How to Get Followers on LinkedIn: Tips for Beginners

LinkedIn isn’t just a platform for job hunting—it’s also a powerful tool for building your personal brand, sharing knowledge, and growing a professional community. If you're new to LinkedIn, growing your followers may feel like a challenge. But with the right strategies, you can steadily build a network that supports your career goals.

Here are practical, beginner-friendly tips to help you get more followers on LinkedIn.

1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital resume and personal brand hub. To attract followers, your profile needs to be polished, professional, and optimized for visibility.

How to optimize your profile:

Use a professional photo: Profiles with photos get 21x more views. Choose a high-quality, approachable headshot.

Craft a compelling headline: Your headline should go beyond your job title and highlight your skills or aspirations. For example, “Marketing Specialist | Helping Brands Grow with Data-Driven Strategies.”

Write an engaging summary: Use your summary to tell your story, highlight your expertise, and explain what you offer.

Add skills and keywords: Include relevant skills and industry keywords to make your profile searchable.

2. Create High-Value Content

One of the best ways to gain followers is by consistently sharing valuable content that resonates with your target audience.

What to post on LinkedIn:

Insights and advice: Share your expertise in your field, such as lessons learned or industry trends.

Personal stories: Authentic stories about your career journey often perform well. For example, “What I Learned from My First Job Interview.”

Industry news: Share and comment on news articles relevant to your industry.

Visual content: Use images, infographics, or videos to make your posts more engaging.

Pro Tip: Post consistently—once or twice a week is a good starting point.

3. Engage with Others’ Content

Building a presence on LinkedIn isn’t just about posting your own content; it’s also about being an active participant in the community.

How to engage effectively:

Comment thoughtfully: Add value to others’ posts by sharing your perspective or asking questions.

React to posts: Use LinkedIn reactions (e.g., Like, Celebrate, Insightful) to show appreciation for content.

Share posts: When you share others’ content, add your own commentary to spark discussions.

Engagement increases your visibility and encourages others to check out your profile.

4. Build and Strengthen Your Network

Your initial network plays a crucial role in attracting followers. Focus on connecting with people who align with your professional interests.

Steps to grow your network:

Start with people you know: Connect with colleagues, classmates, mentors, and friends.

Personalize your connection requests: A short note like, “Hi [Name], I admire your work in [field] and would love to connect,” goes a long way.

Join LinkedIn groups: Participate in group discussions to connect with like-minded professionals.

5. Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags help your content reach a wider audience beyond your immediate network.

How to use hashtags on LinkedIn:

Add 3–5 relevant hashtags to your posts, such as #MarketingTips, #CareerGrowth, or #TechTrends.

Follow industry-specific hashtags to stay updated and engage with trending posts.

Create a unique hashtag for your personal brand (e.g., #CareerWithSam).

6. Leverage LinkedIn Features

LinkedIn offers features that can boost your visibility and help you attract followers.

Key features to use:

Creator Mode: Turn on Creator Mode to highlight your content and make your profile follow-focused.

Featured Section: Use this section to showcase your best posts, articles, or achievements.

Polls: Create polls to encourage engagement and gather insights from your audience.

LinkedIn Articles: Write in-depth articles to establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche.

7. Be Consistent and Patient

Growing your LinkedIn followers doesn’t happen overnight. It requires consistent effort, patience, and authenticity.

Tips to stay consistent:

Set aside time each week to post, comment, and connect.

Track your progress using LinkedIn analytics to see which types of content perform best.

Celebrate milestones, like reaching 100 followers, to stay motivated.

8. Avoid Common Mistakes

To maintain a professional image and grow a quality audience, steer clear of these LinkedIn mistakes:

Spamming connections with requests or messages.

Posting irrelevant or overly personal content.

Neglecting to respond to comments or messages.

Using automation tools to send bulk connection requests.

Conclusion: Build Your LinkedIn Following with Purpose

LinkedIn is a platform where relationships matter more than numbers. By optimizing your profile, sharing valuable content, engaging authentically, and staying consistent, you’ll not only gain followers but also build a meaningful network that supports your career goals.

Start small, focus on quality over quantity, and remember: each follower is a connection to a potential opportunity.