How to Get More LinkedIn Followers: Lessons From Those Who Are Doing It Right

If you’re like me, you’re tired of hearing the same recycled advice about LinkedIn growth. “Post consistently!” “Try vertical video!” “Use relevant hashtags!”

While these tips aren’t wrong, they miss the bigger picture — and that means missed opportunities to reliably boost traffic and engagement, close deals, and translate customer relationships into real revenue. 

Not very inspiring, huh?

In other words, most brands are doing it wrong. And that’s a shame because now is the best time to get strategic with LinkedIn. With over a billion members worldwide — and over 230 million members in the United States alone — the social networking platform for professionals is also one of the most powerful platforms for B2B marketers and lead generation.

So, how do “the greats” get LinkedIn right? How do you grow on LinkedIn, use the platform as a pipeline generator, and earn trust, mindshare, and leads? Keep reading to find out.

The Problem with Traditional LinkedIn Growth Tactics

If I had a dollar for every time I saw a company’s LinkedIn strategy boil down to “share blog links 2-3 times a week,” I’d be writing this from a beach somewhere. The results are predictable: minimal engagement, with little interaction from their own employees (which makes up about 30% of all company page engagement).

It’s not 2015 anymore. Links need context to convert into web referrals or marketing-qualified leads. And they certainly don’t generate “content ROI.” Your audience needs (and deserves) more than a half-hearted attempt at engagement bait — they’re busy, and you need to earn their time. 

The most successful brands and executives on LinkedIn have figured this out. They’ve moved beyond the spray-and-pray approach of flooding feeds with low value to embrace what we at Foundation like to call the 4 E’s of content:

Before I explain and provide examples of these elements, let me be clear: thoughtful, innovative, and compelling copy is a must-have if you’re taking the 4 Es approach on content-driven platforms like LinkedIn. 

Educating, entertaining, engaging, and empowering people is much easier when your thoughts are clear and convincingly conveyed.

With that out of the way, let’s take a quick look at why building up a following on LinkedIn is so beneficial for personal and company brands. 

Why LinkedIn Followers Matter (Beyond the Vanity Metrics)

It’s easy to dismiss follower count as “just another vanity metric,” but that’s not entirely accurate. While raw numbers alone don’t tell the whole story, a strong LinkedIn follower count is a valuable business asset when built correctly.

To be clear, I’m not talking about inflated numbers from follow-for-follow schemes or bought connections. I’m focused on building a genuine, engaged community — and you should be, too. 

Here’s why doing the leg work to build that community matters:

• Increased professional credibility: Think about how you evaluate potential partners or industry experts. When you land on their LinkedIn profile, a substantial, engaged following signals that others find their insights valuable. The outcome: you take their advice more seriously.
• Brand amplification that works: Your LinkedIn is an audience, but it can also be your distribution network. When thought leaders share insights, their engaged followers become content amplifiers, sharing those insights with their networks. This organic reach is far more valuable than any paid promotion.
• The pipeline advantage: A strong LinkedIn presence also opens doors — for individuals and the companies they represent. We’ve seen examples of professionals landing speaking opportunities, partnership deals, and even funding through relationships that started with LinkedIn interactions.
• Revenue opportunities: While monetization shouldn’t be your primary goal, an engaged LinkedIn following can create real business opportunities — when done right. Whether consulting offers, speaking engagements, or partnership opportunities, a strong LinkedIn presence can directly impact your bottom line.

Now, I want you to think about this: 1,000 engaged followers who regularly interact with your content are worth more than 10,000 who scroll past it. Your goal isn’t to become a #LinkedInInfluencer; it’s to build a community that drives real professional value.

Do you want to know how it works? Let’s look at how successful brands and professionals build their LinkedIn presence through proven, sustainable tactics.

Taking Your LinkedIn Presence to the Next Level: 20 Proven Growth Tactics

The difference between a stagnant LinkedIn profile and one consistently attracting followers is simple: consistent, strategic execution. Remember: the 4 E’s — educate, engage, entertain, and empower — build a solid foundation for content creation.

But you need the “how” — so let’s dive into the actionable tactics, with measurable results, that bring the E’s to life.

