Last month, I set out on a mission: to gain 5000 followers on LinkedIn in just 30 days. It sounded ambitious, maybe even a bit unrealistic, but I was determined to make it happen.
Spoiler alert—I did it.
And I'm here to tell you exactly how I did it.
The Starting Point: Learning from Failure!
It all began with a bold decision to boost my LinkedIn presence. I set the goal of 5000 followers in one month. I thought I had a solid plan—post as much as possible, use a ton of hashtags, and watch the followers roll in. Boy, was I wrong?
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First days: The Missteps
In the first week, I went all out. I posted every hour, believing that more content would mean more followers. My posts were crammed with hashtags—#Marketing, #Business, #Leadership, #Inspiration—basically every popular tag I could think of. I even shared long, detailed articles, thinking they would showcase my expertise.
The result? Crickets. My engagement was pitiful. Few like fewer comments, and certainly no surge in followers. I felt frustrated and defeated. Clearly, my strategy was flawed.
The Turning Point
Realizing I needed a change, I took a step back to reassess my approach. I discovered Circleboom Publish, a tool that promised to streamline my social media efforts. Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot.
Comprehensive LinkedIn Management
Circleboom supports LinkedIn Profiles and Company Pages in one dashboard!
Correct Moves
After the awkwardness of the first day, I found the right path. The steps of this path are:
Understanding the LinkedIn Algorithm
The first thing I learned was the importance of understanding LinkedIn's algorithm. LinkedIn prioritizes content that drives engagement, meaning that the more likes, comments, and shares your posts get, the more people see them. This was the foundation of my strategy: create content that people would engage with and watch it spread.
Discovering the Power of Carousels
One of the first features I tried with Circleboom Publish was carousel posts. I created a series of slides on "10 Marketing Tips for 2024" and "Steps to Build Your Personal Brand." Each slide was designed to be visually appealing and packed with value.
The impact was immediate. People loved swiping through the carousels, spending more time on my posts, and engaging with the content. My posts were getting shared, commented on, and liked far more than before.
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Introducing Polls to Engage the Audience
Next, I experimented with polls. Using Circleboom Publish, I scheduled polls asking my audience for their opinions on various industry trends and challenges. The response was fantastic. Polls are a great way to engage your audience because they invite participation and spark discussions.
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Consistent Posting Strategy
Consistency became my mantra. I posted every single day without fail. I discovered that the best times to post were early morning, which makes sense, considering these are peak times for professionals checking LinkedIn.
I made sure to mix up my content. Some days, I shared text updates with personal insights or industry news. On other days, I posted images, videos, or articles. Each type of content served to keep my audience interested and engaged. Circleboom Publish was instrumental in this process. It allowed me to schedule my posts beforehand, ensuring I never missed a day, even when busy.
Kevin O. Frank
Leveraging LinkedIn Articles
I also started writing, publishing and scheduling LinkedIn articles. Articles like "The Future of Digital Marketing" and "How to Build a Personal Brand on LinkedIn" attracted a lot of attention. I optimized my articles with relevant keywords to ensure they reached as many people as possible. This helped them show up in LinkedIn searches, driving more traffic to my profile.
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Engaging with Your Network
Engagement doesn't stop at posting. I made it a point to respond to every comment on my posts. This not only fostered a sense of community but also encouraged more people to engage with my content.
Connecting with influencers in my industry also played a significant role. I sent personalized connection requests and follow-up messages, which often led to valuable interactions and increased exposure.
Zeynep Morelli
Joining and Participating in LinkedIn Groups
LinkedIn groups were another goldmine. I joined several groups related to digital marketing and actively participated in discussions. Sharing insights and valuable content within these groups helped me reach a broader audience and attract more followers.
Fatih Kemal Oksuzoglu
Strategic Hashtag Usage
I learned that less is more when it comes to hashtags. Instead of bombarding my posts with every relevant hashtag, I started using a few targeted ones, such as #DigitalMarketing, #PersonalBranding, and #LinkedInTips. This made my posts more focused and relevant to the right audience.
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Avoid Buying Followers: Go Organic Instead
I cannot stress this enough—don't buy followers. It's tempting, but it's not worth it. Bought followers are usually fake accounts that won't engage with your content, leading to low engagement rates and potential damage to your credibility. Organic growth, though slower, is much more rewarding in the long run.
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Utilizing LinkedIn Analytics
Throughout the month, LinkedIn analytics were my best friend. They provided insights into what types of content performed best, which posting times were most effective, and who my audience was. This data allowed me to refine my strategy continuously.
Conclusion
So, there you have it—a roadmap to gaining 5000 followers on LinkedIn in just one month. It's about understanding the platform, posting consistently, engaging with your network, and leveraging the power of different content types. Remember, the goal isn't just to amass followers but to build a community of engaged professionals who value your insights and contributions. Start your journey today, and don't forget to share your progress and tips along the way.
Additional Tips
Finally, consider complementing your organic growth with LinkedIn ads and cross-promoting your content on other social media platforms. These strategies can help drive additional traffic to your LinkedIn profile, enhancing your visibility and growth potential.
Using Circleboom Publish made this entire process smoother and more manageable. It allowed me to focus on creating high-quality content while it handled the scheduling and posting for me.
I wish you success in this adventure as well!
Circleboom Publish
Circleboom supports Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile, and TikTok (soon).
