomplishments on LinkedIn to help you stand out. The celebrations signify career progression, which generates interest in your profile and boosts visibility.
Some users assume that winning an award is the only achievement worth sharing on LinkedIn, but this is not the case. You could share a successful project you undertook at your company, such as a systems overhaul, and highlight your role.
Highlight your Professional Expertise
Showcase your skills on LinkedIn to establish authority in your niche and position yourself as a thought leader.
Pick the most relevant skills that align with your current career path. You could also highlight current programs you are undertaking and the expected completion dates.
Capitalize on Your Employer’s Reputation
Does your company maintain a strong brand image on LinkedIn? If so, you can leverage the employer branding on LinkedIn to enhance your professional reputation on the platform.
In addition to adding the company to your employment history, you can engage with its posts, including highlighting your input in the company’s achievements.
Build a Strong Network
Your network is a significant indicator of your personal brand value. While you could establish part of your network offline through in-person interactions, LinkedIn lets you connect with peers globally.
This helps you create a larger, more diverse professional and social network, elevating your personal brand.
Benefits of Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
Below are valuable incentives for establishing a LinkedIn personal brand:
- Credibility: Verifiable information on LinkedIn, including your educational background and professional accreditations, helps establish your brand as authentic and trustworthy.
- Thought Leadership: Sharing professional and industry insights on LinkedIn helps you position yourself as an influential personality in your niche.
- Job Opportunities: A strong personal brand attracts job offers and partnerships, which help you create new income streams. Besides formal employment, other job opportunities include consultancy and guest speaking gigs.
- Networking Opportunities: A reputable LinkedIn brand makes it easy to connect with other thought leaders. You are also likely to receive a high response rate when you request other personalities to collaborate on projects.
How to Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn
Forging a personal brand on LinkedIn requires intentional, strategic effort. Otherwise, you risk hurting your brand or stunting its growth.
Below are eight proven methods for creating a strong online reputation on LinkedIn:
1. Optimize LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first point of contact with potential partners. As such, we recommend completing it to create a strong first impression.
Here are practical tips for revamping your LinkedIn profile:
- Pick a high-quality profile photo and make it publicly visible.
- Create a cover/background image that relates to your work or passion.
- Craft a concise headline that summarizes your current role or status.
- Fill out your education and skills sections.
2. Engage with Your Peers
Grow your LinkedIn network by connecting with users with similar interests or shared goals.
A large LinkedIn network reinforces your brand and helps you position yourself as a thought leader.
Tip: Personalize your connection request messages to increase the acceptance rate and form the basis for a long-term relationship with your peers.
3. Post Engaging Content Regularly
Create engaging content for LinkedIn to encourage your target audience to interact with your profile. Use diverse post types, including images, native videos, and polls.
However, we discourage posting content that doesn’t align with your target audience, as this could hurt your brand.
4. Leverage LinkedIn Premium Features
While LinkedIn is free to join and use, it offers premium features that can enhance your visibility.
For example, you can check people who viewed your profile and initiate connections and engagement.
Additionally, if a reputable personality views your LinkedIn profile, you can send InMails, which LinkedIn associates with a 1.6X higher response rate than free users.
5. Participate in LinkedIn Groups
Relationship building is a core tenet of growing your LinkedIn personal brand. Join LinkedIn groups where you can share expert insight on industry news and trending issues.
Over time, you will likely be considered a top voice in the group, elevating your brand.
You could also create exclusive LinkedIn groups and invite members with similar interests. This further reinforces your position as an authority in your field.
6. Gather LinkedIn Endorsements
LinkedIn recommendations are a quick way to gain credibility and social proof. They encourage users to accept your connection requests and engage with your posts.
A LinkedIn endorsement from a prominent figure could also fast-track your brand growth.
For example, if you receive a recommendation from the vice president of a Fortune 500 company, you will likely receive more profile views and connection requests than before the request.
7. Monitor Performance Metrics
Track how LinkedIn users interact with your brand, including profile views, post comments, and shares.
For instance, third-party tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Keyhole provide advanced analytics about your LinkedIn profile, including how to optimize it to boost visibility and engagement.
Do you find the process of LinkedIn personal branding overwhelming? We can help you maintain your LinkedIn profile, including helping you establish thought leadership in your sector.
Contact us today and let our experts help you revamp your LinkedIn personal brand!
LinkedIn Personal Branding Examples
Wondering how to set up your LinkedIn to enhance your personal brand?
Below are examples of well-crafted LinkedIn profiles from reputable personalities:
Example #1: Shadé Zahrai’s Profile
Below is an example of a LinkedIn profile created to capture users’ attention and establish authority.
What we like about Shadé Zahrai’s LinkedIn profile:
- High-quality profile photo
- Custom banner that relates to her expertise
- Concise headline summarizing her skills and current role(s)
- Posting content regularly
Example #2: Scott D. Clary’s Profile
Content creators can use Scott D. Clary’s profile as inspiration for creating their LinkedIn accounts, and for various reasons:
- Brief description of what he does (podcasting)
- Establishes authority in the niche by stating he has over 320,000 newsletter subscribers
Example #3: Bill Ready’s Profile
Bill Ready’s LinkedIn account highlights how executive-level managers and CEOs can set up their profiles.
What we like about the profile:
- Leverages Pinterest’s employer branding to reinforce thought leadership (check the brand logo on the header)
- Posts content fortnightly, which is reasonable for an executive-level manager
- Provides a detailed work history to show their rise through the corporate ladder
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are answers to questions we receive about LinkedIn personal branding:
What Are the Mistakes I Should Avoid while Building My Personal Brand?
Avoid these common pitfalls when growing your brand:
- Ignoring Performance Metrics: This causes you to implement your brand strategy ‘blindly.’ Leverage analytics to identify improvement areas.
- Chasing Online Trends: Looking for a viral moment could hurt your brand value, especially as an executive-level professional. Focus on your branding strategy for long-term success.
- Not Networking: This is a missed opportunity for establishing thought leadership. Connect with peers and participate in groups to grow your network.
- Diverse Audience: Trying to appeal to everyone often waters down your brand. Identify your niche and tailor your brand to the target audience.
Should I Accept Every LinkedIn Connection Request for My Personal Brand?
Yes and no. When starting, you can accept every LinkedIn request to grow your connections and follower count quickly.
However, we recommend vetting the requests to ensure the connections align with your personal brand.
How Often Should I Post Content on LinkedIn?
It depends on your LinkedIn goals. For example, you should post content almost daily if you are looking to grow your LinkedIn personal brand quickly and build a community.
In general, we recommend posting content two to five times every week. This helps keep your audience engaged and establish authority in your niche.
Conclusion—LinkedIn for Personal Branding
Growing your personal brand on LinkedIn requires more than posting content. Your profile must be optimized to create a positive first impression, and the content you post must also be relevant to your target audience.
Are you ready to elevate your brand and differentiate yourself from your peers? You need a personalized LinkedIn personal branding strategy.
However, your tight schedule likely prevents you from checking your LinkedIn profile regularly. You might also find it hectic to write LinkedIn posts every week consistently.
If you’re serious about building your personal brand on LinkedIn, we recommend hiring LinkedIn expert services.
At Crackerjack Marketing, we can help you align your LinkedIn strategy with your personal branding goals.
Schedule a one-on-one call to learn more.