Profile Optimization: Your Digital First Impression

Look at any LinkedIn influencer with a substantial following, and you’ll notice that they all start with a meticulously crafted profile. Here’s how to optimize yours:

1. Craft a Magnetic Headline

Your headline isn’t just a job title — it’s your value proposition to potential followers. 

Listing your job title as “CMO @ Company X” is boring and done to death.

But what about describing the impact you make? Instead of a title that does nothing, go for a value-driven statement like “driving enablement innovation and building out attribution systems,” immediately establishing authority in your industry or network niche.

What Works:

• Lead with the value you provide to your audience
• Include relevant keywords for searchability
• Showcase multiple aspects of your expertise

What Doesn’t:

• Generic job titles
• Company name only
• Vague descriptors

Think of it as more of a tagline than a headline. Job titles are good, but they don’t tell the whole story. 

2. Create a Compelling Banner Image

Imagine your banner image as prime real estate for visual storytelling and setting the tone for your page. Whether the image highlights your personal brand or you use your company’s branding instead, a banner makes this message unmistakeable for potential followers:

You’re a knowledgeable professional worth following.

By the way, once you reach a certain follower count, use that visibility to promote your signature assets, like a webinar or a great book:

3. Write a Story-Driven Summary

LinkedIn profiles with compelling summaries get 10x more profile views. Why? Because they tell a story that resonates with their intended audience. 

Look at how Katelyn Bourgoin, The Buyer Psychologist, structures her summary — a short, punchy narrative connecting her experience to her audience’s needs.

Key Elements to Include:

• Your professional journey and pivotal moments
• Specific results and achievements
• A clear indication of who you help and how
• Call to action for engagement

Of course, there are plenty of different ways to approach your summary. It doesn’t have to feel over-marketed and curated if that’s not you; it just needs to tell people your story as a professional.

Content Strategy: Beyond Basic Posts

The days of simply sharing blog links are over. Today’s successful LinkedIn content creators understand the power of strategic content deployment. Here’s how to upgrade your content game:

4. Implement a Multi-Format Approach

Take a page from Gong’s LinkedIn playbook. The brand account for the revenue intelligence platform posts a wide array of content, so they aren’t flooding the zone with formulaic content. They strategically mix in:

• Data-driven insights from their research
• Short-form video content
• Carousel posts with practical tips
• Interactive polls and questions
• Memes tailored to resonate with their audience

This variety keeps their feed engaging while catering to different content consumption preferences.

5. Master the Art of Storytelling

Look: you don’t need to create your own music video or spoof to use the principles of authentic storytelling and capture attention. Instead, share:

• Learning moments and failures
• Success stories and wins
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses
• Industry observations and predictions

The key to using storytelling to gain followers is to provide value to your audience while remaining true to yourself. 

In other words, it’s about them (and you. But also, them).

Engagement Strategy: Building Real Connections

Have you ever read a comment like “Great post!” and immediately rolled your eyes because you thought a bot probably wrote it?

You’re not alone — potential followers feel the same, which means generic comments won’t cut it anymore. And the most successful LinkedIn professionals understand that meaningful engagement drives follower growth. 

Here’s how you make every interaction count:

6. Learn How to Start Conversations

Steven Watt, Director of Marketing Insights at Seismic, has a great approach to getting the ball rolling on LinkedIn. When he posted about social media being “too important to leave to marketing,” he didn’t just drop a controversial statement and leave. He:

• Backed it up with specific reasoning
• Asked thoughtful questions
• Engaged with different perspectives in the comments
• Built on others’ insights

Conversation Starters That Spark Dialogue:

• Share a counterintuitive finding from your experience
• Ask specific questions about others’ experiences
• Challenge common industry assumptions (with evidence)
• Share early observations about emerging trends

And remember that “authenticity” principle? It applies here, too. Approach the topics and subjects that interest you — don’t worry about what the masses want to hear; the ones who share your interest will find you. 

7. Leverage LinkedIn Groups Strategically

It often gets lost among all the other features of this professional networking platform, but Groups are also an excellent avenue for follower growth. Groups like Inbound Marketing or  Human Resources (HR) Professionals have hundreds of thousands of members who are all signalling their interest. 

