The 8 steps I’d take to grow a personal brand from scratch
Read time: 5 minutes
In January 2024 I’d never posted on social media.
Today, my LinkedIn following is over 65,000 people.
And if you’re just starting out, I want to show you how you can do the same.
The journey started slowly. I knew that being more visible would be great for business, but I had no idea where to start.
I had all the typical fears:
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What value would I add?
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What would people think of me?
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How would I find the time to post?
Once I got over those fears and just started posting, the rest took care of itself. Slowly but surely:
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I grew in confidence
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My writing skill improved
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I developed a content strategy
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I started to get more engagement
I’ve now posted content every single day since July 2024. I’ve built an audience, but if I were to start all over again, this is what I would do in 8 simple steps:
8 simple steps to growing an audience on LinkedIn
1. Decide on your goals, audience and pillars
- Start by getting clear on why you’re doing this. Are you looking for leads, partnerships, a new job, or just to build credibility in your industry?
- Who do you want to reach? Whether it’s founders, hiring managers, clients, or someone else, your content should speak directly to them.
- What do you want to be known for? As I discussed in this article, pick 3–5 themes that reflect your skills, experience, interests and insights. These become your content pillars.
2. Update your profile
- Think of your LinkedIn profile as your personal landing page. It should be immediately obvious who you are, what you do, and how someone can work with you.
- From your banner and profile picture to your headline, About section and Featured posts — every part should help someone understand what you’re about. (More depth on this here).
3. Decide what topics to write about
- The aim is to provide value to your target audience. Understand what they care about and what matters to them, and create content that addresses those needs.
- Share what you know, what you’re learning, and what you’ve seen. That could be lessons learned, industry trends, personal stories, or insights from your own experience. Just make it meaningful, not filler.
4. Build a high-level strategy
- Consistency is key. That doesn’t mean you need to post every day, but you do need to show up regularly. Start with whatever feels manageable, even if it’s once or twice a week.
- Pick a time that fits your schedule, and build a simple system around it. Try out a few different times to see what works. A content calendar and a bit of accountability from others can make a big difference.
5. Choose your formats
- Think about the mix of posts you'll deliver, and the kind of content you enjoy creating: personal stories, education, reflections, tips, visuals, videos etc.
- Play to your strengths. Some people love writing. Others prefer video, carousels or text posts. Find what works for you and lean into it.
6. Learn how to write online
- You don’t need to be a pro, but I found that learning a few basic principles helps a lot. A strong hook gets attention. Short paragraphs and white space make posts easier to read. A clear call to action (CTA) gives people something to do after reading.
- The more you post, the more your writing improves, but having a rough structure or framework definitely helps when you’re posting regularly.
7. Understand how the platform works
- LinkedIn has its own rhythm. Some posts perform better than others, and there are reasons why.
- Learn from people who’ve done it; ask questions, watch what performs. This helps you avoid wasting time on things that don’t move the needle. If you're interested in coaching or done-for-you content, let me know.
8. Be consistent!
- This is the part most people struggle with. They post once or twice, don’t get much engagement, and stop.
- But growth takes time. For me, the biggest factor in building an audience has simply been showing up every day, even when I haven’t felt like it.
Hope that helps! Any questions? Hit reply and ask away :)
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: whenever you're ready, feel free to enquire about working together: Get guidance on how to be more visible and grow your brand. Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat!
