LinkedIn™ Follower Building in 2025:  Proven Growth Tactics

Are LinkedIn™ followers still important in 2025? The short answer: Absolutely. But building a meaningful follower base requires more than just chasing numbers. In this blog post, I’ll share actionable insights from a detailed video guide on how to grow your followers, amplify your reach, and make LinkedIn™ work for you—whether you’re a corporate influencer, a thought leader, or a social seller.

Why Followers Still Matter on LinkedIn™

Some experts claim followers are irrelevant, but the truth is, they play a pivotal role in LinkedIn™ success. More followers translate to greater visibility, higher reach, and perhaps most importantly, social proof. A high follower count sends a clear message: you’re someone worth listening to. Whether you’re connecting with leads or establishing thought leadership, followers matter.

But there’s more: Your follower list is a treasure trove of opportunities. LinkedIn™ distinguishes between “connections” and “followers.” Connections are mutual; followers can be one-sided. By leveraging this difference, you can uncover warm leads—people already interested in your content—and convert them into meaningful connections.

Three Tactics to Build Your LinkedIn™ Followers

1. Make “Follow” Your Primary Profile Action

One of the most overlooked ways to grow followers is configuring your profile to prioritize the “Follow” button over the default “Connect” button. Why? It encourages people to follow you rather than send connection requests, ensuring your direct connections remain targeted while still expanding your follower base.

Here’s how to switch your primary profile action:

• Go to Settings & Privacy.
• Navigate to Visibility and select Followers.
• Toggle on the “Make Follow Primary” option.

This adjustment won’t increase profile visits, but it will improve your follow rate. Plus, since LinkedIn™ limits direct connections to 30,000, prioritizing followers ensures you won’t hit this ceiling prematurely.

2. Leverage External Channels

Your LinkedIn™ growth doesn’t stop at the platform. Use other channels—your website, email signature, and social media profiles—to direct traffic to your LinkedIn™ profile. For example:

• Include a LinkedIn™ Follow link in your email signature.
• Add social media icons (or a smart link) to your website.
• Use LinkedIn’s premium feature to generate direct follow links, ideal for newsletters or campaigns.

Avoid clutter. Instead of cramming multiple icons into your signature, focus on a single, clear banner with your LinkedIn™ link.

3. Be Consistently Active

Consistent engagement is the lifeblood of LinkedIn™ growth. Regular posting is ideal, but if time is limited, aim for at least two posts per week. High-engagement posts can extend your reach beyond your immediate network, attracting new followers organically.

Not a prolific poster? Focus on thoughtful commenting. Engaging with popular posts in your niche can put you in front of large audiences. Forget generic “Great post!” replies. Instead, craft comments that add value, such as mini insights or expert opinions. Quality always beats quantity.

Shortcuts to Avoid

Buying followers might seem tempting, but it’s a bad idea. Fake followers harm your credibility and can even decrease your reach due to LinkedIn’s algorithms. Focus on attracting genuine followers who are interested in your expertise. Authentic engagement is the only sustainable strategy.

Summing It Up: Sustainable Follower Growth

To recap:

1. Make “Follow” your primary action to attract followers.
2. Promote your LinkedIn™ profile through external channels.
3. Stay consistently active by posting and commenting.

Additional Best Practices for Growing Your LinkedIn™ Followers

• Optimize Your Profile for Search: Incorporate relevant keywords in your headline and summary to increase visibility in LinkedIn™ search results. Highlight your unique value proposition and showcase expertise with media like videos or presentations.
• Leverage LinkedIn’s Algorithm: Create evergreen content that stays relevant over time. Prioritize quality over virality, focusing on posts that encourage meaningful engagement and discussion.
• Analyze Performance Metrics: Regularly review analytics like follower growth, engagement rates, and profile views to refine your content strategy.
• Embrace Visual Content: Use high-quality images and videos to capture attention. Experiment with content formats like documents or presentations to offer value and stand out.
• Collaborate Strategically: Engage with influencers by sharing and commenting on their posts. Host or join LinkedIn™ Live sessions to increase visibility and connect with a broader audience.
• Run Contests and Giveaways: Offer industry-relevant prizes to attract followers. Promote the contest on your other channels to maximize participation.
• Stay Updated on Trends: Follow LinkedIn™’s official blog and industry experts to keep up with new features and algorithm updates. This ensures your strategy aligns with the latest platform changes.
• Promote Employee Advocacy: Encourage your team to share company updates and your content on their profiles. Coordinate efforts with an internal content calendar to maximize reach.

Growing your LinkedIn™ audience isn’t about instant gratification. It’s about building a loyal, engaged network that amplifies your content and strengthens your brand. Ready to dive deeper? Watch the video for a step-by-step walkthrough and start building your follower base today!