How to Get More Followers on LinkedIn — Exactly What I Did to Get to 22K

Let me just put it out there: there has never been a better time to become a LinkedIn creator, even if you're starting completely from scratch.

LinkedIn has over a billion users, but far fewer are actively creating. That means less competition for attention on the LinkedIn feed, and plenty of opportunity to increase your followers on LinkedIn organically, with no paid ads, no follower-buying, no growth-hacks-of-the-week.

I can personally attest to the power of focusing your creative efforts on LinkedIn. I've been posting consistently on LinkedIn for about six years now, and it's helped me grow to over 22K followers, which has opened up doors I didn't expect when I first hit publish. Increasing my LinkedIn following has helped me build credibility and get me into rooms I wouldn't otherwise have been invited into.

And here's the part that took me a while to believe: you don't need millions of followers, and you don't need to be the world's foremost expert. You just need to show up, share what you're learning, and build genuine connections.

So, if you have always dreamed of being a creator or influencer, or you're looking to build a LinkedIn presence in the hope of fast-tracking your career, you're in the right place.

Short answer: There's no secret. You optimise your profile, post consistently about a clear set of topics, engage genuinely with people in your niche, and use LinkedIn's native features (Live, newsletters, polls) to multiply your reach. The rest of this article is the longer version, including what I actually did, what the data backs up, and where most people get stuck.

Key takeaways

• Posting two to five times per week is the sweet spot for LinkedIn growth, based on Buffer's analysis of over a million posts.
• Replying to comments on your LinkedIn posts boosts engagement by 30% (Buffer research).
• Carousel posts outperform other formats on LinkedIn on average, but mixing formats helps you learn what actually resonates with your audience.
• The best window to post on LinkedIn is afternoons and evenings.
• Consistency, niche clarity, and genuine engagement compound far faster than chasing a follower count.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile

Before you start posting, you'll want to optimize your profile. It's how you show up on LinkedIn and helps the right people find you.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your LinkedIn profile:

1. Craft a compelling headline

Your LinkedIn headline shows up everywhere your name does: in feed bylines, on hover cards, in search results. Treat it as the one line of copy that has to do the most work.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Share your value: Don't just list a job title; explain the problem you solve.
• Use keywords: Include terms your target audience searches for.

⚡ Pro tip: Think of your headline like a search bar entry. What would your ideal client or follower type into a LinkedIn search? Those words should appear in your headline.

2. Write a helpful and detailed profile summary

Your profile summary is where you can share more about your experiences, expertise, and interests. It's also a space to share your personal or business vision. Use it to tell the story of your career journey and why someone should follow you or engage with your content. You can also add a call-to-action here.

3. Make it easy to follow you

You want a Follow button on your profile and in your posts, so switch your primary profile action to Follow. Even though LinkedIn removed the old creator mode toggle, you can still change your profile's primary button from Connect to Follow.

⚡ Pro tip: Add a LinkedIn button to your website, blog, or newsletter, and pop your profile link into your email signature or other social bios.

4. Use LinkedIn's Featured section

LinkedIn's Featured section is a space to showcase your most popular and engaging content. This could include articles, videos, presentations, or any other content that highlights your expertise and value. It's the first thing people see after your headline, so make it count.

Your LinkedIn profile isn't a set-it-and-forget-it thing. Regularly update your profile with new experiences, skills, and achievements, and engage with relevant content and connections to continue building your network.

Create content that resonates with your audience

Creating engaging content on LinkedIn is a powerful (and pretty much the only) way to establish your authority and grow your network and follower count.

The reason your LinkedIn feed keeps you engaged is that it only recommends the people you're likely to engage with, thanks to the ever-present LinkedIn algorithm.

Here are the strategies I'd lean on to create follower-friendly content on LinkedIn.

1. Work with the LinkedIn algorithm, not against it

Getting to know your audience is where everything starts — what are they interested in? What challenges are they facing? What are their interests, concerns, and goals? Which of these things can you speak to on LinkedIn? This information will guide you in creating content that resonates with them.

2. Niche down on 3–5 topics you can talk about with authority

The LinkedIn algorithm tends to show your content to people who engage with similar topics and creators, which is why being clear about your niche helps the right people find you. If you're stuck, picture the podcast you'd actually get invited on. What would the host want you to talk about?

The narrower you can get, the better. "Marketing" is too broad. "B2B SaaS marketing for early-stage founders" is a niche people will follow you for.

