Having a strong LinkedIn presence with a large network of connections can open up various money-making opportunities. However, there is no magic number of followers you need to start monetizing your LinkedIn account. The amount of followers required depends on your specific goals and the monetization strategies you want to pursue. In this article, we’ll explore how many LinkedIn followers you realistically need to start earning money in different ways.
Becoming a LinkedIn Influencer
One of the most prestigious ways to make money directly on LinkedIn is by becoming an official LinkedIn Influencer. Influencers are a select group of thought leaders who regularly share long-form posts on LinkedIn. Their articles appear separately in followers’ feeds and can gain huge traction.
To be considered for the program, you need at least 25,000 followers. However, most Influencers tend to have much larger followings of over 100,000 or even 500,000+ followers. Having more followers increases your chances of being picked since LinkedIn wants Influencers who can reach a very wide audience.
As an Influencer, you can potentially earn money from LinkedIn in a few ways:
- LinkedIn pays Influencers who create Sponsored Content posts for companies. The average pay is around $25 per post, but top Influencers can earn over $1,000.
- Brand sponsorship deals outside of the LinkedIn platform.
- Using your Influencer status to land high-paying speaking, consulting or corporate training engagements.
Becoming an Influencer takes time, but it provides the most lucrative LinkedIn monetization opportunity. You’ll need to organically build at least 25,000 engaged followers before applying.
Selling Products or Services
You don’t need to become an official Influencer to make sales through LinkedIn. Any profile can promote and sell products or professional services directly to their connections.
To effectively sell through LinkedIn, you’ll want to make posts showcasing your offers and directing people to a website with a shopping cart. You can also list products or services right on your LinkedIn profile. To generate sales, you need enough followers who would potentially buy what you’re selling.
Here are some follower thresholds to aim for based on what you’re selling:
| Products/Services | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Online courses or webinars | 2,000+ followers |
| Consulting services | 5,000+ followers |
| Physical products | 15,000+ followers |
| High-ticket services or products | 25,000+ followers |
These numbers assume your followers match the target demographic for what you’re selling. With the right audience, you may be able to generate sales with fewer followers.
Making Money with Affiliate Links
Including affiliate links is another way to monetize a LinkedIn account. You can share links to products, courses or tools and receive a commission for each purchase made through your link.
To earn meaningful income from affiliate marketing on LinkedIn, aim for these follower numbers based on commission percentages:
| Commission Percentage | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| 1-5% commissions | 25,000+ followers |
| 10-20% commissions | 10,000+ followers |
| 30-50% commissions | 5,000+ followers |
| 75%+ commissions | 1,000+ followers |
With higher commission structures, you can earn decent affiliate income with fewer followers. But products with 1-5% commissions will require a very large audience. Share affiliate links sparingly rather than bombarding your followers.
Working as a LinkedIn Coach or Consultant
Once you grow an authoritative LinkedIn profile, you can monetize it by offering LinkedIn consulting services. Businesses are eager to improve their LinkedIn presence and will pay for expert help.
As a consultant, you can offer services like:
- LinkedIn profile optimization
- Company page consulting
- LinkedIn lead generation strategies
- Training employees to use LinkedIn
To succeed as a LinkedIn consultant, you’ll need a robust profile and ample recommendations to showcase your expertise. Here are some good follower targets to aim for:
| Service | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Personal LinkedIn consulting | 15,000+ followers |
| Company page consulting | 25,000+ followers |
| LinkedIn training services | 35,000+ followers |
With more followers, you can charge higher consulting fees and land larger corporate clients. But you may be able to start offering services with 5,000-10,000 engaged followers in your niche.
Getting Recruited for a High-Paying Job
Even if your goal isn’t to make money directly through LinkedIn, having a stand-out profile can increase your earning potential. LinkedIn is increasingly used by recruiters to source and vet candidates. With enough connections and engagement, you’ll be more visible to recruiters.
Here are some follower thresholds that can capture a recruiter’s attention for top positions:
| Job Type | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Entry-level professional roles | 500+ followers |
| Manager and senior professional roles | 2,000+ followers |
| Director and executive-level roles | 5,000+ followers |
While follower count isn’t everything, it signals your professional credibility. Paired with an impactful headline and summary, more followers can help you land high-paying leadership roles.
Becoming an Industry Thought Leader
If your goal is establishing yourself as an industry thought leader, LinkedIn can be a powerful platform. By consistently sharing valuable insights and engaging your followers, you can build authority and influence.
To be viewed as a true thought leader, these are some good follower goals:
| Industry/Field | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Local industry leader in a city | 1,000+ followers |
| Leading voice in a niche profession | 5,000+ followers |
| Top expert in an industry | 25,000+ followers |
| World-renowned thought leader | 200,000+ followers |
While follower count isn’t the only factor, it indicates how far your influence reaches. Combine it with quality content and engagement to become a recognized leader.
Monetizing Through Speaking Engagements
A rock-solid LinkedIn presence can help you secure speaking gigs at high-profile industry conferences or corporate events. With enough authority and visibility, you can earn money sharing your insights on stage.
Here are some follower targets to help you land paid speaking opportunities:
| Event Type | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Local meetups and conferences | 500+ followers |
| Major industry conferences | 5,000+ followers |
| Global events | 15,000+ followers |
| High-level corporate events | 25,000+ followers |
With more authority and followers, you can land speaking slots at prestigious events that pay thousands in speaker fees plus travel expenses.
Locking in High-Paying Advisory Roles
LinkedIn can also help you secure lucrative advisory and board member roles with companies. By demonstrating your credibility, companies may invite you to advise them for large fees.
Here are some targets for positioning yourself for coveted advisory positions:
| Role Type | Target Followers |
|---|---|
| Local business advisor | 1,000+ followers |
| Advisor to medium & large companies | 10,000+ followers |
| Board member for Fortune 500 companies | 25,000+ followers |
Having an authoritative profile with plenty of recommendations and followers can get you on the radar of companies looking for advisors. Aim high with your follower count to open up more elite opportunities.
Conclusion
While there is no defined number of LinkedIn followers you absolutily need, follower count does impact your money-making potential. More engaged followers expand your reach and authority. They lead to more inbound opportunities and chances to monetize your account directly or indirectly. Focus on organic growth by consistently providing value. With persistence, you can build the audience needed to turn LinkedIn into real income.
