Getting noticed on LinkedIn amidst all the noise can be challenging. With over 850 million members worldwide, standing out takes strategy and thoughtfulness. The good news is there are proven tips to increase your visibility and engagement on the platform.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about getting noticed on LinkedIn:
- Post valuable insights, not just promotions – Offer advice, share data, provide analysis. Don’t just post about your company and products.
- Engage with your connections – Like and comment on posts, participate in discussions. Being active builds your presence.
- Use rich media – Images, videos, SlideShare presentations all perform well and catch the eye.
- Leverage hashtags – Include relevant hashtags to help the right people find your posts.
- Ask questions – Pose thoughtful questions to prompt discussion and reactions.
- Share news and articles – Commentary on current events shows you stay up to date on what’s happening.
- Highlight wins and milestones – Announcing new deals, products, hires, etc. gives people news to interact with.
- Be personal and show personality – Give people a sense of who you are to build rapport and likeability.
Post Valuable Insights
One of the biggest mistakes people make on LinkedIn is using it solely as a broadcasting platform. They share post after post about their company, products, job openings, upcoming events and so on. This comes across as spammy and self-promotional.
Instead, focus on sharing valuable insights, data and analysis. Offer advice and perspective. Weave in mentions of your company organically where relevant, but don’t make it the primary topic. This provides value for your connections while showcasing your expertise.
For example, if you sell project management software, don’t just post “3 Reasons You Need Our Project Management Platform.” Rather, share tips on how project managers can improve team communication, the pros and cons of different project methodologies, data on project failure rates, etc. This establishes your credibility and thought leadership.
Engage With Your Connections
Beyond posting great content, you need to engage with others on LinkedIn to get noticed. Be an active participant by liking and commenting on posts, joining relevant groups and partaking in discussions, sending connection requests and messages, etc.
This boosts your visibility and presence in feeds. It also expands your network by meeting new people. And engaging thoughtfully – not just spamming generic comments – builds relationships and rapport.
Set aside time every day to browse LinkedIn and have real interactions. Check out the feeds of your connections and companies/interests you want to learn about. Weigh in on discussions happening in your industry groups. Offer feedback and advice where you can provide value. Staying active in an organic way is far better than mass blasting connection requests.
Use Rich Media
Posts that contain rich media like images, videos, SlideShare presentations, etc. tend to perform very well on LinkedIn. They catch the eye amidst blocks of text and help convey messages visually.
When sharing an article or piece of content, always include a relevant image with it. Create infographics to illustrate data. Embed videos to bring numbers to life. Upload presentations to SlideShare and share them on LinkedIn.
You don’t have to create elaborate productions. User-generated photos, screenshots, simple charts and graphics all work. The key is providing visual interest to make your posts stand out and easier to digest.
Leverage Hashtags
Using relevant hashtags in your posts helps get them found by people interested in those topics. Follow hashtags on subjects important to your industry to see what people are talking about and participate in those discussions.
Research which hashtags are most popular for your target audience and industry. For example, #projectmanagement, #leadership, #SaaS, etc. Then incorporate 1-2 relevant hashtags per post so the right people will find it when browsing those tags.
But be warned – going overboard with hashtags looks spammy. Stick to 1-2 max per post, only use the most relevant ones, and make them flow naturally within the copy. Used judiciously, hashtags expand your reach.
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Posing thoughtful questions related to your industry is a great way to spark discussion and engage your connections. Open-ended questions that require some analysis to answer work best to get people thinking.
For example, if you are in the cybersecurity space you could ask “What is the biggest cybersecurity challenge organizations face when adopting IoT devices?” Or for project management, “What’s more important: sticking to the original project scope or adapting to stay on budget?”
Questions like these prompt people to weigh in with opinions, advice, examples, and debate. This drives reactions and comments, which in turn improves the visibility of your post and exposes more people to your profile.
Share News and Articles
Commenting on the latest news, articles and trends related to your industry is an impactful way to get noticed. It shows you actively stay on top of what’s happening and have informed perspectives to offer.
