Creating a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

This is an additional resource for Digital Marketing Therapy Podcast episode 288 with Alex Thoric. 

Are you a nonprofit leader or development professional feeling lost about “LinkedIn personal branding?” Do you wonder how it connects with your organization’s goals? You might have heard it’s vital, but still don’t know why.

Many people find personal branding mysterious, or even a chore. Building connections takes work, but that work pays off.

Table of Contents:

    Why LinkedIn Matters for Nonprofits

    Why is LinkedIn a go-to social media platform, especially for nonprofits interacting with other businesses? Because 80% of B2B sales happen through LinkedIn.

    Think of LinkedIn as your digital business card. LinkedIn profile is how you connect with people professionally.

    Using LinkedIn to Build Relationships

    With a personal branding strategy, LinkedIn helps you connect, start conversations, and build a network. Stay active by liking LinkedIn posts and interacting on pages. This organic engagement can create more reach than just pushing out posts.

    Social media is intended to be social. That’s what sets this form of media apart.

    LinkedIn for B2B Networking

    LinkedIn is used in most B2B sales. The scale for opportunity ranges from high-level sales to smaller scales.

    Big organizations like the INC 500 have staff connecting on the platform. A single deal might net multiple millions of dollars.

    Personal connections and B2B pages can build on this. Having a personal side on the professional LinkedIn network helps a page gain more interactions.

    Creating your Personal Brand for LinkedIn Personal Branding

    Your personal brand is how you present yourself online, but it doesn’t mean sharing every life detail. Share skills, passions, and what makes you…well, you. Share hobbies, interests, and things you enjoy, like favorite books.

    You might find that many business connections share your love of 1960’s Batman. With personal branding, you give other LinkedIn users a way to connect at an emotional level.

    Content that Works on LinkedIn

    On feeds, you usually find image carousels, or standard written text posts. More and more, updates from LinkedIn show video takes priority in their reach. Use your discretion and check back frequently.

    Jump into comment sections of posts by possible connections and sponsors. Thought leaders comment. Having a conversation in these comment sections is free engagement.

    Comment Engagement on LinkedIn

    Commenting itself might become more impactful than just adding and making LinkedIn posts. You need two-way social engagement.

    It creates genuine interaction beyond likes. Make sure you engage with people and don’t just wait for them to come to you.

    Supporting Employees and Company Connections

    A nonprofit leader should make their own “LinkedIn personal branding” a priority. These leaders are much less likely to move to another org.

    They built up this connection network. Even with staff turnover, connections often tie to your brand.

    Bridging Connections to your Nonprofit’s Page

    Create easy invites in a LinkedIn Management platform. Staff can use this to promote engagement.

    Create easier ways to build relationships as staff leaves or joins. Staff using the professional side of LinkedIn can connect easily with the more person friendly profile side of an organization’s employees.

    Keep information organized in your nonprofit’s database.

    Social Media Policies in your LinkedIn strategy

    Have a clear document with steps for social media strategies and policy. You’d want this policy for staff and leaders.

    Strategy Item Follow Up Action
    New LinkedIn Connection is made. Company has guidelines for the approach.
    Message Sent from New Connection Org database keeps a copy of what information staff share, and also shares to others.
    Content Strategy Plan Follow brand voice guidelines and best approaches.

    Making your LinkedIn Content Action Plan

    There’s two choices to make content. Podcasts are a good choice, because it’s easy to make short-form video clips and transcriptions.

    The second way is creating content ahead of time. This bulk creation gives choice on content.

    Have writing match branding in readable steps for connection building. If people feel like they “know you,” it increases conversion odds.

    Bulk Content and Tech Tools for Assistance

    AI is a great tech tool. Many AI software can follow directions and do what your nonprofit wants.

    Be very detailed for better content results. Marketing can reach greater levels with AI.

    This helps get more success than older ways.

    Use Multiple Methods and Platforms

    Try personal branding and strategies with LinkedIn to connect in other areas. Try posting to news feeds or creating blog posts on other channels.

    Google research found that clients need 7 hours of brand engagement, spanning multiple touchpoints. The brand message that helps increase conversion with people, required connecting through at least 4 platforms.

    That study shows why various tools can help. Try things out to see how to best make your personal brand helps get attention.

    Direct Messaging in LinkedIn

    Two ways exist to try LinkedIn Direct Messaging for connection building. The more work-intensive choice is done manually with engagement strategies. Start off connecting without notes unless interacting in another manner.

    If you just make blind connections, leave initial introduction notes empty. After connecting, a more tailored “Thank You” with introduction comes into the gameplan.

    These introductions need custom detailing, with company introduction, for a good experience. You should always make sure you address their pain points when applicable.

    Direct Messaging in LinkedIn With Automation

    Automate direct message reach. There are many methods for engagement staff use.

    They range in techniques and strategy. Using multiple tech platforms in many channels, and connecting it back with people on LinkedIn, better manages relationships and outreach.

    Have multiple methods of reaching connections and followers. Use emails or DMs to give that multi-channel experience for brand and professional recognition.

    FAQs about LinkedIn personal branding

    How to do personal branding on LinkedIn?

    Share information, updates, professional highlights, and details showcasing know-how. This involves creating a summary of career experience and sharing content for professional development.

    Posting and creating dialogue with relatable people gets connections. Your banner image also needs to quickly convey who you are.

    Your profile picture is the first thing people frequently see, make it a good one.

    What are the 5 C’s of personal branding?

    The 5 C’s can stand for many things. Some refer to: Clarity, Content, Consistency, Communication, and Community.

    Others define it in other ways, even adding Connection. You need these 5 to succeed no matter what “C word” links to the plan.

    What are the 4 P’s of personal branding?

    Like the 5 C’s there are many opinions. Some point to these Ps: Plan, Prioritize, Personality, and Position.

    Why use LinkedIn for personal branding?

    LinkedIn has the network power to connect with millions globally, like a B2B method. Creating content is a great place to grow your audience. That ability connects on many paths for building recognition in your field.

    It also opens you up to more career opportunities that may not have found you otherwise.

    Conclusion

    Start looking at your LinkedIn and professional networks in how you approach “LinkedIn personal branding”. Focus on short-form content, like videos, as LinkedIn recommends.

    That aligns with platform priorities. Consider how Sales Navigator plays in, but it’s optional.

    Your outreach through LinkedIn increases engagement. That level of engagement from “LinkedIn personal branding” creates conversion rates your business or nonprofits seeks. Make sure your digital marketing and web strategies consider these points.

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