I Blew Up My LinkedIn Following As Fast As I Could!

In just 12 months, I transformed from being unemployed, living at my parents' house, and having zero LinkedIn followers into being named one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurs on the platform with over 100,000 followers. In this article, I’m going to share the exact seven-step strategy I used to achieve this remarkable growth without a team, without spending on ads, and without any previous experience on LinkedIn.

Step 1: Digital Detox

To build a successful presence on LinkedIn, the first step is to perform a digital detox. This doesn’t mean locking away your phone or fasting for days; instead, it’s about removing connections that no longer benefit you. Purging irrelevant connections reduces noise and self-comparison, allowing you to focus on creating valuable content.

You can choose to either remove connections or create a brand-new account. I opted for the latter, giving myself a clean slate—no old coworkers watching me experiment with my content.

Step 2: Create Your Dream 100 List

Next, identify your “Dream 100” list—100 people you aspire to connect with, ideally individuals who have your target audience in their networks. For example, rather than contacting influential figures directly, try to connect with their marketing staff or co-founders, increasing your chances of reaching the big names in the long run.

Step 3: Focus on Your Profile

Your profile is your digital storefront. Ensure you have a clear, high-quality headshot that represents who you aspire to be. Your headline should reflect what you do and who you do it for, using straightforward templates. Lastly, your banner can be a simple solid color that aligns with your brand rather than a complicated graphic.

Step 4: Make Time Count

As an unemployed entrepreneur, I didn’t have money to invest but had ample time. Use this time to create strong first impressions. One key to this is having 500+ connections. People are naturally more trusting of profiles with established connections, so actively work toward building yours.

Step 5: Commenting Strategy

Engage with 20 to 30 active accounts within your niche or adjacent niches. Commit to commenting early on their posts to increase your visibility. Avoid generic comments; instead, offer personal insights, motivational nuggets, or even humor and memes if it fits your style.

Step 6: Niche Down Your Content

Over time, I found it essential to focus my content. Instead of a broad topic like marketing, I honed in on my specialty—personal branding—allowing me to become a leader in that micro-niche.

Step 7: Connection is Key

Social media is rooted in connection. To grow your network, initiate conversations. Schedule coffee chats with individuals at various stages in their careers, including mentors. Building these relationships can lead to collaborations and referral opportunities.

The culmination of these strategies helped me grow my LinkedIn audience remarkably fast. If you're looking to replicate this success, focus on these principles.

Keyword

LinkedIn, followers, personal branding, digital detox, Dream 100, engagement, niche down, commenting strategy, connection.

FAQ

1. How can I remove irrelevant connections on LinkedIn?
You can manually review your connections and remove anyone who doesn’t align with your professional goals. Alternatively, you can create a fresh account to start from scratch.

2. What is the "Dream 100" list?
The Dream 100 list is a targeted list of 100 individuals or companies you want to connect with, ideally those who have your target audience in their networks.

3. How important is my LinkedIn profile picture?
Your profile picture is crucial as it creates the first impression. It should be high-quality, clear, and represent the professional image you want to project.

4. What kind of content should I focus on?
Identify a micro-niche that aligns with your expertise, and focus on creating educational and inspirational content that connects to that niche.

5. How can I build connections on LinkedIn?
Engage actively by commenting on others' posts in your niche, initiating conversations, and scheduling virtual coffee chats to foster relationships.