Building A Personal Brand On Linkedin

🔑 What separates a good LinkedIn post from a great one? Great posts aren’t just read....... They’re shared, discussed, and remembered. Here’s the formula to elevate your content: 1️⃣ Hook Them Early ✨ Use the first 2–3 lines to grab attention. Example: “The biggest LinkedIn mistake? It’s not what you think.” 2️⃣ Deliver Value ✨ Focus on educating, inspiring, or solving a problem for your audience. Example: “After running 50 campaigns, here’s what I’ve learned about LinkedIn’s algorithm.” 3️⃣ Create Conversations ✨ End with a CTA that sparks comments. Example: “Agree or disagree with these tips? Let’s discuss below!” 4️⃣ Polish for Readability ✨ Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and white space to make your post easy to skim. Why It Works: ✅ Hooks draw readers in. ✅ Value keeps them engaged. ✅ CTAs build relationships. Final Thought 🌟 Great posts don’t just inform, they connect. They make your audience feel seen, heard, and ready to engage. What’s your formula for creating LinkedIn content that stands out? Let’s discuss it! 🚀 #LinkedInTips #ContentThatConnects #EngagementSuccess

You don’t have to be a founder or entrepreneur to build a strong personal brand. In fact, some of the most strategic brand-building happens inside organizations—by professionals who position themselves as experts in their field within the companies they already work for. In this edition of my LinkedIn newsletter, I share insights from a powerful conversation with Amii Barnard-Bahn, JD, PCC, Paul Fairbrother, and Natalie Siston on how to raise your profile from the inside: ➡️ Why internal visibility is just as important as external content ➡️ How to align your expertise with company priorities ➡️ What to know about navigating compliance and perception ➡️ How to stop waiting for permission to share your ideas You don’t need to leave your job to become known for your expertise. You just need a clear, consistent strategy.

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

If your LinkedIn profile reads like a resume, congrats – you've just blended in with 1 billion other people on this platform. "Results-driven professional with 10+ years of experience in cross-functional collaboration." Cool. So are the other 1,400 applicants... If you're looking for work (or leads) right now, there are a few things you need to understand about your personal brand: Your LinkedIn is your live resume. It's the first thing people look up when you apply, pitch, or slide into their inbox. And if you're not treating your LinkedIn like a shop window, you've already lost. So, here are 3 simple steps to optimise your profile in a way that actually makes people want to connect with you ↓ 1. Ditch the jargon. No one's searching for "results-oriented self-starter." They're searching for someone who gets it. Your headline should say what you do and the results you get - in plain English. No MBA required. I have a winning headline formula for this - you can steal it here klowt.com/playbook/ 2. Rewrite your About section like you're speaking to one person. Not a recruiter. Not a hiring panel. One human. Tell them what you're great at. Why you enjoy it. What drives you. What you care about. Write like you would if you were explaining your work - and life to a friend over coffee. Your about is about YOU not just your job. 3. Show, don't just tell. Add a feature section. Pin your best posts. Link to the podcast you spoke on, the campaign you ran, and the client wins you're proud of. You're more than just a job title - let your work SHOW people that. 4. Post like your next opportunity is watching. Because it is. You don't need to go viral - you just need to show up. 60%+ of the best jobs aren't advertised and 40% of CEOs believe personal brand is more important than a resume. Share insights. Share stories. Share perspective. Just share something. 5. Show us your face. And your voice. And your actual personality. People connect with people, not marketing-approved PDFs 😂. It's not enough to be the "best" in 2025 - you have to be the best known. So, if your LinkedIn still looks like a Word doc with a profile picture, you're already behind. Build a brand that speaks for you. So YOU don't have to beg to be seen. 👉 Rewrite your About section like you're talking to one person. 👉 Show up like a human, not a headline. 👉 Say something. Anything. Just make it yours. The best opportunities aren't given to the people with the perfect resumes - they're given to the people who are the most memorable. So give them something to remember. P.S - I run a personal branding fast track group coaching group. Our members are getting 65k views a post, and inbound opportunities after 4 weeks. klowt.com/fast-track/