3. Know your audience

Getting to know your audience is where everything starts: what are they interested in, what challenges are they facing, what are their interests, concerns, and goals? Which of these things can you speak to on LinkedIn? This information will guide you in creating content that resonates with them.

4. Come up with engaging content hooks

The hook is the first thing your audience sees, so make it count. Your hooks need to grab attention, make people want to click 'see more' and, ideally, hit that Follow button while they're at it.

⚡Pro tip: If hooks aren't your thing, Buffer's AI Assistant can suggest variations on any post you draft. Get it for free →

5. Post consistently

Showing up regularly on LinkedIn compounds. Every post adds to the body of work people see when they hit your profile. Buffer's in-depth analysis found that posting two to five times weekly on LinkedIn is the sweet spot for improving reach and engagement without overwhelming your schedule.

We analyzed over one million posts and found that late afternoon and evening hours (3 p.m.to 8 p.m.) now drive the highest engagement on LinkedIn.

If you need a little help staying on track, Buffer's streak tracker is the part I keep using. Watching a number climb may seem a bit silly, but it works for me. Free to try. Get started here.

6. Use various content types

LinkedIn supports a handful of content types, each with its own benefits. Here's a quick breakdown of what each LinkedIn format tends to do best, based on Buffer's analysis of posts across thousands of accounts.

The point isn't to use every format every week. Experiment with these different formats to see what resonates most with your audience. The type of content you post matters: our research found that carousel posts (also known as PDF carousels) perform better than any other format.

7. Share content with real-world value

Your content should provide value to your audience. This could be educational content, industry insights, professional milestones, or thought leadership pieces. Your audience shouldn’t have to leave LinkedIn to get the full story either, so incorporate zero-click content into your strategy.

8. Promote your profile off-platform

Share your LinkedIn URL in your email signature, add a Follow button to your website, and mention your profile on other social channels. Every place your name lives is a potential funnel back to your profile. Your email signature alone can do quiet work for years.

9. Keep an eye on your analytics

Your analytics are essentially market research. They tell you exactly what your audience wants. Analytics informed much of my experiment publishing AI content on LinkedIn for a week.

At least once a week, check your analytics for these metrics:

• Engagement: Which posts got the most reactions, comments, and reshares? What topics and formats were they?
• Impressions: Which posts had the highest reach? What hooks did they use?
• Audience match: Who did your posts reach? Was it the kind of person you actually want to connect with?
• Follower bumps: Which post gave you a noticeable spike in new followers?

Let your audience tell you what they want, then give them more of it.

Engage and network with your connections

If you want to build real relationships and get noticed on LinkedIn, you need to engage and network. It's how you build trust and credibility in your space, and it's where most of the organic growth actually happens.

Here are some strategies to boost your engagement and networking efforts on the platform.

1. Start conversations with your audience

Set aside time to respond to every comment and DM that comes in on your posts. Our research found that replying to comments on LinkedIn boosts engagement by 30%, and the algorithm reads those replies as a strong signal that your post is sparking actual conversation. It's the single highest-leverage 20 minutes you can spend after publishing.

2. Connect with industry influencers

Identify and connect with influencers in your field. Engage with their content thoughtfully and frequently to increase their awareness of you and potentially lead to collaborations or endorsements down the line.

Then, consider sending connection requests with personalized messages to build a rapport. That personal touch makes a difference: people are way more likely to accept (and actually engage with you) when your message feels genuine.

3. Collaborate with other creators

Collaboration can be a powerful tool for growth. Partner with other creators on content projects, webinars, or live discussions.

4. Follow with intention

Curate your feed by following people and companies in your niche. A focused feed helps the algorithm surface relevant conversations, making it easier for you to chime in and get noticed by the right audience.

Use LinkedIn features to boost your growth

LinkedIn Live, newsletters, and polls are three native features that boost organic reach because the algorithm prioritises content created with platform-native tools.

Here's how to make the most of each one.

1. LinkedIn Live and events

Take advantage of LinkedIn Live and events to engage with your audience in real time. Live videos often see higher engagement rates than pre-recorded ones. Hosting events can also position you as a thought leader and help you connect with followers through more interactive and personal experiences.

For example, creator Jayde I Powell hosts live "Creator Tea Talks" like this one, where she invite her audience to ask her anything.

2. Newsletters

LinkedIn's newsletter feature lets you publish regular content that your followers can subscribe to. It's an excellent way to stay top of mind with your audience and provide consistent value through in-depth articles and updates. It can also help with discoverability by improving your SEO, because search engines frequently pick up long-form LinkedIn articles.