Share links to a new research report with your key takeaways. Discuss the implications of a merger announcement in your company’s space. Offer your thoughts on a recent speech by an industry leader. These demonstrate your knowledge while contributing to important conversations.
Aim to share 1-2 news/article posts per week. Look for content that’s timely and relevant to your audience. Offer more than just a link – share why it matters, key highlights, how it may impact the industry, etc. to provide value.
Highlight Wins and Milestones
While you don’t want to overdo self-promotion, strategically highlighting company wins and milestones is an effective way to get noticed. Just be careful to frame announcements from an audience-first perspective.
For example, instead of “We’re excited to announce we closed a $2M funding round!” say “Thrilled to have closed a new $2M funding round to keep enhancing our AI chatbot offering and deliver even more value to customers.”
Other types of announcements could include: new product launches, big partnership deals, awards/recognitions, impressive stats/growth, hiring announcements, event recaps, etc. Share 1-2 professional updates like this per month to spread the word.
Be Personal and Show Personality
Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of being personal and showing some personality. It helps humanize your profile and make you more relatable and likable.
Share some insights about your personal background growing up that shaped who you are. Post about non-work related interests and hobbies. Comment on events in the news like major sporting events. Respond to posts from connections in a casual conversational tone.
Finding the right balance between professionalism and personality takes practice. Don’t overshare or get too casual. But bringing some humanity and levity to your posts makes you more approachable, helps build rapport with your audience and gets people more excited to engage.
Summary of Tips
Here is a quick recap of tips covered to get noticed on LinkedIn:
- Post valuable insights, not just promotions
- Engage with your connections by liking, commenting, sharing
- Use rich media like images, videos, presentations
- Leverage relevant hashtags strategically
- Ask thoughtful questions to prompt discussion
- Share news/articles and offer your commentary
- Highlight company wins and milestones
- Be personal and show some personality
Putting It All Together
Getting noticed on a platform as large as LinkedIn requires diligence and creativity. You must consistently put yourself out there and provide value through your engagement and content.
Here are some final tips to maximize your chances of success:
- Post at optimal times when your audience is most active (early morning or lunchtime for most professionals).
- Vary your post types – thoughtful discussions, news commentary, data insights, advice, etc.
- Use relevant hashtags and keywords in posts so you come up in searches.
- Include high-quality images, videos and presentations when possible.
- Follow influencers and thought leaders in your industry to engage and learn from them.
- Ask for feedback and input from your connections to drive engagement.
- Analyze your posts’ performance data and double down on what works.
- Be patient – growing an audience and presence takes time. Stick with it.
Implementing even some of these best practices will dramatically improve your visibility and impact on LinkedIn. By consistently providing value rather than self-promotion, you become someone connections want to follow and engage with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common FAQs about getting noticed on LinkedIn:
How often should I post?
1-2 times per day is optimal, but quality over quantity. Only post valuable content consistently.
What topics/types of content perform best?
Industry insights, data/research, lists/tips, addressing pain points, thought leadership
When should I post to maximize engagement?
Tuesday – Thursday during work hours, mornings and lunchtime tend to drive the most interactions
How can I measure the impact of my posts?
Track likes, comments, clicks, follows, post reach/impressions, engagement rate
How do I make posts visually appealing?
Quality images, data visualizations, videos, clean text formatting, adequate white space
Should I use hashtags?
Yes, 1-2 highly relevant hashtags help people find your content. Avoid hashtag spamming.
How do I provide value vs. self-promotion?
Share insights, not sales pitches. Offer advice and perspective. Provide thoughtful commentary.
How can I engage my audience?
Ask questions, respond to comments, offer feedback/advice, highlight user generated content
Conclusion
Gaining visibility on LinkedIn is achievable with the right strategy and commitment to providing consistent value. Focus on sharing insightful expertise, data and analysis. Engage thoughtfully with your growing community. Post visually appealing content optimized for the platform. Implement these best practices diligently and you will see your influence and audience expand.
