I’m LinkedIn Top Voice 2022
This is my story.
88 million users.
That’s how many users LinkedIn has in India, making it the second-largest user hub after the U.S.A.
This morning, I got to know I’m one of the Top Voices in the Next Gen category of 11 people. This is how they mentioned me:
Let’s dive into what it is, how I think I got it and what content worked for me.
What Is It?
An excerpt from the article released explains:
“The 2022 LinkedIn Top Voices: Next Gen list highlights 11 creators in India covering how to succeed in the next generation of jobs.
As the world of work continues to evolve, Gen Zers are paving the way for the next generation of jobs. These digital natives are more mindful of the career path they are choosing from the start, taking time to figure out who they are, pursuing, sometimes even inventing, offbeat professions.
With the pandemic changing the way we work, young professionals are most eager to adapt to the new normal, increasingly seeking out remote work options.”
So the eleven people mentioned are the most influential in this space.
When I saw my name, imposter syndrome kicked in pretty hard.
Why me?
According to the team, my content resonates with people and brings in engagement.
Why I Write on LinkedIn
I wasn’t inclined towards LinkedIn when I started off.
I was in my 9–5 and was skittish about what to post. So I stuck with the safe stuff:
- mindfulness
- productivity
- health
This wouldn’t hurt my employer and resonated with people, too.
Soon, my content took off.
My first viral (1 million views+) post was the one where I spoke about quitting my job.
And that's when I realised the power of this platform.
Benefits of Writing on LinkedIn
Here’s why I think we should all write on LinkedIn, especially if you want to
- create a personal brand
- attract leads or clients
- come across as a thought leader
But also if
- you have knowledge and experiences that can help others
Either way, it’s a thriving content platform which has something for everybody.
Since people don’t have to follow you or connect with you to view your content, the reach is expeditious and organic.
What Did I Do to Grow?
I had roughly 2500 followers in February 2021 and 29,500+ at the end of May 2022.
Here’s what I do to keep the momentum going.
Personal
As a reader, I don’t want to know that you took a cold shower. Everybody knows about their benefits.
I want to know
- why you did it
- your challenges
- how you overcame them
- how is this helping you
So as a writer, I add a big personal story element to my writing.
If you’re scared of posting because you feel your content isn’t unique, this makes your content unique (you-nique, maybe?).
Easy to read
Some of my readers may read during breaks and commutes, and not always on their laptops.
I want them to read my content till the end, so I make it easy for them to read it by:
- formatting: adequate white spaces, crisp sentences.
- simplicity: don’t be extra or fancy, be simple.
- language: casual tone works for me.
Engaging
I comment on people’s posts. This way, there’s a higher probability they notice me and that their audience does too.
I also reply to all my comments (unless the post is going bonkers with hundreds of them) so my readers feel appreciated.
Engaging shouldn’t be a stressful thing. Interesting conversations are the fun part of all platforms!
And that's how you learn from others and get content ideas sometimes.
Annoyingly honest
Be honest instead of being ideal.
Now I can afford to do this because I don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder.
Earlier, I was playing it safe and couldn’t put out bold opinions.
I obviously couldn’t share my perspectives on how screwed up I find the corporate sector or the 8-hour workday to be.
When you’re honest, people resonate with you.
I believe my first LinkedIn post was viral because it put out the hidden desires of others. People wish they could quit their jobs too, but not everyone can. So they wished me luck.
Be honest instead of being ideal.
Bonus tips for you
- Engage early on, don’t be alone.
- Don’t worry about your niche, just start.
- Take your stats as feedback.
- Work more on the first 3 lines. Make them catchy.
If I Had to Do It All Over Again, I’d Change This
But because I can’t go back in time, I hope you can gain from this.
I wish I was less timid from early on. I wish I was more confident in my views without thinking about others judging me.
Because others don’t think of you.
Also, we overestimate the word ‘impact’ when we have such platforms and underestimate our capability to make an impact.
Share your life stories. Talk about your childhood. Talk about whatever impacted you, because it can impact others too.
And don’t reply to any message that only says ‘hi’, it’s a waste of time.
I hope this helps you kick-start and elevate your LinkedIn journey. All the best!
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