Authority on LinkedIn does not look or sound like it used to be earlier! If you have spent some time on LinkedIn recently, you may have noticed this shift, too!
It no longer revolved around stiff bios, an array of certifications, or perfectly drafted posts laced with corporate jargon. Today, the people who are getting noticed and trusted are the ones who are showing their human side more.
If you are trying to grow your credibility or even just be taken seriously in your niche, you need to tune in to this new aesthetic of authority.
Earn People’s Trust
There was a time when everyone’s LinkedIn headline looked like a resume line. However, those days are now fading away. These days, the people leading the conversations are the ones who lean into their voice rather than their company.
You do not need to perform expertise anymore but show it. That means it helps more to talk like a real person. Share ideas that are not pulled from past trend reports, or employ a robotic tone in your content. One must be brave enough to have a perspective and share it- even when you think there will be counterarguments to it or even criticism.
Authority in today’s times is conversational and relatable. Your interaction must reflect your insightfulness without being overly cautious about refinement.
Share Valuable and Relatable Content
If you have ever copied someone else’s content style because it worked for them, you may have felt that it did not work for you the way it did for them. The reason is that people on LinkedIn can easily determine if you are sharing borrowed thoughts or your own.
The kind of posts that feel like they are designed on borrowed thoughts, do not earn you trust. People tend to scroll past such content easily.
Instead, authority is earned when you talk about hard things- what did not work, what surprised you, what you are still figuring out. Posts that sound too robotic or generic are not as effective as the kind that feel like conversations you would have with a friend.
Also, let’s not ignore SEO in all of this. When you write for LinkedIn, think about the impact your content will have and how you can make it discoverable. Be subtle while incorporating SEO, but do not forget the context.
Focus on Engagement for Authority
When it comes to engagement metrics, views are mostly regarded as a vanity metric. Comments and conversations, however, are what help establish trust. If no one responds or replies, it may be because you are broadcasting your content instead of connecting.
That said, if you want to do well on LinkedIn, do not focus too much on impressions. Rather, work on creating and inviting reactions. And this means engaging on your posts as well as on others’ posts. Comment on other people’s insights and opinions. Ask questions and also share their wins.
Engagement on LinkedIn takes time, but if you consider the long-term perspective, it will help build trust.
Focus on Growth and Performance
Having a large audience does not make someone an authority. However, it does get you exposure quickly. There is a reason some creators use services to boost their numbers- not just on LinkedIn but also on platforms like Spotify or YouTube through platforms like JayNike.
Whether you agree with it or not, there is an unspoken game in play here. Big numbers tend to draw attention, but if the substance you offer does not match the metrics, the illusion will shatter pretty quickly.
So, if you plan to use any growth tools, use them strategically and not as a substitute for credibility. Rather, consider them a way to expand your reach while building trust through your performance.
Final Thoughts
Visibility is easy to get, but authority is not.
The new aesthetic of authority on LinkedIn rewards consistency and personality. If you are afraid to post because it is not perfect, post anyway. Your best-performing content may not be the most refined- but it may be one that is most honest.
People are not necessarily looking for experts on LinkedIn. They are looking for people who have been where they are, who have figured a few things out, and who are generous enough to share it without sounding like the ultimate expert.
So, stop trying to look like an expert and just be one. This is how you gain authority in your niche.
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