Over the last 4 years, I've helped 150+ founders build profitable, influential & money-making brands on LinkedIn — in just 3 months! I know what you're thinking - "Sakshi, that's great, but I'm stuck. How do I do this?" Don't worry; I've got you covered. Here are 9 steps to build your LinkedIn personal brand in 90 days or less: 1/ Prove yourself through a killer headline: Don’t just say "Founder." Make your headline a mini-pitch that highlights what you do and who you help. Think: "I help professionals climb the career ladder through data-driven executive training in 70 days." 2/ Show your story through an irresistible About section: Talk directly to your audience. Share your journey, your mission, and how you can help them. Make it personal, not a boring resume summary. 3/ Post with a reason: Every post should have a goal—whether it’s sharing a lesson, inspiring your audience, or starting a conversation. Make sure it aligns with your overall brand. 4/ Get personal, get real: People love vulnerability. Share your failures and what you’ve learned along the way. It’ll make you more relatable and human. 5/ Engage as much as you can: Instead of just scrolling through your feed, spend 20 minutes daily leaving thoughtful comments. This builds stronger relationships than just likes and reactions. 6/ Show your face: Use photos and videos of yourself. A simple selfie with a quick story or insight can do wonders in making your brand more approachable. 7/ Build mini-content series: Break down complex topics into bite-sized posts that flow over a week. For example, "5 days of career tips for new professionals." This keeps people coming back for more. 8/ DM with value: Don’t just cold-pitch people. When you connect with someone, send them a personalised message with a genuine compliment or offer something useful. If it’s a pitch, try being direct in the 1st message itself. 9/ Track your progress: Use LinkedIn analytics and tools like Shield to monitor your post engagement and profile views. Adjust your strategy based on what resonates most with your audience. Now, here's something interesting: According to LinkedIn, members who post weekly on the platform are 5 times more likely to be contacted for new opportunities. That's the power of consistent branding! Let me share a quick story that might inspire you: When I started on LinkedIn, I was nervous about posting. But I remembered I once read: “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” Alan Watts So, I took the plunge. My first post got only 3 likes, but I kept going. Six months later, I had my first viral post with over 1000 likes. That's when I realised - content isn’t the power, consistency is! Building a personal brand takes time and effort, but it's worth it. So, which of these steps will you start with today? #linkedinstrategy #personalbranding #entrepreneurtips #indianstartups

Your LinkedIn post doesn’t start when you hit publish. It starts 30 minutes before. Most people post and pray. (And hey—prayer is great. Just maybe not about LinkedIn 😅) Here’s the engagement strategy I teach clients who want visibility, leads, and real traction: 1️⃣ The 30-Minute Pre-Engagement Rule (a.k.a. Content Seeding) Don’t just drop your post cold. Warm up the feed. Before you publish, comment on 5–10 posts from people you want your content to reach. When you engage with them, you trigger LinkedIn to surface your upcoming post in their feed once it goes live. 📌 Pro Tip: Prioritize → Your ideal audience → Past engagers → Active accounts with good reach (they help amplify you if they engage) This is how you train the algorithm to pay attention. 2️⃣ The 15-Minute Post-Boost Once you publish, your post enters a test phase. It’s tracking: → How fast you get engagement → Whether people stick around (dwell time) → If the comments spark back-and-forth conversation So when the comments start coming in, don’t ghost. Reply quickly. Ask questions. Keep the thread alive. Every interaction signals to LinkedIn: “This post has value.” 3️⃣ The First 3-Hour Window Is Critical Your post gets a short trial run. If it performs, it gets pushed to a wider audience. If not, it gets buried. Remember: LinkedIn is in the business of keeping people on the platform. It rewards content that does the same. Your job in this window:  → Keep the engagement active  → Drop a thoughtful comment on your own post to extend the conversation.  → Send it to a few trusted peers and say, “Would love your POV on this.” (Don't spam though. Make it relevant.) Bonus: Save outbound DMs for people who actually care about the topic.  You’ll get better feedback and avoid annoying your network. Most people treat LinkedIn like a billboard. Top performers treat it like a system. Which of these tactics do you already use? Which one will you try next? 👇

Engagement pods grow followers, but with a catch. Yesterday, a connection reached out, suggesting we form a pod to “catch up”. I think they meant well, seeing it as a way to grow visibility. But it got me thinking about why shortcuts like these aren’t worth it. During his recent Mortgage Cohort, LinkedIn Top Gun, Darren McKee shared 3 reasons not to pod (or buy engagement): Misleading Metrics: Engagement pods can inflate your numbers, but they don't reflect genuine interest. It’s a bit like buying a fake audience—you get numbers, but no real value. Inflated engagement actually harms your personal brand. Violation of Terms: Many don’t realize this, but engagement pods go against LinkedIn’s terms of service (see below for details). Getting caught could mean account restrictions or bans, which would be catastrophic to many of us. Lack of Authenticity: Fake engagement can damage your credibility. Your real network will notice if comments feel forced or if likes spike without substance. A friend and I dug into a mutual connection's engagement. Comments immediately stood out as odd. They had an 'AI generated' feel. Many were made by 2nd or 3rd connections w/ a high % of profiles outside of US. Don't fall for LinkedIn Guru Juice. Resist the 'need for speed'. Growing on LinkedIn is a long game. Here’s what's worked for me: Engage Authentically: Comment on posts you genuinely find interesting. Engage in real conversations. Consistent Content: Post consistently on topics you care about. Share insights, stories, and ask questions that spark discussion. Build Real Relationships: Connect with people in your industry, attend LinkedIn events, and take the time to build meaningful connections. I've been on this platform since 2008, and will never risk losing the nearly 33,000 followers I've earned. P.S. That's not really Tom Cruise If you've made it this far, thank you. Here's that reference to LinkedIn's TOS: LinkedIn's official stance against engagement pods and similar tactics falls under its general prohibition against "artificial or fake activity." The platform’s User Agreement specifically outlines that users should not engage in "manipulating identifiers to disguise the origin of any message or post" and prohibits using services that artificially inflate engagement (such as likes, comments, or followers) through automated means. This includes participating in engagement pods, which are seen as a violation because they create non-genuine interactions and potentially mislead other users. LinkedIn’s algorithms are designed to detect patterns indicative of engagement manipulation, like receiving a high number of interactions from users outside one's immediate network or from suspiciously coordinated groups. If LinkedIn identifies these behaviors, it may result in shadowbanning (reducing post visibility) or even account suspension.

