Okay — so you’ve definitely realized that LinkedIn is so much more than the “Hey, our organization won this award” or “We’re hiring!” platform it’s been in the past. As a result, you’ve made the commitment to be more visible on said platform. You’ve optimized your page with the right keywords, fleshed out your “about” section, and connected with peers and colleagues to either ask for recommendations or to network or both (multi-tasking is allowed).
You don’t quite think of yourself as an industry thought leader yet (or, maybe you feel that title has to be earned rather than something you call yourself), but you know you want to share your expertise. So you’re staring at your computer screen, that cursed cursor blinking on a blank LinkedIn post. What do you do now?
Well, here’s where the fun begins. The key to being successful with LinkedIn posting is to be consistent, authentic, and genuine — and, of course, finding a way to share your expertise, the lessons you’ve learned, and your perspectives. It’s also important to be consistent, which means posting something new as often as you’re able. That may seem like a lot of content but never fear, I’ve got a few ideas for you! Here are a few content thought-starters to consider.
Pull Back the Curtain
To be credible, your followers will want to know more about you than just your title and headshot. Write an occasional “About Me” post introducing some part of your life. If you work at home, describe your home office set-up, complete with a photo of your “office buddy” (your cat, your dog, or even your favorite plant!)). Mention any hacks you’ve developed to be productive or to save time. When you fill in some of your personal details for your followers, you become a whole person to them, and they’ll feel like they know you — and they’ll want to hear (and engage with) what you have to say on the platform.
Overcoming a Challenge
Everyone loves a success story, especially if you’ve conquered a problem many of your peers have. What was your thought process in finding the solution? Did you have assistance from a team member or another team in your company? Did you start with one idea and then iterate until you found a solution? How did you know you were successful? Did you receive better Google reviews, increased sales, or an elevated employee retention rate? Tell the story from “before” to “after” and be sure to tag anyone who was involved in the project.
“Mistakes Were Made” Posts
Not all stories are success stories, but that doesn’t mean they are less interesting. Your followers would love to know what you’ve tried and failed at, especially if it was for a problem they’realso experiencing. Starting a conversation about the problem may even lead to a solution. There are learnings to be had from every failure. Share that knowledge with your audience and see what happens.
Inspiration & Education Recommendations
If you’re anything like me, you love a good book or podcast recommendation. Effective thought leaders are always open to new ideas and concepts. Write a post on something that has inspired you or offered you a new point of view. Your new idea could come from a conference you’ve attended, a newsletter you’ve subscribed to, or another LinkedIn post. Be specific in what you’ve learned and how you will use that new knowledge in your work when writing your article.
“Who You Should Know” Posts
Along with educational or inspirational content, you could also recommend people you admire and follow yourself. Ask a question or tell a story about something they said that you thought was interesting, and tag the person to get a conversation started. Make sure to specify why you think they’re great and how they’ve helped you.
“What’s Next?” Content
As a thought leader, your followers expect you to know “what’s next?” in your sector. Have you dipped your toe in something new? Have you dipped your toe into angel investing, the Metaverse, or Bitcoin? IIf you have, what happened? What did you learn? Write a post and include how you learned about this new idea, why you were interested, your experience, and your takeaways.
Need Help?
I hope I’ve inspired you with these ideas. If I have, go forth and create that content! You’ll be a thought leader in no time! If you are still a little uncertain, ask yourself “why?” Are you worried about having the time to write or maybe the “brainpower” to write well? Do you feel like you communicate better verbally instead of in writing? These are valid concerns, but don’t let them stop you from posting LinkedIn content.
There are always ghostwriters. These professional content creators are available to write your LinkedIn posts or any other blog, article, etc. you need. They’ll spend time with you to absorb your unique point of view, the basics of your business and your product, and your communication style. Then they’ll write the content as if they are you. All you have to do is publish the content on your profile. And, of course, pay them! Wouldn’t it be worth it for easy peasy content?
Think of a ghostwriter as your own version of self-care. Save yourself the stress, time, and extra brainpower by partnering with an expert who will bring your awesomeness to life. You deserve it and it’s totally worth it.
Becoming a thought leader can open up so many other opportunities for you. You might be invited to speak at a conference or in a podcast. You may attract earned media. Best of all, you will build brand awareness for your business and attract new customers. Win, win, win all around.
If your goal is to become a thought leader, posting content on LinkedIn is essential. The subjects of your posts should highlight your point of view and help you build credibility. I’ve offered you a list of content ideas to start your journey to thought leadership. If the ghostwriter idea sounds like something you’d be interested in, I’m your girl! Contact me today, and we’ll get started ASAP.