7 Tips on How to Grow on LinkedIn in 2024
I achieved a small milestone on LinkedIn last week of 8,000 followers. It’s not something I actively pursue as I don’t have a LinkedIn strategy. In fact, I use LinkedIn mainly to share updates about my life, promote the podcast and connect with complete strangers so I can build my network. But I absolutely see the power of LinkedIn to help you establish yourself as a thought leader in your specialist area.
Are you thinking about growing your LinkedIn following? Whether you're a seasoned tech professional or just starting out, understanding how to effectively build and engage with your LinkedIn audience can be a game changer when it comes to opening new opportunities.
In this episode, I got to pick the brains of a leading LinkedIn trainer, Gus Bhandal. Gus shared a ton of tips and tricks you can apply immediately to your own LinkedIn profile. This is a summary of the conversation.
Tip 1: 🚀 Become Intentional: Be Yourself, Loud and Clear
One of the easiest traps to fall into is blending into the corporate background. Many tech professionals feel the need to suppress their personality to fit into professional environments. However, blending in actually diminishes your uniqueness. Remember, if you're just another faceless part of a corporation, you're dispensable.
As a tech professional, your expertise, interests, and experiences set you apart. Embrace them and be intentionally yourself online. Share not just the projects you've worked on, but also your hobbies, family life, or even which football team you support! Personal branding can be a powerful tool on LinkedIn, helping you to stand out from the competition.
When people scroll through LinkedIn, they're not just looking for qualifications — they are looking for people they like and trust. Be that person.
Tip 2: 🛠 Optimise Your Profile: Make a Strong First Impression
Your LinkedIn profile is your virtual business card, so it needs to look the part. Let's break down the essentials:
Profile Banner
Your banner is prime real estate — think of it as your personal billboard. If you're skipping over this, you're missing out on a crucial opportunity to define who you are and what you do. Don't leave it as the default setting — customise it so it represents your brand and communicates something meaningful about you. Check out Gus’s banner and headline below:
Headline
Instead of just listing your job title, think bigger. Use your headline to tell people what you actually do and the value you provide. A great format to follow could be What, Who, How, Why. Describe what you do for a living, who you do it for, how you do it, and why people should choose you.
For example: "Helping tech professionals understand LinkedIn, so they can build connections and grow their businesses."
About Section
This isn't just another CV section! It’s where you can showcase your uniqueness, both professionally and personally. Expand on your headline, bringing out detail and personality. Let them know specific skills, but also don’t be afraid to mention lighter things like your hobbies or unique personality traits. Check out this episode for more tips to improve your personal branding.
Tip 3: 💡 Post Consistently, Tell Your Story
The biggest obstacle a lot of tech professionals face is "What should I post?" Here’s the easiest place to start: post about your week. Every Friday, take a moment to reflect on the work you've done — a project update, a new strategy you're testing, or even a tech problem you’ve solved.
This is your unique story, and nobody can write that post but you. It’s relatable, engaging, and will naturally start conversations. As you get more comfortable, expand by sharing industry tips, thought leadership, lessons from a book, and your perspective on tech trends.
Engaging with your audience shows you’re active, present, and worth following. If you're looking for inspiration, check out this episode on finding clarity in your goals as it might help unlock your posting ideas.
Tip 4: 🎯 Engage with Others: Don't Just Broadcast, Build Relationships
Many professionals make the mistake of posting and waiting. Don’t. LinkedIn isn't a set-it-and-forget-it platform. Treat it like an ongoing conversation.
Engage with the network! Scroll daily, and like, comment, share other people’s content — not just the big influencers. It’s as important where you comment as it is how you comment. Add meaningful contributions where possible. This opens the door to new connections, boosting your visibility across LinkedIn.
Take the analogy of attending a real-life networking event. If you give your elevator pitch then walk out the door, you'll never make a genuine connection. On LinkedIn, it's the same idea. Engage and people will reciprocate.
Tip 5: 📊 Use a Mix of Content Types
On LinkedIn you have a wide choice of different formats for posts. You can post articles, videos, carousel posts (also known as document posts), and more.
Test what works best with your audience:
Written posts: Share success or failure stories from a project.
Videos: Nothing beats video for fast engagement. Share a quick video tip or tutorial.
Carousels: Create a slide deck with helpful information, your top tips, or future tech predictions.
Track your engagement and see what resonates the most. It doesn’t need to be perfectly polished, but it needs to offer value.
Tip 6: ⏳ Frequency: How Often Should You Post?
Consistency matters. A good rule of thumb: 2-3 posts a week. If you're just starting out, you don't have to overcommit. Focus on quality and consistency over quantity.
Start with journaling your week, and sprinkle in some advice or insights along the way. Once you're comfortable, diversify your content. But most importantly, stick to it. Consistency is key to growing your LinkedIn following, especially as a tech professional.
Tip 7: 📈 Outbound Engagement: The Secret to Growth
Beyond your posts, don't forget outbound engagement. Get active in your feed, engage with content around your niche, and provide thoughtful comments.
If you’re consistently showing up, people notice. They’ll start exploring who you are, and that could lead to connections, collaborations, or even a new job opportunity. This is where many professionals struggle, but the truth is LinkedIn’s success relies on engagement, not just posting.
Conclusion
LinkedIn isn't just for job hunting or recruiting. If you're a tech professional looking to grow your following, it's about building a real brand. It's about connection, storytelling, and being authentically you.
Profile optimisation is essential, but more important is what you do once you've crafted that perfect profile. Engage, post, and consistently participate, and you'll start seeing real growth on LinkedIn.
Gus Bhandal - The UK’s Number One LinkedIn Trainer*
*according to my mum
I help business owners and corporate teams with marketing strategy, LinkedIn training, consultancy, and implementation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/
Website: https://www.themguru.co.uk/
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