If everybody was influential, what would influence really mean? I know the answer, and it’s simply: nothing. That’s why it is so important to build your influence and personal brand in a sustainable, effective way. While the Kardashians may use their influence to charm people into buying shapewear, you know your ability to influence people can be far more effective, and important. There are three key drivers of influence on LinkedIn. These foundational pillars determine whether people will engage with your content, connect with you professionally, and ultimately see you as a person of influence in your industry.
No overnight success
Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as an overnight success. Sure, someone may go viral for an odd dance, or flash their new luxury vehicle to make a splash. That, however, is not true influence. I’d wager that it’s actually the opposite – a mere fleeting moment where everyone talks about you and then moves on to the next interesting meme does not make you influential. As a business owner, you already know there’s no such thing as an overnight success. Even the most successful business leaders will tell you that it took many years and hard work to become successful. As you consider the three key drivers of influence on LinkedIn, remember that there’s no overnight success online, either.
Driver 1: Know
Before people can like or trust you, they need to know who you are. This is the first step in building influence: make yourself discoverable to the right audience. On LinkedIn, this starts with optimising your profile so that it communicates your expertise clearly and effectively. Your LinkedIn profile is your first impression, your digital handshake, and your first opportunity. A professional headshot, a compelling headline, and a well-crafted summary are non-negotiable. Your headline should succinctly explain who you help and how you help them. Your summary should tell your unique story. Your unique story should include what drives you towards success, what problems you solve for your clients, and why people should connect with you. Now that your LinkedIn profile is optimised, let’s move on to content. The right type of content that helps you become known showcases your expertise and resonates with your target audience. Share insights from your industry, offer solutions to common challenges, and provide value in every post. The more consistently you show up on LinkedIn with valuable content, the more people will begin to recognise your name and associate it with expertise in your field. And, here’s a definitive tip: Do not try to be everything to everyone. The more time you spend focusing on your niche, the better you will become known for it.
Driver 2: Like
Once people know who you are, the next step is for them to decide whether they like you. This driver is all about emotional connection—creating content and interactions that resonate with people on a personal level. Absolutely nobody actually connects with a brand. Think of it this way: your favourite brand of sneakers is not your favourite brand because of its logo. It’s because they’re the most comfortable sneakers on your feet. Now consider this within the framework of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is about connecting with people. Yes, building your personal brand is important, but when it comes to connection – people connect with you. On LinkedIn, this means showing up authentically and sharing stories that highlight your personality and values. Don’t be afraid to share personal anecdotes or lessons learned from challenges you’ve faced. Vulnerability is powerful, humanising, and makes you infinitely relatable. That’s where your values play a big role too. When people discover they share similar values to you, you become interesting to them, and they start to like you. That’s when you need to start liking them back too. The secret to that on LinkedIn? Engagement. Respond thoughtfully to comments on your posts. This shows that you value your audience’s input and are genuinely interested in building relationships. Similarly, engage with other people’s content. Leave meaningful comments or share posts. This demonstrates that you’re an active participant in the LinkedIn community. Stick around and stay consistent – set aside time in your calendar every week, or every day, to attend to your LinkedIn strategy and engagement.
Driver 3: Trust
You’re committed, you’re consistent, and you’re connecting with the right people. Now it’s time to establish your credibility, and build trust within your LinkedIn network. Trust is the glue that holds relationships together, and it’s the third driver of influence on LinkedIn. If you do not build trust, even your most incredible content will not convert a follower into an advocate or a connection into a client. Building trust starts with credibility. Share content that demonstrates your expertise and backs up your claims with evidence. Don’t boast – focus on facts and statistics. For example: “For a client in the automotive industry, I recently helped them optimise their internal operations by 25%. Would you like to hear more about my process?” would be a great post. If you post “I am an expert who knows how to transform operations at hyper-speed”…I doubt you’ll even get a like. Deliver real value through sharing actionable advice. And that’s where you need to stay truthful and transparent. If mistakes happen (and they inevitably will), own them publicly rather than trying to cover them up—it shows integrity and accountability.
Influence isn’t about self-promotion. It’s about serving others through knowledge-sharing and relationship-building. When people know who you are, like what you stand for, and trust what you have to say—that’s when true influence begins.
P.S. Here are 4 ways we can help you accelerate your Lead Generation results:
- Follow Adam Houlahan’s LinkedIn Profile Now Click Here
- Join our FREE LinkedIn Group and connect with entrepreneurs who are scaling too
It’s our Facebook community where smart entrepreneurs learn to get more leads and smart ways to scale using LinkedIn — Click Here
- Take our FREE LinkedIn Productivity Assessment
Score your current presence and activity on LinkedIn against industry best practice benchmarks. Receive customised results instantly and as a BONUS you’ll get a FREE PDF download of Amazon’s Best-selling book “The LinkedIn Playbook” Click Here
- Join our Content Ninja Club Today!
This Club is a community of professionals who are dedicated to mastering LinkedIn engagement and seeing real results. In fact, members experience a 300% to 1000% increase in content traction! The best part? You can join the Club accessing a comprehensive set of tools and resources for just $197 AUD/month with no lock-in contracts.
Join today Content Ninja Club Registration
