With over 850 million members, LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professionals looking to build their personal brand, network, and advance their careers. As social media networks continue to grow, many influencers have emerged on LinkedIn as thought leaders in their respective fields, providing valuable insights, strategies, and tips. Choosing which influencers to follow on LinkedIn can be an overwhelming task, but following the right people can help you stay updated on industry news, learn best practices, and get inspired to take your career to the next level. In this article, we will look at 10 of the top influencers across various sectors that you should consider following on LinkedIn.
Why Follow Influencers on LinkedIn
Here are some of the key benefits of following industry influencers on LinkedIn:
- Gain access to expert knowledge and insights in your field or industry
- Learn about the latest trends, strategies, and best practices
- Get inspired by their career journeys and achievements
- Expand your professional network by connecting with people they know
- Increase your visibility: influencers may share your content if they find it valuable
- Keep up to date with important news and developments
- Get advice on skills development, personal branding, and career growth
The right influencers can act as mentors and thought leaders you can learn from even if you don’t interact with them directly. Following them allows you to absorb some of their knowledge and emulate their successful habits and mindsets.
How to Identify Relevant Influencers on LinkedIn
With so many LinkedIn influencers out there, how do you identify those most relevant to you? Here are some tips:
- Look at profiles of executives and thought leaders in your industry
- Check who your own connections follow and recommend
- Look for LinkedIn creators with a high following and engagement
- Search relevant hashtags and keywords related to your interests
- Use LinkedIn and Google alerts for top authors and speakers in your field
- Identify influencers speaking at events or quoted in industry publications
- Look through LinkedIn’s curated lists like Top Voices and Power Profiles
When assessing potential influencers, look beyond popularity and social media metrics. Focus on those who share high-quality content that aligns with your goals and interests. Prioritize individuals with substantial expertise and thought leadership.
Top 10 LinkedIn Influencers to Follow
Based on their industry impact, quality of insights, and engagement with followers, here are 10 top influencers on LinkedIn you should follow:
1. Satya Nadella
As Microsoft’s CEO since 2014, Nadella has transformed the company into a major player in cloud computing, AI, and other emerging technologies. With over 2.5M followers, he provides leadership lessons and tech industry insights.
2. Whitney Johnson
Johnson is an accomplished author and leading thinker on personal disruption. Her career advice and insights on innovation have attracted over 920K LinkedIn followers.
3. Sallie Krawcheck
The CEO of Ellevest and former Wall Street executive shares financial advice for professional women and insights on diversity, earning 860K followers.
4. Bernard Marr
A best-selling author and keynote speaker, Marr provides cutting edge content on AI, big data, strategy, and digital transformation to his 790K followers.
5. Dorie Clark
Clark writes and speaks on personal branding, marketing, and professional development. Her actionable insights have attracted 530K followers.
6. David Cancel
The Drift CEO shares leadership and marketing insights with 460K followers. Cancel is an expert on product-led business growth.
7. Michelle Obama
The former First Lady uses her LinkedIn presence to advocate for girls’ education and share leadership perspectives, attracting 3.7M followers.
8. Richard Branson
With 16.4M followers, the Virgin founder shares his entrepreneurial journey and life lessons on networking, branding, and disruption.
9. Melanie Perkins
As CEO of Canva, Perkins shares design, branding, and visual communication insights with over 190K followers.
10. Guy Kawasaki
The best-selling author and chief evangelist of Canva publishes engaging leadership and marketing content for his 2M followers.
How to Get the Most from LinkedIn Influencers
To really benefit from following industry influencers on LinkedIn, keep these tips in mind:
- Engage regularly with their content by liking, commenting, and sharing posts
- Turn on notifications so you never miss an update from them
- Follow their advice and implement their tips and strategies
- Use their content and ideas to create your own posts and establish your voice
- Mention them or their content in your own posts when relevant
- Connect with them to join their wider professional network
- Attend live video talks and events hosted by the influencers
- Subscribe to any related blogs, newsletters, or social media feeds
- Send them a direct message to start a discussion and build rapport
The more you interact with and implement an influencer’s knowledge, the more value you will gain. Their content acts as fuel for your own career growth.
Conclusion
Following industry experts and thought leaders on LinkedIn opens up amazing opportunities for career and business advancement. Among the rising group of LinkedIn influencers, the 10 standouts covered in this article are uniquely positioned to help you achieve your professional goals.
Start implementing their career tips and industry insights today. Over time, you will absorb their wisdom, expand your network, and position yourself for the next stage in your professional journey. The more strategic you become in engaging with LinkedIn influencers in your niche, the greater success you can achieve.
