Trying to grow your audience on LinkedIn but not sure how to stand out?
You're not alone. With over 900 million users, LinkedIn is full of opportunity — but also noise. Becoming an influencer isn’t about luck. It’s about having a strategy.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to build your personal brand as an influencer, create content that connects, and grow your reach in 2025.
These aren’t vague tips, they’re the same steps top creators use to earn trust, gain visibility, and turn their presence into real opportunities.
TL;DR: How to Become a LinkedIn Influencer in 2025
- Build a strong, authentic personal brand
- Create content that teaches, inspires, or entertains
- Post consistently (3–4×/week) with a mix of formats
- Engage meaningfully with your community
- Use tools like Podawaa to post at the right time
- Track what works, and double down
- Monetize your influence with services, offers, or brand deals
- Aim for LinkedIn’s Top Voices badge to boost visibility
What is a LinkedIn Influencer?
A LinkedIn influencer is someone who stands out as a leader in their field, so it’s not someone just posting every day.
These are the people you notice on your LinkedIn feed because their posts teach you something new, challenge the way you think, or make you see things differently. They don’t just blend in—they have a voice that grabs your attention.
Think of a LinkedIn influencer as a mix of a teacher, storyteller, and community builder. They share valuable insights about their particular industry, like trends, tips, or lessons they’ve learned.
Their goal is to educate their audience, inspire them to take action or think deeply, and sometimes even entertain with relatable or funny LinkedIn stories.
But here’s the thing: LinkedIn influencers don’t just post and disappear. They’re active members of the community.
They reply to comments, engage in conversations, and genuinely interact with their audience. For example, if someone asks a question in the comments, an influencer will likely take the time to answer thoughtfully.
Why Build Influence on LinkedIn in 2025?
Here are the key reasons why becoming a LinkedIn influencer is worth it:
Build Your Reputation: Share your expertise and become the go-to person in your field. People will recognize you as a trusted thought leader.
Expand Your Reach: Go beyond your current network and connect with new audiences who engage with and share your content.
Unlock Opportunities: Attract brand deals, collaborations, speaking gigs, or consulting work. Doors open when people see your value.
Grow Your Business: Use LinkedIn to promote your services, attract clients, and even sell products or courses.
In short, being a LinkedIn influencer helps you grow professionally, connect with more people, and take your career or business to the next level.
The 9-Step Strategy to Become a LinkedIn Influencer
Becoming a LinkedIn influencer isn’t about luck. It’s about following a clear, repeatable process — one that consistently grows your audience, authority, and opportunities.
1. Define and Position Your Personal Brand
Before anything else, get clarity on your voice and values:
- What do I want to be known for?
- Who is my audience?
- What value can I offer them?
Stay authentic — real, relatable content performs best. Consistency builds trust.
For inspiration, see how Neil Patel positions himself on LinkedIn with clear, value-first messaging.
2. Set Up a LinkedIn Profile That Converts
Your LinkedIn profile is the first impression people get of your personal brand. If you want to grow influence, every section—from your photo to your summary—needs to show credibility and clarity.
Use a Professional Photo
Skip the casual selfies. A clean, high-quality headshot with good lighting and a neutral background performs best. It should feel approachable and aligned with your industry.
Write a Headline That Shows What You Do
Instead of just your job title, use this space to explain how you create value. For example, “Helping SaaS startups grow with data-driven marketing” is much more effective than just “Marketing Manager.”
Gary Vaynerchuk’s headline communicates personality, purpose, and positioning at a glance. Explore how top LinkedIn influencers use theirs to stand out.
Customize Your LinkedIn URL
A branded LinkedIn URL looks clean and is easier to share on resumes, business cards, or email signatures. If you’re not sure how to update it, here’s a full guide on how to share your LinkedIn profile.
Complete Your Profile Sections
Include your experience, education, skills, and summary in full. The more complete your profile is, the more credible you’ll appear—and the more likely LinkedIn is to surface your profile in search results.
If you need help with writing your About section, use these proven LinkedIn summary examples to model your own.
Neil Patel’s featured section highlights his best content and achievements. This not only builds trust but encourages visitors to engage further.
Need a Profile That Attracts Clients or Recruiters?
If you're job hunting or offering services, your profile should be optimized for conversion. Follow this step-by-step guide to optimizing your LinkedIn profile to stand out in search and turn profile views into real opportunities.
