LinkedIn Success Isn’t About Showing Up, It’s About Showing Up the Right Way

By Kenneth Nel AKA The Hoodie Guy Helping, Founders, Visionaries and Business Leaders Master LinkedIn? | Build Confidence, Spark Connections, and Drive Real Results

Most people think posting on LinkedIn is enough. They hit publish, cross their fingers, and hope the right people notice.

Hope isn’t a strategy.

Your personal brand isn’t built on polished, professional posts that sound like everyone else. It’s built on connection. On real conversations. On showing up where your audience is already engaging.

This week, we’re cutting through the noise and getting tactical:

• Why your work and study experience might be holding you back
• How to turn comments into connections (and connections into business)
• Why your team’s engagement can 10x your visibility
• The one profile tweak that could change everything

If you’re tired of being invisible on LinkedIn, it’s time to change the game. Join me for this week’s Power Hour, where we’ll unpack exactly how to build a profile and strategy that gets results.

Let’s make LinkedIn work for you, not against you.

At the End of COVID, I Was Earning ￡450 a Month.

I had the skills. I had the experience. I had the drive.

But none of it mattered, because I wasn’t showing up the right way.

I followed the playbook. Polished LinkedIn posts. I made sure I used expert-level insights.

Crickets.

Just nothing.

Then, I got real (really vulnerable, and it scared the nonsense out of me - sometimes it still does)?

I shared the risks. The failures. The moments I wasn’t sure I’d make it.

That’s when things changed.

One raw post turned into:

?? 10 comments

?? 2 DMs

?? A paying client

Not a flood of engagement,?

but the kind that mattered.

Because people don’t connect with job titles. They connect with fire. With struggle. With “Holy crap, me too” moments.

Here’s your challenge:

?? Swap “I’m a results-driven leader” for “I lost it all and clawed my way back.”

?? Drop “I help businesses grow” for “I was broke, built something real, and now help others do the same.”

Watch what happens.

Want to turn your story into a magnet?

Join me LIVE for Feel the Brand: Unleash Emotion to Own Your LinkedIn Game on Wednesday 12th.

Raw, real, and built to transform your presence.

Your Content Has One Job: Make People Feel Something

Emotional damage. Is that how you want to be remembered?

Your post, your brand, your content, it all has one job: spark a feeling.

Make someone engage or make them run screaming, just don’t make them feel nothing.

Vanilla vibes? Don’t be surprised when no one cares. Too polarizing? Congrats, you’ve built an echo chamber of yes-men.

So ask yourself:?

When people read your content, what’s the vibe??

What’s the pull?

Now check your LinkedIn.

If it’s all "me, me, me" from the mountaintop, it’s not LinkedIn that’s flopping, it’s you.

A real personal brand doesn’t start with tactics.?

It starts with emotion.?

Burn that into your brain.

Find the Right People by Showing Up Where They Are

Want to build real connections??

Stop just searching and start showing interest first.

Your ideal clients and customers are already engaging somewhere, whether it’s on Alex Hormozi’s posts, Gary Vee’s content, or another industry leader.?

That’s where you start.

Here’s how to turn comments into connections:

?? Comment on the original post: say something valuable for the writer and their audience. ?? Engage with other comments: reply to the ones you like, start a conversation. ?? Check out their profiles: their job titles are right there. If they’re a good fit, send a connection request.

Tip: Sometimes, no note works better, it feels more natural. Test it and see what gets you the best results.

Show up, engage, connect.?

That’s how you build a network that matters.

Stop Selling. Start Networking.

Nobody likes being pitched five minutes into a conversation, so stop trying to close deals before you’ve even built trust.

The best way to turn connections into opportunities??

Network first. Sell later.

Share insights.?

Ask good questions.?

Be genuinely interested in the person, not just the potential sale.?

When people see your value without being sold to, they’re far more likely to come to you when they need help.

And remember, not every conversation has to be about business. Just like at a lunch or networking event, casual chats are fine (as long as they’re appropriate).

The key? Be human first. The business will follow.

LinkedIn Profile Cleanup Checklist: Maximising Your Visibility

Remove work & study experience from your profile

It’s taking up valuable real estate that could be better used to showcase your brand. When someone clicks on it, they’re instantly taken past the sections that matter most, your Featured content and Posts, straight to a timeline of past roles. That’s not where you want their focus.

Your profile should highlight what you’re doing now, not bury it beneath your work history. By removing these sections, you keep attention where it belongs—on your expertise, insights, and impact.

It also gives space for your title to really stand out, uncluttered.?

LinkedIn is a Team Sport

Want more reach, more engagement, and more visibility??

Get your team involved.

Leave more comments on your team’s posts, not just a like, but something that adds to the conversation.?

Use giffs, not just emojis, to tag and mention others in a way that boosts impressions. Make engagement a habit, because when your team supports each other, LinkedIn rewards you with more exposure.

The more you give, the more you get.?

Play as a team, grow as a team.

We schedule an hour a day to boost each other.?

https://calendly.com/tdc101/60-min-ama-on-linkedin?month=2025-01

Are You a Visionary Leader or a Content Creator? ??

Be honest, do you want to spend your time writing LinkedIn posts, or growing your business and bringing your vision to life?

You’ve built something incredible, but is content creation the best use of your time?

?? Posting 3 times a week is like taking 3 shots on goal.

?? My team and I take over 40 shots a day, creating and posting for business owners ready to scale.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about consistency and visibility. If people don’t see what you’re building, how can they support it?

Ask yourself: ?? Do you want to spend hours figuring out what to post, or focus on leading your team?

Let us handle the content so you can lead.

?? Here’s how:

? 12 custom posts every month (3x a week)

? Written, designed, and scheduled for you

? ￡350/month or $450/month (excl. VAT)

No stress. Just growth-focused content. Ready to see results? Let’s talk. ??

Your LinkedIn Should Be Landing Leads

But It’s Not.

You’re posting. You’re engaging. You’re growing your network.

But if your profile isn’t built to convert, you’re leaving opportunities on the table.

Quick Fix: Headline Hack

Ditch "Founder at XYZ." Instead, try:

"Helping [who] achieve [result] | LinkedIn Growth Strategist."

Example:

? Founder at XYZ

? From Invisible to Influential: Helping Founders Stand Out on LinkedIn

Why? It’s a hook, not a label - so people stick around.

Want more? This week’s newsletter unpacks:

?? Crafting a standout personal brand

?? Posting with influence (not just reposting)

?? Finding the right connections

?? Building real relationships

?? Fixing your Experience section

?? When to DM for instant replies (and when to wait)

PLUS: Join me LIVE on March 11th at 3 PM GMT for "Unlock Your Personal Brand" , pure LinkedIn hacks, no fluff.

I’ll see you there - bring your questions, let’s make LinkedIn work for you!