Is Becoming Active on LinkedIn a Mountain Too Steep to Climb?

What if I told you that you could make the ascent in sneakers instead of climbing gear?

We've all been there. You open LinkedIn, see the stream of professional achievements, thought leadership pieces, and networking connections, and you think, "How am I ever going to keep up?". But the key isn’t to jump in headfirst; it's about building a consistent routine with baby steps. Let's break it down.

Engaging on LinkedIn isn't about shouting the loudest, but about joining the conversation with consistency and authenticity.

Week 1: Getting Your Feet Wet

• Each morning, take a leisurely scroll through your feed. Find 5 posts that resonate with you. Maybe they spark inspiration, or perhaps they tug at your professional heartstrings. Whatever it is, give them a ‘like’ or a reaction.
• Think of it as your morning coffee routine, but on LinkedIn.

Week 2: Adding A Personal Touch

• Keep up with your daily ritual from week 1. But this time, leave a mark. Choose one post and drop a comment about what specifically caught your attention.
• Was it a #careeradvice post that hit close to home? Or perhaps a #thoughtleadership piece that got your brain gears turning? Share it in the comments!

Week 3: Stepping Into the Spotlight

• This is where things get a tad more adventurous. By now, you've got the groove of engaging. Now, it's time to contribute.
• Craft a post yourself. Yeah, you can do it! Could be something that inspired you recently or just a professional reflection. The day you take the plunge, cherry-pick a few posts with similar hashtags and drop a like. Commenting can take a backseat for a day; you've earned it!

Week 4: Finding Your Rhythm & Amplifying Your Voice

You've dipped your toes, waded through, and even taken a bit of a swim in the LinkedIn waters. Now, it's time to find your rhythm and make a few waves of your own.

• Establish Your Voice: Share an article or a video that resonates with your professional journey or passions. Make it even more personal by adding your insights or key takeaways in the caption. Why did it resonate with you? How does it align with your journey or the topics you're passionate about, like #thoughtleadership or #mentalhealth?
• Spark a Conversation: Instead of just reacting or commenting, pose a question on one of the posts you engage with. Maybe ask for further elaboration or play devil's advocate to stir some healthy debate. It's all about deepening the connection and engagement.
• Showcase a ‘Day in Your Life’: People love behind-the-scenes content. Share a snippet from your daily life, maybe a work ritual, a reading nook, or a coffee break view. Link it back to your work as a coach or any of your five talking points. It provides relatability and shows the person behind the profile.
• Engage Beyond Your Feed: Dedicate a day to explore LinkedIn groups related to your interests. Engage in a group discussion or start one yourself. It’s a fantastic way to network and learn from like-minded professionals.
• Celebrate Others: While it's great to post about your achievements and insights, take a moment to celebrate others. Did a connection achieve something remarkable? Share their achievement with your network, highlighting what inspires you about their journey.

But here’s where we kick it up a notch:

Bonus Tips & Insights:

1. Engage Authentically: Remember, it's not about the number of likes or comments, but the quality. Engage with posts that genuinely interest you, and your comments will naturally reflect authenticity.
2. Follow Relevant Hashtags: You're keen on #mentalhealth and #employeeadvocacy, right? Start following these hashtags. This way, you'll have a curated feed of posts right up your alley, making engagement more organic.
3. Plan Ahead: As you get comfortable, consider planning your posts. Having a content calendar (even a rough one) helps in consistently sharing and not feeling overwhelmed.
4. Connect and Network: Don't just stop at posts. Engage with people too. If someone's content consistently resonates with you, send them a connection request with a personalized note.
5. Stay Updated: LinkedIn, like any #socialmedia platform, evolves. Stay updated with its features. Maybe even join a LinkedIn workshop or two. You know, just for kicks.
6. Personal Branding: As you become more active, think about how you want to position yourself. Consistency in your voice, topics, and even visuals can go a long way in establishing your brand on LinkedIn.
7. Timely Engagement: Try to engage during peak times when your network is most active. Typically, for most professionals, this is during the weekdays in the early morning, lunch breaks, or early evenings.
8. Analyze & Adapt: LinkedIn offers analytics for your posts. Dive in to see what's working and what isn’t. This data can guide your content strategy moving forward.

You've come a long way in just a month, haven't you?

The next steps? Well, it’s all about refining and growing. As with anything in life, there’s always more to learn, more connections to make, and more conversations to have.

So, how about making LinkedIn a routine, just like your morning brew? ?????