Here’s how to tap into that engagement:

• Join 3-5 highly active groups in your niche
• Monitor conversations daily for opportunities to add value
• Share insights from your experience, not just links
• Connect with active participants outside the group

Pro Tip: Don’t try to be everywhere. It’s better to be deeply engaged in three groups than barely present in ten.

8. Create Interactive Content

When you think about the types of social media content that are most engaging, interactive posts like polls usually sit at the top of the list. And for good reason — they’re very effective. But don’t forget the other media formats you can use to remix and repurpose your content effectively on LinkedIn. 

Thanks to the variety of formats and features available on LinkedIn, you’ve got options when developing creative assets that grab eyeballs, quantify attention, and increase your chances of engagement. 

Advanced Growth Tactics: Tools and Techniques

The methods for growing your LinkedIn following we’ve covered so far are accessible to everyone on the platform and are a great way to get the ball rolling. Now, let’s look at some of the more advanced tactics you can use. 

9. Leverage Sales Navigator for Content Research

While most people think of Sales Navigator as just a sales tool, there are actually a lot of research features that savvy content creators can use to:

• Identify trending topics in their target audience
• Find potential collaboration partners
• Track industry conversations and pain points
• Build targeted engagement lists

If growing your following as a founder or a newly promoted executive is a priority, this tool can help you speed up the process of building that following (just remember, it’s not a panacea).

10. Implement Strategic Cross-Posting

Researching and understanding platform dynamics and audience behavior is crucial for successful content distribution. You need to set aside some time to learn which types of posts are working across which platforms so you can:

• Cross-posting key insights across multiple platforms
• Creating platform-specific versions of the content to match each channel’s unique characteristics
• Actively engaging with responses and comments across different channels
• Leveraging each platform’s unique features and capabilities effectively

LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and other social platforms (and their audiences) have different preferences for content types. By analyzing successful distribution patterns, you can maximize the content’s reach and engagement while also boosting your following. 

11. Build a Content Ecosystem

Instead of treating each post as a standalone piece, create interconnected content that builds upon itself:

• Break down long-form articles into multiple posts
• Create follow-up content based on comment discussions
• Develop theme weeks or series around key topics
• Reference and link to previous relevant content

If you aren’t already aware, this is one of the strategies our founder and CEO, Ross Simmonds, has perfected. 

12. Time Your Posts Strategically

Forget generic “best time to post” advice. Instead, do the groundwork of figuring out the dates and times when they are most likely to participate in the back-and-forth.:

• Track when your specific audience is most active
• Test different posting times and analyze the impression numbers
• Consider time zones if you have an international audience
• Build a consistent posting schedule your audience can rely on

Remember: you aren’t just accumulating followers. You want to build a community of engaged professionals who value your insights and contribute to meaningful discussions. 

Network Amplification: Beyond Basic Connections

13. Build Your Network Multipliers

Instead of focusing solely on follower count, identify and nurture relationships with what we call “network multipliers” — people whose engagement with your content creates ripple effects in your target audience. Here’s how:

• Identify 10-15 key professionals whose audience overlaps with yours
• Engage meaningfully with their content consistently
• Create content that addresses shared audience interests
• Look for collaboration opportunities

Pro Tip: Study how the executives at Seismic, Wiz, and Dreamdata build their networks. They don’t just connect with random professionals — they strategically engage with people who can amplify their message to the right audience.

14. Leverage Employee Advocacy 

Most companies get team member advocacy all wrong. They either force rigid guidelines that kill authenticity or leave it entirely up to chance. 

Spoiler: Neither approach works. 

Your employees aren’t just team members—they’re your most powerful content amplifiers. But slapping a standardized banner on everyone’s profile isn’t enough. 

Here’s what measurably moves the needle:

• Create content templates that employees can personalize with their own voice and insights
• Showcase real team wins and milestones (not just corporate press releases)
• Help team members develop their own thought leadership by cross-promoting their expertise
• Run workshops that teach content creation, not just content sharing

Remember: The goal isn’t to turn your employees into content robots — it’s to empower them to share authentic stories that align with your brand.