It took me 71 posts to realise I wasn’t ‘underrated’, I was just telling my story wrong on LinkedIn. (Okay fine, it was actually 100+.  …but who's counting?) I was being vulnerable. Dropping life lessons and even telling “my truth.” I mistook expression for strategy. And still? People would read… and keep scrolling. Conversions? Even lower 🤧 Why? I was the main character in every post. Once I fixed this, my posts didn’t just get likes.  They started bringing qualified inbound leads. Now I use my 10-Minute Audience Mirror Trick before posting: (yes, I use this for my clients too) This doubled our growth in 3 weeks. Before I post, I ask: 1. Did I say the uncomfortable thing they won’t say out loud? Fear. Shame. Guilt. Relief. Hope. 2. Did I reference a moment they’ve silently survived? Laid off, burned out, starting over. 3. Did I include at least ONE line that points to them? ‘If you’ve ever stayed in a job longer than you should’ve… this is for you’. ONE line can be the difference between a scroll and a save. Bonus: Use “you” in the first 3 lines. It literally flips the mirror so fast. People don’t engage with advice. They engage when they feel seen. Vulnerability without direction is just public journaling. So yes, please tell your story. But let people find themselves in it. That’s when your story goes from ‘look at me’… to ‘I see you.’ Ps. When you post, who’s the hero? You or the reader? 🤔

Here's what I actually wish more executives knew about showcasing results... Even the most impressive achievements fall flat without context. Don't just say: "Increased sales by 45%" Instead say: "Reversed 3-year sales decline by implementing consultative selling approach and territory optimization, resulting in 45% revenue growth ($3.2M) within 18 months" This "Results with Evidence" approach changes the whole ball game. Listing responsibilities tells employers what you were SUPPOSED to do. Showcasing results with evidence shows them what you ACTUALLY did. And... before you say "I don't generate any revenue..." You don't need revenue figures to quantify your impact! Measure: - Size metrics (team members, departments, locations) - Percentage improvements in any process - Time saved through your initiatives - Volume of work handled - Scope of responsibility Even without direct revenue figures, you can ALWAYS find ways to quantify your impact. If you're ready to transform your resume from a list of job duties into a powerful marketing tool that PROVES your true impact, download my free executive resume template: https://lnkd.in/ekYCz3sV. Your future self (with a calendar full of interviews) will thank you! #LinkedInTopVoices #Careers #Resumes

7 LinkedIn Headline Mistakes That Cost You Job Interviews: 1. Just Using Your Job Title "Senior Marketing Manager" tells an employer nothing unique about you. Every other marketing manager has the same headline. Instead, add your specialty: "Senior Marketing Manager | B2B SaaS Growth | $2M Pipeline Generated" That's a headline that gets clicks from recruiters and employers. 2. Writing "Seeking New Opportunities" This wastes valuable headline space. If you feel you need to add this, use the Open To Work banner. But in your headline? Replace it with your actual value: "Data Analyst | Python & SQL Expert | Using Data To Help eCommerce Shops Drive 27% More Revenue" Show what you bring to the table, not what you need. 3. Stuffing Keywords Without Any Context "Leader | Innovator | Strategic Thinker | Team Player" all mean nothing on their own. Anyone can add those things to a profile. Use keywords sparingly and tie them to specific achievements to differentiate yourself. Concrete results beat empty adjectives every time. 4. Forgetting Your Target Audience Your headline should speak to the people who can hire you. If you want a product management role, don't highlight your coding skills. Focus on what matters to hiring managers: "Product Manager | Launched 5 Products Driving $10M In Net New Revenue Over 5 Years" Make it crystal clear why they should message you. 5. Getting Cute With The Language "Salesforce Ninjas" and "Growth Hackers" don't convey any real value. If anything, they make it harder for your value to be seen. Recruiters spend 6 seconds scanning profiles. They need clarity first. Save the personality for your summary section. 6. Ignoring The Character Limit LinkedIn cuts off headlines at 120 characters on mobile. Put your most important information first. Bad: "Experienced Professional with 15 Years in Financial Services Industry Seeking..." Good: "VP, Private Equity | $500M Transactions | Ex-Goldman Sachs" 7. Not Including Measurable Impact "Experienced Sales Professional" could describe anyone. Numbers make you memorable and credible. Transform it to: "Enterprise Sales Director | I Help Enterprise SaaS Generate $15M In New Business" Noticing some themes in these examples? 😉 —— ➕ Follow Austin Belcak for more 🔵 Ready to land your dream job? Click here to learn more about how we help people land amazing jobs in ~3.5 months with a $44k raise: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r