If I started on LinkedIn from 0, here's what I'd do

Summary

This script outlines a strategy to rebuild a LinkedIn following from scratch within a week. It emphasizes crafting a compelling positioning statement to address a 'Monday morning problem', optimizing profile visuals for authority, and leveraging connections for trust. The plan involves sending non-needy connection requests, creating social proof through engaging posts, and strategically commenting on influential profiles to gain visibility and attract a qualified audience.

Takeaways

• 📝 Focus on positioning your LinkedIn profile around solving a 'Monday morning problem' for your ideal client, instead of just stating what you do.
• 📸 Optimize your profile image and positioning statement to create a professional and authoritative first impression on LinkedIn.
• 🔗 Use your past work, educational, and life experiences to create 'trust stacking,' which improves your LinkedIn connection acceptance rate.
• 💬 Avoid sending cold messages or pitching your services immediately. Instead, send a 'non-needy' message to start conversations naturally.
• 🌉 Establish social proof by enabling LinkedIn Creator Mode and featuring key posts on your profile to build trust with potential connections.
• 📊 Use listicle posts and carousels to drive engagement, as they perform well on LinkedIn's algorithm without much effort.
• 👥 Engage with influencers and people with large audiences (100,000+ followers) through thoughtful comments to quickly expand your reach.
• 💼 Also target smaller profiles (1,000-5,000 followers) that are starting to build their brand, as they are more likely to notice and appreciate your engagement.
• 💬 Use motivational comments and advice-sharing as your main strategies to gain visibility and build a following through comments on others' posts.
• 🤖 Take advantage of LinkedIn automation apps to speed up the process of finding leads, building lists, and scaling your reach effectively.

Q & A

What are the two most important parts of a LinkedIn profile that must be optimized for success?

The two most important parts of a LinkedIn profile are the positioning statement and the profile image. These are visible to everyone, and they are crucial for creating a strong first impression.

What is a 'Monday morning problem' and why is it important for positioning?

A 'Monday morning problem' refers to the common, urgent issues your ideal client faces at the start of their workweek. It's important to position yourself as the solution to this problem because it resonates with what clients are actively seeking help for.

Why is it beneficial to use an image optimization tool for your LinkedIn profile picture?

Optimizing your LinkedIn profile picture is essential because humans process images faster than text. A well-optimized picture can help you appear as an authority and increase your profile's likeability and trustworthiness.

What is 'trust stacking' and how can it be applied to LinkedIn connections?

'Trust stacking' refers to building trust with potential connections by emphasizing shared experiences, like working at the same company or attending the same school. This method increases the likelihood of a connection request being accepted.

What is the purpose of a 'non-needy message' when connecting with new LinkedIn contacts?

A 'non-needy message' sets the right tone for new conversations by avoiding direct asks or pitches. Instead of pushing for sales or linking to content, it simply expresses interest in learning more about the person’s work, which fosters trust.

What is the role of Creator Mode and the Featured Section on LinkedIn?

Creator Mode and the Featured Section on LinkedIn allow you to showcase important posts or content on your profile. This helps in building social proof, making your profile more engaging and credible when visitors come across it.

Why should you avoid posting too much content early on when starting from zero followers?

When starting from zero, posting too much content won’t yield much visibility because LinkedIn’s algorithm favors pushing content to your first-degree network. Instead, engaging with others’ posts helps build an audience faster.

How can commenting on posts help you build an audience faster on LinkedIn?

Commenting on posts, especially by people with large followings, helps you get noticed by their audience. Since comments are seen by their entire network, this is a quicker way to grow your reach than posting your own content.

What two types of influencers should you target for commenting on LinkedIn?

You should target influencers with broad appeal and over 100,000 followers, as well as individuals with 1,000 to 5,000 followers who are just starting to build their personal brand. Both types offer opportunities for visibility and engagement.

What types of comments should you leave to get the best engagement on LinkedIn?

You should leave two types of comments: motivational comments that make others feel good and valuable, advice-driven comments similar to what you'd give a client. Both types attract attention and engagement.