15. Use LinkedIn’s Publishing Platform Strategically 

While many marketers have written off LinkedIn’s publishing platform in favor of short-form, in-feed posts, they’re missing a major opportunity. Long-form content on LinkedIn hasn’t died — it just evolved. The platform’s publishing tool can still drive serious engagement when you’re strategic about it. 

Here’s what works:

• Transform proprietary data into industry insights native or unique to your presence on the platform
• Break down complex topics into digestible series that keep readers coming back
• Include specific, relevant calls to action (not just “follow for more!”)
• Turn your best-performing content into multiple formats for maximum impact

The key is to treat LinkedIn publishing as a strategic channel, not just a blog repository.

16. Optimize Your Content Mix 

LinkedIn creators fail to diversify their content effectively. 

To quote Pretty Woman: “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”

So what’s the fix?

After analyzing hundreds of high-performing LinkedIn accounts, I developed this sample content marketing mix to drive growth:

• 40% Educational content that solves real problems
• 25% Thoughtful industry commentary (not just news sharing)
• 20% Authentic personal insights and experiences
• 15% Strategic company updates (focus on impact, not announcements)

The right mix isn’t set in stone—but starting with these proportions gives you a framework for testing what resonates with your audience.

Measurement and Optimization 

If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. But here’s the catch: what you measure matters just as much. 

The truth is most people measure the wrong things on LinkedIn. Let’s look at how to track and optimize your LinkedIn presence for sustainable growth.

17. Track Metrics That Matter 

In the rush to expand their LinkedIn follower base, too many people focus on surface-level metrics that don’t indicate real engagement. Stop obsessing over follower count. Here are the metrics that actually indicate sustainable growth:

• Engagement rate that accounts for your audience size
• Comment quality (think substantive discussions, not “Great post!”)
• How many profile views convert to meaningful connections
• Content saves—the ultimate signal that you’re providing value

Your metrics should tell a story about community building, not just audience size.

18. Use LinkedIn Analytics Like a Pro 

LinkedIn’s native analytics tools are more powerful than most people realize. It isn’t just a vanity metrics dashboard. Use it to uncover:

• Which topics consistently resonate with your specific audience
• When your network is most likely to engage (not just online)
• Content types that drive profile visits and connection requests
• Patterns in your audience growth that inform strategy

The real power of LinkedIn analytics isn’t in the numbers—it’s in the insights you can extract from them.

19. Create Content Feedback Loops 

Growing on LinkedIn isn’t a one-way street. The most successful creators understand engagement data is a goldmine for content ideas. Success on LinkedIn isn’t about posting and praying. Build systematic feedback loops by:

• Mining comments for underlying themes and pain points
• Testing different headline formats and tracking performance
• Experimenting with content types based on engagement patterns
• Actually listening to what your audience tells you they want

Let your audience guide your content strategy through their actions and feedback—they’ll tell you exactly what they want more of.

20. Build Systematic Growth Processes

Random acts of content rarely lead to consistent growth. You need a system. Turn these tactics into a repeatable system that drives consistent growth:

• Create a content calendar that aligns with business objectives—not just posting quotas
• Block dedicated time for meaningful engagement (not drive-by likes)
• Review and adjust your strategy monthly based on real data
• Plan strategic collaborations that benefit both parties

The difference between occasional viral posts and sustained growth comes down to having systematic processes in place.

Putting It All Together

Let’s recap: growing your LinkedIn following isn’t about quick hacks or gaming the algorithm. It’s about consistently delivering value to your target audience through strategic content and engagement. Start by implementing 3-4 tactics that best align with your current goals and gradually expand your strategy.

Remember what we saw with Gong, Seismic, and other successful brands: sustainable LinkedIn growth comes from building authentic connections and sharing valuable insights, not from following formulaic approaches.

The question is: Which ones will you implement first to start building your engaged LinkedIn community?

Ready to get started? Choose and consistently implement your first three tactics for the next 30 days. Track your results, adjust as needed, and watch your LinkedIn presence transform from a digital resume into a powerful professional platform.

And if you need more help, check out our ultimate guide to B2B marketing on LinkedIn.