Influence is powerful. It convinces people to act, motivate our team members, and even drives a company’s chances of sales. This is particularly true in a world where customers are looking for more authentic, transparent insights into companies, services, and products.
Influencer marketing has become one of the most popular tools among companies from every industry, as it allows organizations to leverage the emotional impact a person has on their target audience, boost credibility, and enhance brand reputation. While influencers in the B2C world are commonly associated with channels like Instagram and TikTok, influencers in the B2B world are more likely to appear on other platforms.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re wondering how to become a LinkedIn influencer.
Who are LinkedIn Influencers?
LinkedIn influencers are essentially thought leaders who have a level of “influence” over a specific audience. They’ve developed a reputation that makes them appear trustworthy and credible to a specific customer base, and they use this reputation to drive sales.
LinkedIn influencers typically operate in the B2B market. They help to increase the credibility of specific companies selling to other brands, by drawing attention to the benefits of their services and products. Some LinkedIn influencers can also help companies to attract new employees for their team, by highlighting the organization’s “employer brand”.
There are a number of influencers already active on LinkedIn, ranging from Bill Gates to Gary Vaynerchuk, Liz Ryan, Steven Bartlett, and Richard Branson. While many of these big names belong to the invite-only “LinkedIn Influencer Program”, anyone can achieve influencer status on LinkedIn with the right strategy.
How many followers does a LinkedIn influencer have?
Often, one of the main factors that define a LinkedIn user as an “influencer” is the high number of followers. However, it’s worth noting that influencers on LinkedIn may not have as many fans as those on channels like Instagram and Facebook. The reason for this is LinkedIn is a much more targeted platform, focused on the smaller, B2B market.
There’s no specific number of followers you need to have to be deemed a high-performance influencer on LinkedIn, but most experts recommend having at least 500 connections. When more than 500 people follow you on LinkedIn, the platform masks your actual number and showcases it as just 500+. This helps to give the impression you’re well-connected.
However, succeeding as a LinkedIn influencer doesn’t just mean attracting as many followers as possible. Quality matters just as much as quantity, so it’s important to ensure you’re targeting the right people with your account.
How to Become an Influencer on LinkedIn
LinkedIn influencers are thought leaders and professionals who dedicate time and effort to supporting, educating, and informing others. They’re active community members, with valuable insights to share. Learning how to become a LinkedIn influencer means knowing how to build a personal brand and identity that attracts and connects with other people.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Know your niche
Part of being an effective influencer on any platform is establishing yourself as a thought leader in a particular field. You need to demonstrate your knowledge in a certain area, so people can begin to see you as an authority. With that in mind, ask yourself what your niche is going to be before you start posting. Do you want to be a go-to resource for sales advice, leadership tips, or marketing strategies?
Where do you have the highest level of experience, and the most passion to share? The more knowledge you have in your area, the easier it will be to achieve LinkedIn influencer status.
2. Optimize Your Profile
This is another tip that works for any platform you want to become an influencer on. The most reputable individuals on any social media channel always have complete, informative profiles. Start by choosing an impressive header image and a profile picture. Professionally-taken photographs usually work best, particularly if they include images of you smiling.
Once you have your image, focus on creating a compelling headline that tells followers who you are and what you do. Write an “About” section that highlights your core experiences and knowledge, and make sure you complete the education and experience sections on your profile too. Endorsements from other well-known individuals can go a long way toward boosting your credibility.
3. Develop your Network
The more valuable connections you have on LinkedIn, the more likely you are to stand out as an influencer. With this in mind, start working on building your connections as quickly as possible. Ask people on other social media channels to follow you on LinkedIn. Share your LinkedIn profile on your email signature, website, and even in your business cards.
Join groups on LinkedIn relevant to your industry and post content there to attract attention from other potential followers. You can even reach out to new potential followers during events, such as networking sessions, industry expos, and conferences.
4. Create Solid Content
Finally, every great influencer needs an amazing content strategy. The only way to convince your audience you’re worth following and listening to is to share plenty of valuable content on a regular basis. Post original, high-quality insights, blog posts, videos, podcasts, and quotes. Experiment with different types of content, like live streams and events, to see how they impact your audience.
You can even share links to other pieces of content you think might be helpful to your audience, and shout out the people you’re referencing to expand your network further. The best content is:
- Informative: Provide plenty of actionable insights for customers
- Emotional: Use real stories and transparent insights into your life
- Versatile: Use pictures, infographics and videos to grab attention