3. LinkedIn Polls

Create polls to engage with your audience and gather insights. Polls can be a great way to start conversations and learn more about your followers' preferences and opinions.

Increase your LinkedIn followers, starting today

Like any social platform, what works on LinkedIn is different for everyone. These strategies are a great starting point, but you'll want to experiment and see what clicks with your audience.

As you post content and continue to grow your LinkedIn presence, remember that every connection you make and every conversation you join brings you one step closer to your goals.

The thing nobody tells you when you start: you don't need millions of followers to make this worth it. You don't need to be the world's foremost expert. You just need to show up, share what you're learning, and build genuine connections. Using a social media management tool like Buffer can help you do exactly that. Try it for free.

FAQ on how to increase LinkedIn followers

How can I increase my LinkedIn followers organically?

The most effective organic way to increase LinkedIn followers is to optimize your profile first, then post consistently about a clear set of topics your audience actually cares about. Every strategy in this guide is organic: no paid ads, no follower-buying services, no shortcut tools.

Can I increase LinkedIn followers without paid ads or follower-buying sites?

Yes. Every tactic in this guide is organic and free to try. Follower-buying services and "free follower generators" tend to inflate your count with inactive accounts, which actually hurts your reach because the algorithm reads low engagement as a signal your content isn't worth showing. Real, durable growth comes from showing up consistently.

How long does it take to grow LinkedIn followers?

Most creators see meaningful momentum after months of consistent posting in a clear niche, with compounding growth after that. It took me about six years to get to 22K followers, but the curve isn't linear: the first thousand is the hardest, and growth tends to accelerate once you've built a back catalogue of posts and a recognisable point of view.

What's the LinkedIn algorithm looking for in 2026?

The LinkedIn algorithm in 2026 weighs four main signals: dwell time (how long people read your post), engagement in the first hour after publishing, comments and replies (worth more than likes), and topical consistency. Posts that hold attention, spark conversation, and stay in a clear niche tend to get the most reach. For a fuller breakdown, see our LinkedIn algorithm guide.

How often should I post on LinkedIn to gain followers?

Posting two to five times per week is the sweet spot. It’s enough to stay visible in the feed without burning out.

Does optimizing my LinkedIn profile help you get more followers?

Yes. LinkedIn profiles with complete information receive more views. A strong headline, helpful summary, and a clear Follow button make it easier for the right people to find and follow you.

What type of content increases LinkedIn followers fastest?

Content that educates, shares experience, or offers a fresh perspective tends to perform best. Posts with strong hooks, practical takeaways, and relatable lessons are more likely to earn engagement and new followers.

Is it better to post about one niche or many topics on LinkedIn?

A focused niche grows followers faster than mixing topics. LinkedIn's algorithm shows your content to people who engage with similar creators, so consistency in topic helps the right audience find you and stick around.

What's the difference between LinkedIn followers and connections?

Connections are mutual: both people accept the relationship. Followers can subscribe to your content without you accepting them. Switching your profile's primary action from Connect to Follow makes it easier to grow your follower count, because anyone can follow you without you needing to approve a request.

Does replying to comments help you gain LinkedIn followers?

Yes. Responding to comments can boost engagement by around 30%, which increases post visibility. More visibility means more profile visits and more chances for people to follow you.

Do LinkedIn newsletters help grow your followers?

They do. Newsletters make it easier to publish long-form content consistently and give people a reason to subscribe. They can also improve discoverability, as LinkedIn articles often appear in search results.

Should I use different content formats on LinkedIn?

Yes. Mixing text posts, carousels, videos, and polls keeps your content fresh and helps you learn what resonates most. Carousel posts perform slightly better on average, but variety is what helps you figure out where your audience actually engages.

Is LinkedIn still good for growing followers in 2026?

Absolutely. While LinkedIn has over a billion users, only a small percentage actively create content. That means less competition and more opportunity for new creators to grow.

Do you need a large following for LinkedIn to be worth it?

No. You don’t need millions of followers or a big job title. Showing up consistently, sharing what you’re learning, and building genuine connections can create real opportunities, especially when supported by tools like Buffer that help you stay consistent and learn from your analytics.

More LinkedIn resources

• LinkedIn Marketing: The Complete Guide for Businesses and Creators
• Replying to Your Comments on LinkedIn Boosts Engagement by 30%
• I Started Over on LinkedIn After Deleting 7,000 Followers — and Grew Faster Than Before
• How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out: 30+ Tips
• I Reached 20,000 Followers on LinkedIn and I Feel Weird About It
• How to Schedule LinkedIn Posts (2 Easy Methods + Tips)