3. Build a Content Strategy That Connects
Posting randomly doesn’t build influence. Posting with intention does:
- Share 3–4x per week using a mix of formats
- Create content that solves problems or sparks conversations
- Use the best time to post on LinkedIn to maximize visibility
Once you’ve got a rhythm, use Podawaa to boost visibility with real, niche-targeted engagement that helps your best content take off.
4. Create Content That Gets Engagement
Great posts get people to stop scrolling. Here’s how:
- Storytelling: Share lessons, mistakes, or turning points
- Video: Keep it under 2 mins — it builds trust fast
- Visuals: Use slides and infographics to grab attention
Out of ideas? These 20 LinkedIn post examples will get you inspired fast.
5. Prove Your Expertise (and Make It Memorable)
Want people to trust you? Show, don’t tell.
Post content like:
- Educational how-tos
- Emerging industry trends
- Relatable career advice
To go deeper, write LinkedIn articles that reflect your unique perspective, and help build long-term authority.
6. Grow the Right Audience
Your content needs an audience, not just any audience, but the right one.
- Personalize your connection requests
- Prioritize quality over quantity
- Nurture a community of like-minded professionals
When you’re ready to scale, tools like Podawaa help you build momentum with real likes and comments from people in your target niche.
7. Engage Actively — Don’t Just Post
Influence comes from conversation, not just content.
- Comment thoughtfully on others’ posts
- Join active LinkedIn groups in your industry
- Mention and uplift others in your network
This not only earns trust but drives traffic back to your profile. It’s an underrated part of building a strong LinkedIn presence.
8. Track What Works & Monetize Your Growth
Post. Test. Improve. Repeat. Here’s what to track:
- Engagement rate
- Post reach
- Follower growth
You can use LinkedIn’s native analytics, a simple LinkedIn engagement tracking spreadsheet, or a tool like Podawaa to boost what’s already performing well.
Once you’re seeing consistent growth, explore monetization:
- Offer 1:1 services or coaching
- Promote a digital product or course
- Partner with brands who want access to your audience
9. Earn the Top Voices Badge
LinkedIn’s Top Voices badge is a powerful credibility boost. To get there:
- Post high-quality content consistently
- Spark meaningful conversations
- Offer real value — not just visibility
Want to see what it takes? Here’s how to become a Top Voice on LinkedIn: broken down step by step.
Ready to Grow Like a Real Influencer?
Podawaa helps LinkedIn creators grow their reach without bots or gimmicks, Â just real engagement from the right people.
- Likes & comments tailored to your audience and post
- Targeted by language (English, French, Spanish…)
- Private mode for discreet growth
Podawaa is trusted by 10,000+ founders, creators, and professionals.
Add Podawaa to Chrome for free and take control of your LinkedIn growth.
FAQs About Becoming a LinkedIn Influencer
How many followers do I need to be considered a LinkedIn influencer?
There’s no magic number. While some industry leaders have 50K+ LinkedIn followers, true influence comes from consistent value — not just reach. A single LinkedIn post with high engagement from the right people (like other professionals in your niche) can do more than one with 10,000 passive views. Focus on creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience, even if your following is small.
What kind of content do LinkedIn influencers post?
Influencers on LinkedIn often focus on educational content, personal stories, growth hacks, and industry insights. Many share video content, behind-the-scenes lessons, or practical tips from their journey.
How is LinkedIn different from other social media platforms?
Unlike other social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter, LinkedIn is built for professional networking. Business professionals come here for insight, not entertainment. That means your content should reflect your expertise, your values, or your voice in the industry. Whether you’re a coach, creator, or co-founder, delivering valuable content that supports your audience’s goals is key.
How can I make my LinkedIn posts stand out in the algorithm?
To beat the LinkedIn algorithm, you need to create engaging content, post during peak hours, and interact with other professionals regularly. Commenting on posts from other influencers or industry experts, tagging peers, and using visuals (especially video content) can boost performance. You can also use Podawaa to increase reach and social proof with authentic engagement from your niche.
Do I need to post every day to grow?
Not at all. Most successful influencers on LinkedIn post 2–4 times a week. The key is quality and consistency. A well-timed, value-packed single LinkedIn post will always outperform daily fluff. Save time by planning a content calendar and repurposing posts across other platforms.