Building an Authentic, Organic LinkedIn Presence

LinkedIn is the largest global networking event, and it’s happening 24/7/365.

Many people still view LinkedIn as a job search site. While that’s fine (and it is) I think it’s one of the biggest opportunities for both individuals and businesses to increase their brand visibility and drive revenue.

But there are also bad-faith actors to steer clear of (these are the dreaded LinkedIn engagement pods, which I’ll discuss below). Beyond the bad actors, there are other good habits to form on LinkedIn, which can help it become an endless source of fun and information.

What are “Pods” and Why Should Everyone Avoid Them?

Some people with very large followings on LinkedIn created groups called “pods.” Pods, so the promise goes, create rapid follower growth and a ton of engagement. Generally, joining these pods costs thousands of dollars per month. Unfortunately, as soon as you stop paying them, guess what? You’re back to square one. Your engagement and followers plummet; the remaining followers never engage with your content again. (Which means you’re not actually back to square one; you’re actually in a worse spot than when you started.)

So in short, do not join a pod EVER.

So, okay, Tim. Pods are steroids that don’t serve the long-term health of your LinkedIn profile or your business. What to do if you’re still building a presence?

I’m glad you asked! And, no, no one has to become a professional creator for the platform to deliver value to you, your clients, and your career.

Find Your Crew

There are great creators on LinkedIn who offer fantastic value to their followers. And you can usually tell the good from the bad pretty easily. Do they engage with their comments? If yes, you likely are following someone who built their audience authentically and organically.

Write How You Talk

The most important thing about getting started is not overthinking your posts. I fell into this trap when I started. I followed a bunch of growth hackers (do not do this), and tried to emulate their style. You know what happened? I got no engagement, and I absolutely…