LinkedIn influencers have emerged as important players in the professional networking world, offering tons of value to both individuals and businesses – both small and large corps. With their expertise, industry knowledge, and significant reach in 2023 (and for the last 10 years!), LinkedIn influencers play a pivotal role in shaping trends, driving engagement, and fostering valuable connections within the platform’s professional community.
Before we dive into how to find the right LinkedIn influencer, it is important to understand why you need one. Here are 4 elements of value that each LI influencer can bring any business:
Thought Leadership and Expertise: LinkedIn influencers possess deep knowledge and expertise in their respective fields, positioning them as thought leaders. Through their posts, articles, and comments, they share valuable insights, industry trends, and practical advice. Their content helps professionals stay informed, gain new perspectives, and enhance their knowledge and skills. Engaging with influencers’ content can lead to personal growth, professional development, and expanded networks.
Network Expansion: One of the primary benefits of LinkedIn influencers is their ability to expand networks. By following and engaging with influencers, individuals can connect with like-minded professionals, thought leaders, and potential mentors or collaborators. These connections can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships, and career advancements. LinkedIn influencers often have extensive networks, and being part of their sphere of influence can open doors to valuable connections that might otherwise be challenging to establish.
Visibility and Brand Building: For businesses, collaborating with LinkedIn influencers can significantly enhance their visibility and brand building efforts. When an influencer mentions or endorses a brand, it can introduce the business to a wider audience, increase credibility, and generate leads. The association with reputable influencers can enhance a brand’s reputation and attract the attention of potential customers or clients. By leveraging the expertise and reach of influencers, businesses can amplify their brand messaging, drive engagement, and establish themselves as industry leaders.
Engagement and Content Amplification: LinkedIn influencers often have a highly engaged audience that actively interacts with their content. When influencers share or engage with a brand’s content, it can result in increased visibility, reach, and engagement for that content. Influencers can help amplify a brand’s message, spark conversations, and encourage discussions within the LinkedIn community. This increased engagement can lead to improved brand recognition, increased website traffic, and ultimately, business growth.
How to find the right LinkedIn influencer in 2023:
- Define your target audience: Determine the industry, niche, or area of expertise that you are interested in. Having a clear understanding of your target audience will help you find relevant influencers.
- Use LinkedIn’s search feature: LinkedIn has a search feature that allows you to search for people, companies, and content. Enter relevant keywords related to your industry or niche in the search bar at the top of the LinkedIn homepage.
- Filter the search results: After performing a search, you can apply filters to narrow down the results. Look for the “People” filter on the search results page and use it to filter the results based on criteria such as location, connections, current companies, etc.
- Evaluate profiles: Review the profiles of the individuals that appear in your search results. Look for indicators that suggest they are influential, such as the number of connections, endorsements, recommendations, and engagement on their posts.
- Explore LinkedIn Pulse: LinkedIn Pulse is LinkedIn’s content publishing platform, where influencers and professionals share articles and insights. Visit the Pulse section on LinkedIn and search for topics related to your industry. Pay attention to articles that have gained significant engagement and are authored by well-known individuals.
- Follow hashtags and groups: LinkedIn allows you to follow hashtags and join groups related to your industry. By following popular hashtags or being a member of relevant groups, you can discover influencers who actively participate in discussions and share valuable content.
- Engage with content: Once you’ve identified potential influencers, engage with their content by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. This can help you build a relationship with them and get noticed.
- Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator: LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a premium tool that provides advanced search and filtering options, as well as additional features for finding and engaging with influencers. Consider using it if you want more targeted results.
Remember that the term “influencer” can vary depending on your industry and goals! Influencers can be social profiles with large networks, subject matter experts, thought leaders, or industry professionals with a strong online presence. It’s important to define what you consider an influencer based on your specific needs.
How about an example? Sure thing:
Let’s say you’re interested in finding LinkedIn influencers in the digital marketing industry. Here’s an example of how you could use the steps mentioned earlier:
- Define your target audience: In this case, your target audience would be professionals in the digital marketing industry.
- Use LinkedIn’s search feature: Go to the LinkedIn homepage and enter “digital marketing” in the search bar.
- Filter the search results: Click on the “People” filter to see individuals who are relevant to the digital marketing industry.
- Evaluate profiles: Look for profiles that have a significant number of connections, endorsements, and recommendations. Pay attention to individuals who have authored articles, engaged in discussions, and have high levels of activity on their profiles.
- Explore LinkedIn Pulse: Visit the Pulse section on LinkedIn and search for topics such as “digital marketing.” Look for articles with high engagement that are written by recognized experts in the field.
- Follow hashtags and groups: Follow hashtags like #DigitalMarketing, #SocialMediaMarketing, and #SEO to discover influencers who actively participate in discussions. Join groups like “Digital Marketing Professionals” or “Online Advertising Experts” to find industry influencers.
- Engage with content: Like, comment, and share the posts and articles from the influencers you’ve identified. Provide thoughtful insights and contribute to the discussions to establish connections.
- Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator (optional): If you want to further refine your search and access additional features, consider using LinkedIn Sales Navigator. It can provide more advanced search options, including filtering by job titles, seniority, and company size.
Remember that finding LI influencers is an ongoing process, and it’s important to continuously engage with their content and expand your network. Building relationships with influencers takes time, so be patient and consistent in your efforts.