LinkedIn influencer content refers to posts published on LinkedIn by industry leaders, subject matter experts, and thought leaders who have large followings on the platform. LinkedIn launched its influencer program in 2014 as a way for prominent professionals to share their expertise with the LinkedIn community. Some key things to know about LinkedIn influencer content:
Who are LinkedIn influencers?
LinkedIn handpicks professionals to become part of its influencer program. Influencers come from diverse backgrounds and industries, including business, technology, media, entertainment, politics, science, and more. Some of the top LinkedIn influencers include:
- Bill Gates – Microsoft co-founder
- Richard Branson – Virgin Group founder
- Arianna Huffington – The Huffington Post co-founder
- Tim Ferriss – Author and podcast host
- Daniel Pink – Author and business consultant
To qualify as an influencer, individuals must have a substantial following, be respected thought leaders in their field, and consistently create engaging content that generates discussion. LinkedIn claims its influencers have an aggregate following of over 100 million.
What do LinkedIn influencers post?
LinkedIn influencer content covers a wide range of professional topics, though it generally falls into a few key categories:
- Industry insights – Experts share analysis on trends, challenges, and opportunities in their industry.
- Career advice – Influencers give tips on skills, networking, interviewing, workplace culture, leadership, and more.
- Business strategy – Posts discuss building successful companies, marketing, management, productivity, and other business topics.
- Motivation and inspiration – Content aimed at motivating professionals in their personal and work lives.
- Workplace issues – Influencers weigh in on topics like diversity and inclusion, remote work, and employee wellness.
The tone is generally practical, informative, or thought-provoking. Articles tend to be longer reads ranging from 600 – 2000+ words.
Why do influencers publish on LinkedIn?
For influencers, publishing on LinkedIn offers several benefits:
- Reach a massive engaged professional audience – LinkedIn has over 800 million members.
- Establish thought leadership and personal brand
- Promote products, services, companies, or causes
- Network with other professionals and find new opportunities
- Share knowledge and perspectives with the community
LinkedIn provides influencers with analytics on their post performance, allowing them to track reach and engagement. Influencers can also link to their external websites and profiles to drive traffic.
How do I know if content is from a LinkedIn Influencer?
There are a few signs that a post comes from a LinkedIn Influencer:
- It will be tagged “LinkedIn Influencer” above the title
- The author profile is marked with a blue “Influencer” badge
- The post appears prominently in the LinkedIn feed and often receives boosted distribution
- There is a call-to-action button to “Follow” the influencer
You can also browse the main LinkedIn influencer page to see the latest posts from those in the program.
Who sees LinkedIn influencer content?
LinkedIn displays influencer posts in the feeds of members who follow that influencer. Their content is also discoverable through LinkedIn’s search feature. Often, LinkedIn will boost influencer posts and showcase them to a wider audience beyond just the influencer’s followers.
Some ways LinkedIn amplifies influencer reach include:
- Promoting posts through LinkedIn’s trending news module
- Featuring posts on LinkedIn’s Pulse publishing platform
- Recommending influencer content in the feed algorithm
- Distributing posts to members with aligned interests and professional backgrounds
- Letting influencers re-share one another’s posts to their own audiences
This built-in amplification means quality influencer content can get substantial exposure and engagement on LinkedIn.
How do I follow LinkedIn influencers?
Here are some tips for following LinkedIn influencers:
- Search for influencers by name or go to the LinkedIn Influencers page to browse top contributors.
- When viewing an influencer’s profile, click “Follow” to have their posts show up in your feed.
- Pay attention to which influencer posts resonate most with you and interact with them through likes, shares, and comments.
- Engage beyond passive reading by reaching out to influencers and potentially connecting.
- Use influencer content to spark ideas and conversations within your own professional networks.
Following relevant voices who create high-quality content can provide valuable insights, inspiration, and learning opportunities.
What are the benefits of reading LinkedIn influencer content?
Here are some of the main benefits professionals can gain from engaging with LinkedIn influencer content:
- Industry insights – Get up-to-the-minute analysis on trends from those shaping your field.
- Career development – Apply advice from leaders on advancing your skills, job performance, and professional growth.
- Business strategy – Learn best practices for areas like management, marketing, product development, and company culture.
- Thought leadership – Discover new concepts and innovative ideas to inspire you.
- Global perspective – Gain a broader worldview by learning from influencers in diverse industries, professions, and geographic regions.
Consistently interacting with high-quality LinkedIn influencer content can provide valuable professional enrichment over time by exposing you to new people, ideas, and opportunities.
Conclusion
LinkedIn influencer content offers professionals a chance to learn from some of the top thought leaders across major industries. By sharing their expertise and perspectives, LinkedIn influencers aim to provide value to the LinkedIn community while also expanding their personal brands. Following relevant voices that inspire you can fuel your professional development, broaden your thinking, and spark meaningful conversations and connections.