How I Became a LinkedIn Top Voice: Strategies for Aspiring Community Leaders

LinkedIn is a pivotal platform for professional networking, lead generation, career advancement, building a personal brand and thought leadership. Achieving the “LinkedIn Top Voice status” is an endorsement of your expertise and influence within the community. Three days ago, I got recognised as a "Top Voice in Management Consulting" community. I thank LinkedIn for this.

If you believe such recognition will be useful for you & help you achieve your goals on this platform, I don’t think it is very difficult to attain the status in your area of expertise/preference. Since I didn’t work towards it, in this article, I will share what I think I did, that helped me earn this recognition. What caught LinkedIn's attention to invite me to contribute to their articles. I will provide 3 actionable insights for those in my network, who aim to elevate their professional presence.

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1.?????? Leverage Your Unique Experiences to Teach and Inspire

What I have learnt is that authenticity is the currency on LinkedIn. My approach has always been to share genuine experiences and lessons learned from a diverse career spanning several countries, industries, organisations and roles. I share life lessons from personal experiences. For instance, my very first LinkedIn article, "what I learnt from running a half marathon distance" (click) attracted substantial engagement, showing parallels between how I overcame a personal challenge and hitting life goals. I was actually surprised at the feedback and that encouraged me to continue writing.

To enhance your content's impact, integrate educational elements that stem directly from your experiences. Even when I share funny videos like this one (click), I share because there is something to learn for me & my connections. Such videos often spark conversations about key lessons. In this case, communicating effectively with others.

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2.?????? Foster Meaningful Connections Through Active Engagement

Engaging with your audience is crucial for amplifying your reach and influence. I adopt a more proactive approach to interaction—not just responding to comments, but also inviting discussion through thought-provoking questions and polls. I may struggle with DMs but definitely not with conversation on an article I published.

For example, a recent article about scaling a business & raising funds (click here), when I asked what part of the journey my network is interested in reading about, that not only increased engagement, likes and shares but also provided me with valuable insights into my network's interests and thoughts, further informing topics I write about going forward.

3. Maintain a Consistent, Quality-Driven Presence

I have been away from Linkedin (& social media) for over 2 years, however, when I returned about a week ago, I saw an invitation from Linkedin about the Top Voice, sent several months ago (late 2023). Therefore the concept of consistency on LinkedIn does not merely relate to the frequency of posts but also to the quality and relevance of the content shared. Prior to a two-year hibernation, I had established a routine of weekly posts that shared practical advice and insights, which maintained my profile's visibility and relevance. I also shared high quality content of my YouTube conversations with highly successful individuals like Mark Pattenden Atedo N A Peterside Babs Omotowa (Dr) Michael Ikpoki Mutiu Sunmonu (Chairman Julius Berger), Jay Jenkins Willy Boulter etc

Acknowledging the hibernation, it's important to emphasize that the foundation laid by consistent, quality content can sustain your professional profile during less active periods. Upon my return, & before I even made my first post, I was invited to contribute to exclusive LinkedIn-generated content, which led to the recognition. This reaffirms the lasting impact of earlier efforts.

"I have been away from LinkedIn for over 2 years so it's definitely not about quantity but the quality of your posts and how it resonates with your network"?

Conclusion: Cultivating a Lasting Impact on LinkedIn

If you would like to have this status for whatever reason, I would say again that it is not that difficult to achieve. It however goes beyond frequent posting; it is how you tell a compelling story. This involves cultivating a narrative that resonates, engaging deeply with your audience, and consistently delivering value. These efforts will help you build a professional brand that not only attracts attention but also sustains it.

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As you navigate your path on LinkedIn, remember that each interaction and post contribute to a larger picture of your professional identity.

Whether you're just starting out or seeking to enhance your current presence, these strategies can guide you towards becoming a recognised voice in your field.

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PS Like, share & comment as this newly acquired status expires every 60 days! Haha