How To Become A LinkedIn Influencer In 6 Steps

Gigi Robinson is a LinkedIn influencer with 22,000 followers.

GIGI ROBINSON

As LinkedIn continues to grow as a platform for thought leadership, it’s also becoming an increasingly saturated space for creators with goals to build influence and monetize their expertise. If you’re wondering how to become a LinkedIn influencer, the journey often focuses on providing professional value rather than entertainment or lifestyle content typical of platforms like Instagram or TikTok. Unlike other social media spaces, LinkedIn’s audience is tuned into career growth, industry insights, and actionable knowledge directly impacting their professional lives.

While becoming a LinkedIn influencer may look different to each person individually, there are some commonalities that successful influencers like Lloyd George, Gigi Robinson, and Jessica Morrobel have all tapped into. From creating tailored, value-driven content and engaging with a professional network to building authentic relationships that foster trust and credibility, these actions help establish a solid presence on LinkedIn, making it possible to grow influence and build a profitable platform.

What Is A LinkedIn Influencer?

These influencers use LinkedIn to establish authority, share insights and engage with a professional audience. Unlike casual users of the platform, LinkedIn influencers strategically share content that their audience will find value in, whether that be posts, article or videos. By doing this, they very likely will start to collect a hefty following. You don’t need thousands of connections to start, but a minimum of around 5,000 followers can attract brand partnerships, as Gigi Robinson highlights: “Anyone can land a partnership with as little as 5K on LinkedIn.”

LinkedIn influencers typically come from various fields like marketing, entrepreneurship, tech, and personal development, making them different from influencers on platforms like Instagram, where lifestyle or entertainment content dominates. Influencers like Lloyd George and Jessica Morrobel leverage LinkedIn for its unique focus on fostering relationships, adding value, and building a professional network, rather than aiming solely for likes or views.

How Do You Become A LinkedIn Influencer?

Becoming a LinkedIn influencer offers numerous benefits, from expanding your professional network to creating monetization opportunities like brand partnerships. Unlike the influencer spaces on Instagram or Snapchat, LinkedIn is less saturated, meaning that proactive creators can quickly gain visibility and become monetized thought leaders on the platform. However, as Morrobel points out, success on LinkedIn is a strategic journey “rooted in providing value.”

Given the hard work and dedication that goes into building your presence on LinkedIn as an influencer, it will likely take a decent chunk of time and dedication to maintain a presence, as well as the pressure to constantly offer relevant, high-value content. It’s crucial to your success that you commit to regular posting, have an understanding of LinkedIn’s analytics, and have a plan for engaging your audience actively.

Step 1: Define Your Expertise And Target Audience

Starting with clarity on what you offer is key. According to Robinson, “Identify two or three key skill sets you want to be known for” that align with LinkedIn’s professional focus. For example, if you’re a marketing professional, focus on topics like brand strategy, digital tools or content creation tactics that your audience can use in their work.

This step requires self-reflection to pinpoint the areas where you excel and have relevant experience. This may take a while to nail down as it’s a very important foundational step in building your presence on LinkedIn. Morrobel notes, “Think about your expertise or a unique experience…. Make this your cornerstone content.” Keep refining your content to align with audience interests and current trends.

Step 2: Start Posting Content Consistently

Creating valuable, consistent content helps establish your credibility. Lloyd George explains, “The biggest challenge I see is people over-analyzing the type of content they want to publish on LinkedIn to the point that they never actually post.” Start by sharing insights, experiences, opinions or industry news. Don’t let perfectionism get in the way; just start posting. Over time, your content will improve, and you’ll get a better feel for what resonates with your audience.

Commit to a manageable posting schedule. Aim for at least once a week, with posts that inform or inspire, as Morrobel recommends. Rather than viral hits, focus on building a “portfolio of valuable content,” as George advises. Consistent posting builds trust and keeps your audience engaged.

Step 3: Engage Actively With Your Audience

Building influence on LinkedIn requires more than just posting content. Robinson emphasizes that LinkedIn is about “connecting with people in your industry” and engaging with their posts. Dedicate time to like, comment on, and share insights on others' posts, especially those in your field. This increases your visibility and builds relationships.

Morrobel suggests carving out time to respond to every comment on your posts within the first hour. Not only does this boost engagement, but it also “turns casual readers into loyal followers.” Active engagement builds community and trust, key elements of influence on LinkedIn.

Step 4: Showcase Real Results And Case Studies

Nothing builds credibility faster than sharing tangible outcomes from your work. Robinson advises creators to “consider sharing case studies on your LinkedIn profile.” Highlighting a successful project with specific outcomes, such as increased brand engagement or a boost in sales, shows prospective clients or employers what you can achieve. For example, Robinson has shared her experiences working with brands like Adobe and Liquid IV to give her audience insight into her process and effectiveness and to build authority, showing the large brands that she’s worked with previously.

This step requires time and attention to detail, as you’ll need to collect and present data and testimonials. Aim to share these case studies periodically to keep your profile dynamic and relevant to your target audience.

Step 5: Optimize Your Strategy Using Analytics

To better understand where you stand on the platform, spend time tracking your performance through LinkedIn analytics. As Morrobel explains, monitoring metrics such as engagement rates and optimal posting times allows her to refine her strategy as she goes. Reviewing analytics weekly can help you adjust your posting schedule and content topics to help you make the biggest splash.

This step requires ongoing effort, as you’ll need to stay in tune with your audience's preferences as they evolve. Use these insights to deliver high-value content, building your authority over time.

Step 6: Build Proactive Partnerships

In the relatively new LinkedIn influencer space, consistent pitching and outreach is key. Morrobel notes, “Partnerships often come from proactively pitching yourself.” Reach out to brands that align with your audience, offering partnership ideas or presenting a sponsorship package. When pitching, Robinson recommends including a media kit with case studies, engagement stats, and audience demographics to make a strong impression.

This step takes time and persistence, especially as LinkedIn influencer marketing is still emerging. However, it has the potential for significant returns as more companies recognize LinkedIn as a valuable platform for B2B influence.

Bottom Line

Becoming a LinkedIn influencer is about building trust, sharing actionable content, and engaging consistently with your ideal audience. With a strategic approach and dedication, LinkedIn offers significant opportunities for creators to grow their influence and establish a profitable presence.