I Spent Months (and $$$) Testing Growth Strategies—Here’s What Works on LinkedIn

I’ve spent the last 6 months knee-deep in LinkedIn, testing, posting, analyzing, investing thousands of dollars, and learning from the best in the game.

I followed the top creators. I tried all the tools. I tracked what works on LinkedIn (and what’s just hype).

If you want to skip the expensive learning curve, this post is for you.

Let’s dive into the highlights from my personal playbook 👇 LinkedIn Isn’t Just a Platform, It’s an Inbound Lead Engine

But only if you:

• Show up consistently

• Speak up authentically

• Stand out strategically
  

That means random posts whenever you feel inspired? Nope. That’s not enough.

The real game-changer?

Start with your WHY.

Before posting, commenting, or updating your headline, clarify your objectives.

What do you want to achieve on LinkedIn?

Choose Your Objective

Here are the 6 categories I see most professionals aiming for—and I’ve tested them all:

1. Authority & Thought Leadership

• Build authority in your industry

• Become known for your expertise

• Get podcast invites and panel gigs

• Contribute to LinkedIn articles or external publications

• Be seen as the go-to expert on your topic
  

2. Audience Growth & Visibility

• Grow your follower base (with people who actually engage)

• Increase visibility with decision-makers

• Expand reach with carousels, polls, and smart storytelling

• Create content that gets saved and shared

• Improve your Social Selling Index (SSI)
  

3. Lead Generation & Sales

• Attract inbound leads from dream clients

• Drive traffic to your offers, website, or funnel

• Promote your products, services, or coaching

• Grow your list with a freebie or lead magnet

• Book more discovery calls with aligned prospects
  

4. Networking & Relationship Building

• Build authentic relationships with collaborators and influencers

• Connect with your target audience

• Turn casual comments into real business conversations

• Reconnect with former coworkers or mentors
  

5. Career Growth & Opportunities

• Be seen by internal leadership

• Position yourself for a promotion

• Get noticed by recruiters

• Make a smooth pivot into a new role or industry
  

6. Content & Community Building

• Grow your newsletter subscriber list

• Launch a content series that keeps people coming back

• Build a values-aligned community

• Get honest feedback and support from peers
  

Learn from the Right People

Here are a few standouts I follow and recommend:

• Shanee Moret – Master of viral value. Her content delivers.

• Will McTighe – Smart strategies and a creator-first mindset. Plus, he's genuinely kind.

• Chris Donnelly – Breaks down the science of engagement. Legit pro.

• Jasmin Alić – A voice for authentic branding and the power of strategic commenting.
  

Tools That Are Actually Worth It

(Trust me—I’ve tried all the shiny ones.)

• SayWhat – AI ghostwriting that still sounds like you

• Taplio – Great for content scheduling and analytics

• AuthoredUp – High-converting templates = yes please

• ChatGPT + Custom Prompts – Still my secret sauce for ideas & outlines
  

Formats That Get Results

Want more reach? Focus on formats that actually convert:

• Text-only storytelling with killer hooks

• Actionable carousels

• Short-form listicles (3–5 points)

• Personal wins + lessons learned

• LinkedIn Lives (builds trust fast)

• Newsletters (best for nurturing)

• 60–90 sec video snippets (great for connection)
  

But Here’s the #1 Most Important Lesson:

Before you use a single tool, template, or trend...

Get clear on:

1. Who do you want to reach

2. Why are you showing up

3. What success looks like

4. How you’ll measure it

5. And honestly? Have FUN.
   

Because if it feels like a chore, you won’t stick with it.If it feels like play, you’ll keep going—and that’s when the magic happens.

Pro Tip: Your first 2–3 lines of any post?

They make or break your content. Hook fast or scroll on.

Success on LinkedIn isn’t about copying what works for someone else.

It’s about:

• Consistency

• Value

• Clarity

• Connection
  

Test what works for you. Show up for your people. Make it fun.

And if LinkedIn still feels like a grind? Hire someone who loves this stuff to help you.

Want a custom strategy to achieve your LinkedIn goals?👉 Let's connect!