Every business owner wants that one marketing strategy that works every time. The silver bullet. The magic formula. The simple trick that means they can sit back and watch the likes, comments and cash roll in without effort. But that’s not how it works. The rules of LinkedIn keep changing, and what worked yesterday won’t work tomorrow. If you’re not trying new approaches, you’ll get left behind.
I more than quadrupled my LinkedIn following in 2024, growing from 7k to 30k by focusing on what makes me different, not what makes me the same.
The platform is loaded with opportunity for those brave enough to stand apart from the rest. Here’s how to do it.
Win the LinkedIn game: strategies to make your profile unforgettable
Create a brutal truth resume
If your LinkedIn headline and summary read like everyone else’s, you might blend into the background. Many profiles contain the same jargon and buzzwords that potential connections see dozens of times daily. This makes standing out nearly impossible.
Shock people with honesty that no one else would dare share. Switch your standard LinkedIn headline for something that shows your real journey. “Failed at 3 startups. Got fired once. Made millions anyway.” Or “Used to be terrible at sales. Now I teach Microsoft and Amazon how to sell.” This authenticity grabs attention amongst boring profiles.
Stop playing it safe with your professional story. Be the person who admits the struggles along with the wins. Show the real path you took, not the polished version everyone pretends happened. When you share your honest story, people who’ve faced similar challenges will instantly connect with you.
Claim your signature emoji
If your name sits in a feed without any visual distinction, it might get lost as people scroll through updates. Without something eye-catching, even great content can go unnoticed among hundreds of similar-looking posts.
Add a specific emoji next to your name that becomes part of your brand identity. Rachael “yes it’s my real name” Lemon uses a lemon. Other people have claimed their symbol. Become the person with the 🦩 or the 🚀 or the 🌵 that people instantly recognize without even reading your name. Once you pick it, use it everywhere.
Choose something that connects to your work, your personality, or your name. Use it in your headline, your posts, and your comments. Let it create instant recognition so when someone sees that emoji anywhere on LinkedIn, they immediately think of you. Simple visual identity beats endless words.
Own a specific word or phrase
When you try to highlight multiple areas of expertise, you make it hard for connections to remember what you do best. When you attempt to be everything to everyone, your message could become diluted and forgettable.
Pick one word or phrase and repeat it until you own it. Make it your signature term that becomes synonymous with your name. “Personal branding architect.” “The minimalist CEO.” “SaaS revenue catalyst.” Choose something that captures your unique approach and repeat it relentlessly.
Use this term in your headline, your about section, and occasionally in your content. Build every post around this concept until people can’t think of that term without thinking of you. The more specific and memorable, the better.
Break content conventions boldly
If your posts follow the same structure as everyone else’s, with similar formatting and topics, they are instantly forgettable. If you’re not remarkable, you’re invisible. Sharing templated sentences and bullet points means nothing stands out enough to make people stop scrolling.
Get crazy with your updates. Film a video upside down. Record content while walking your dog. Share a post with an opening line that makes people do a double-take. Break the rules that everyone else follows and watch your engagement soar when you stand out from the crowd.
Stop asking what’s professional enough and start asking what’s memorable enough. The crazier your approach, the more people will remember you. Not everyone will love it, but the right people will. Be happy to be Marmite. Make your content impossible to ignore.
Launch a public experiment
If your LinkedIn activity lacks a clear narrative thread, each post stands alone without building momentum. Without a sense of journey, people don’t have a reason to follow your updates or check back for more.
Announce a bold challenge and post updates as you go. “I’m posting every day for 30 days. Let’s see what happens.” Or “I’m testing AI for 100% of my content for a week. Good idea or disaster? Let’s find out.” The public commitment creates built-in accountability and narrative.
Turn your LinkedIn journey into a story people want to follow. Share what you learn, what surprises you, and how you adapt. Your connections become invested in your experiment’s outcome. They root for you, offer advice, and check back for updates.
Make your LinkedIn presence unforgettable: start standing out today
Stop unintentionally hiding on LinkedIn. Create a brutal truth resume that shocks people with its honesty. Claim your signature emoji. Own a specific word or phrase until it becomes synonymous with your name. Break content conventions with bold approaches that others won’t try. Launch a public experiment that turns followers into fans.
The pressure to fit in is keeping you invisible. Your unique perspective, personality and approach are your biggest assets on LinkedIn. Stop copying what everyone else does and start showing up as yourself.
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