Leverage LinkedIn? to build your personal brand without putting your 9-5 career at risk

Are you stumped trying to figure out how to grow your business on LinkedIn? without raising red flags at work? If you are, you’re not alone.?

??This is one of the top questions I get.?

People are curious how I leveraged LinkedIn? to build and scale my own business while still employed at a Fortune 500 — all without my employer knowing!?

Today, I’m sharing the four strategies that helped me leverage LinkedIn? to grow my business incognito and exit corporate on good terms—so you can do it too. ??

1. Be an Authority Anyway

You can’t get fired for sharing your expertise! Post valuable content related to your industry or the niche you're pivoting into. Whether you’re a CFO planning to become a fractional CFO or a corporate leader shifting into coaching, start positioning yourself as a thought leader now.

2. Grow Your Ideal Network

Stop accepting random connections. Be intentional about growing your audience with your ideal clients and collaborators. If your current network isn’t aligned with your business goals, it’s time to expand it strategically.

3. Engage & Follow Up

Engagement signals interest. When someone comments on or likes your posts, respond thoughtfully, then take the conversation to the DMs. The key is building relationships—not just waiting for leads to find you.

4. Sell in the DMs, Not the Feed

Your company won’t appreciate seeing you sell publicly, and honestly, blatant sales posts rarely work. Instead, use DMs to build connections, offer value, and open doors to business opportunities without making it obvious in your feed.

Your success on LinkedIn? isn’t about being loud; it’s about being strategic.?

Ready to take action? Comment below and let me know which of these strategies you’ll implement first!

XO, Melissa?

Content Pillars for LinkedIn?

Ever feel like creating content is like running on a treadmill that just won’t stop?

In this turbocharged episode, I walk you through my simple and repeatable system to keep your audience engaged without burnout.? I break down five content categories, show you how to connect with different audiences, and why personal stories matter. Like hitting the gym, consistency is what matters most.

If your content is all about the hard sell, this might just shift your perspective.? Check it out!

Listen Now

Want to grow your business on LinkedIn?—without risking your 9-to-5?

In my Lead Gen Masterclass, I’ll dive deeper and show you the exact strategies I used to scale my business while still working in corporate—without raising any red flags. ???

You’ll learn how to position yourself as a thought leader, grow the right audience, and turn connections into clients—all while staying under the radar.?

Ready to take the next step? Join me and start leveraging LinkedIn? for real business growth!

Be a Thought Leader

You’re an expert in your field but you don’t know where to begin to start posting content on LinkedIn???

Download my FREE 100 Social Media Post Prompts for 100 ideas to help you kickstart your content creation process so you can build your authority by sharing your expertise!?

DOWNLOAD NOW?