LinkedIn is home to 90 million senior-level influencers, 63 million decision makers and 17 million opinion leaders as of 2019 – all of whom came to LinkedIn with a purpose and meaningful content.
I have been asked one question that crops up time and again for those who seek to understand how and why this is: What does “influence” mean on LinkedIn.
To keep up the pace and place in such intense competition, building an online presence is takes you a long way. Among blogs, podcasts and social media – being an influencer on LinkedIn shows credibility.
Become a LinkedIn influencer: What, why and how
Influencers are essentially ordinary people who have gained a substantial following and fame because of their expertise, original thoughts and valuable information. Users who have an influencer tag are generally thinkers, innovators and leaders.
With an increase in demand for social media influencers and micro-influencers, more and more people wish to be a part of the community.
Besides connecting with the bandwagon of influential figures, what are the main reasons many wish to become a LinkedIn Influencer?
Fame, reputation and credibility:
People who follow and engage with influential personalities on social media soon come to revere them. This is a great opportunity to not only brand yourself or your service and products, but you can also support someone else’s business and brand through a simple shout out.
Take travel bloggers for instance – with a creative, witty and thorough documentation of their trips across the world, they instantly gain momentum.
Today, many travel bloggers are sought after to promote many small businesses and their products and services.
When an influencer shares honest feedback about the same, as followers we essentially take their word for it and are willing to try it out. Success stories like this have motivated us to look at influencer marketing in a new light.
In fact, according to Mediakix, 71% of respondents agree that the customers and traffic received from influencer marketing are of superior quality.
Increased reach:
Influencers have the power to cut through all the noise online and take your content, product or service to the right audience.
Whether you are an influencer on LinkedIn or on any other platform, more and more people learn about you and wish to get to know you better. This also means that you are in a position to share your thoughts, have your voice heard and institute change.
Influencers with massive reach and high engagement rates, can make this possible.
When an influencer features your brand in their page or profile, their following will notice. They are also most likely to spread the word within their own wide networks, which can help increase your brand exposure even further.
Amazing opportunities:
Networking is everything in this day and age. A good reputation on LinkedIn means more visibility and in turn gives you access to the best of business opportunities. Being an influencer is a gateway to meet influential entrepreneurs, leaders, speakers and so on, as well as work on new and exciting collaborations.
Influencers generally become brand ambassadors, get access to exclusive meet and greets, events and festivals where they meet fellow influencers and have an opportunity to focus on building meaningful business relationships.
The best aspect of an influencer is that they have their own set of ideas, experiences and perspectives on everything. Given their flair for creativity and inherent ability to see things differently, they are able to spot a potential where many others might not.
Are you looking to build your following and step up your influencer game on LinkedIn? Let me break it down for you.
The key aspects to focus on in order to become an influencer are – create original and out-of-the-box content, build your network and connections and work with a purpose every step of the way.
Why are connections important?
In a world where your voice matters and your opinion could be heard by many, why keep it to yourself? Connecting with the right people in your industry is a first step towards building an effective strategy.
For personal and professional growth and to create the best version of your brand, service or product, it is essential to bounce ideas off each other and explore new opportunities for growth. When you get to talk to so many people, learn from each other and go through experiences together, you will eventually be a part of a supportive network of people who will cheer you on.
This is how an influencer operates – creating rather than consuming content and sharing it with the relevant audience. Business is all about the people you connect with, the mutually beneficial opportunities that you create and tapping into the right audience.
Today, any business has to be relatable and authentic. When you are trying to generate more recommendations, it matters where it comes from and whether it is a trusted source – high-level influencers are seen as a reliable source of information, who can help you get in touch with the right prospects and significantly impact your visibility and sales.
Final words
While we hear all about the glorious influencer life, there is a lot to give up and compromise on.
– Influencers are always expected to be on top of their game
– Barely any time for holidays and vacations
– Gear up to deal with public attention, haters and bullies
– A loss of privacy
– They are often undervalued
But then again, the good and challenging go hand in hand in any career.
Influencers are the future of marketing – the kings and queens of creative content who generate high quality, engaging content. With millions of influencers today across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and so on, it takes effort and hardwork to stand out.
As an aspiring influencer, you must work towards being the go-to choice for brands. Are you ready to wear the creative hat day in and day out to achieve this goal?
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