Recommended Table
| Influencer | Professional Focus | Why Follow Them |
|---|---|---|
| Satya Nadella | Technology | Key insights on leadership and innovation in tech |
| Whitney Johnson | Career development | Expert advice on disruption, growth and potential |
| Sallie Krawcheck | Finance | Empowers professional women through financial advice |
| Bernard Marr | AI and big data | Cutting-edge content on emerging technologies |
| Dorie Clark | Personal branding | Actionable tips on marketing yourself |
| David Cancel | Business growth | Thought-provoking insights on product-led growth |
| Michelle Obama | Leadership and education | Advocates for women and girls around the world |
| Richard Branson | Entrepreneurship | Inspiring lessons from his entrepreneurial ventures |
| Melanie Perkins | Design and visuals | Strategies for communicating through design |
| Guy Kawasaki | Marketing and leadership | Expert advice for innovators and entrepreneurs |
Influencer Content Recommendations
Here are some excellent posts shared recently by the top 10 LinkedIn influencers:
Satya Nadella
- “My advice to young people: Find what gives you energy” – Satya shares career and life advice in this popular post
- “Empathy and compassion are core to innovation” – How these qualities drive real progress
Whitney Johnson
- “Beware of the Sirens” – Why passion and purpose must balance potential
- “The Game of Skill” – Tips from Whitney on mastering career disruption
Sallie Krawcheck
- “Why Wall Street is still a boys’ club in numbers” – Data on the lack of women in finance leadership
- “Here’s how we can get more diversity in finance leadership” – Solutions to drive change
Bernard Marr
- “Artificial Intelligence Trends: What Will Happen In 2023?” – Bernard’s predictions on key AI advances
- “The Amazing Ways Companies Use Artificial Intelligence” – Real-world examples and applications
Dorie Clark
- “Networking Is Not About Collecting Contacts” – Dorie busts common myths around networking
- “The Mindset Shift Leaders Need Now” – Adjusting leadership thinking in challenging times
David Cancel
- “Getting Business Strategy Wrong” – Why real-world results matter more than big visions
- “When Growth Isn’t Good Enough” – David on pivoting successfully
Michelle Obama
- “Why We Need More Films That Center on Women’s Stories” – Michelle on female empowerment in media
- “A Video Message to America’s Young Dreamers” – Uplifting immigrants and dreamers
Richard Branson
- “My Dyslexia: How I Made It Work for Me” – Richard shares a personal story and advice
- “Why Doors Beat Gatekeepers” – His perspective on thinking outside the box
Melanie Perkins
- “Design Trends 2023” – Melanie predicts the top design aesthetics for the coming year
- “My 5 Golden Rules of Presentation Design” – Tips for visual storytelling
Guy Kawasaki
- “The Art of Innovation” – Guy on how to drive innovation in business
- “The Art of Enchantment” – His advice for influencing people and changing perspectives
Tips for Growing Your Influence on LinkedIn
While absorbing content from top influencers can accelerate your career, you can also get inspired to become an influencer yourself. Here are some tips if you want to build your reputation and following on LinkedIn:
- Establish yourself as an industry expert by sharing unique insights and experiences
- Create engaging, educational content like posts, articles, videos, and slide decks
- Comment on posts and participate in LinkedIn Groups to join the conversation
- Use visual assets like images, infographics, and presentations to make your content stand out
- Live stream talks and be a guest on other creators’ videos
- Partner with brands by creating sponsored content and giveaways
- Promote your LinkedIn activity on other social platforms
- Analyze your metrics and fine-tune your content strategy to maximize reach and resonance
- Build relationships with other influencers by engaging with their content
Growing your LinkedIn influence takes time, consistency, and high-quality content focused on serving your audience. But by implementing the right strategies, you can build a prominent and respected voice on the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes someone an influencer on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn influencers stand out through their industry knowledge, strong personal brand, high-quality content, and sizable engaged audience. Becoming a bona fide influencer takes time plus consistency in delivering value to followers.
Are LinkedIn influencers paid by LinkedIn?
LinkedIn doesn’t directly pay influencers simply for having a big following. But influencers can monetize their audience by getting paid for sponsored content, branded partnerships, advertisements, and more.
How do I choose which LinkedIn influencers to follow?
Look for LinkedIn influencers in your industry who publish content that resonates with your interests and professional goals. Focus on quality over quantity of followers.
How often should LinkedIn influencers post?
Most top influencers post multiple times per week. Posting daily or every other day can help them stay top of mind while not overwhelming followers.
Can I become a LinkedIn influencer?
Anyone can work toward becoming a LinkedIn influencer by consistently creating valuable content and engaging with their niche target audience. But it requires significant time and effort.
