How to Go From 0 to 10,000 LinkedIn Followers in 12 Months

10,000 LinkedIn followers feels impossible when you're starting from zero.

You see founders with massive audiences and think: "They probably started years ago" or "They must have some unfair advantage."

The truth? Most people who've built large LinkedIn audiences started recently. They don't have magic tricks or insider access. They have a system.

Growing from 0 to 10,000 engaged followers in 12 months is realistic if you:

• Post consistently (3-5x per week)
• Provide genuine value
• Engage authentically
• Execute strategically

This isn't a "10 weird tricks" guide. It's the realistic, month-by-month playbook for building a meaningful audience that actually helps your business.

No shortcuts. No hacks. Just the strategy that works.

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The Reality Check

Before diving in, let's set expectations.

What 10,000 Followers Actually Means

Not vanity metrics:
10,000 followers isn't the goal itself. It's a threshold where:

• You have real distribution (posts reach tens of thousands)
• Opportunities start finding you consistently
• You're recognized as a voice in your space
• Network effects accelerate your growth

Quality matters more than quantity:
10,000 engaged followers in your niche beats 50,000 random followers who don't care about your content.

The Math

Starting point: 0-500 followers (most founders)
Endpoint: 10,000+ engaged followers
Timeline: 12 months
Required growth: ~800 followers per month average

Reality of distribution:

• Months 1-3: Slow (100-200/month)
• Months 4-6: Accelerating (400-600/month)
• Months 7-9: Compounding (800-1,200/month)
• Months 10-12: Momentum (1,000-1,500/month)

Growth accelerates as your content library builds and algorithm trusts you.

What This Requires

Time commitment:

• 30-45 minutes per day (content creation + engagement)
• Non-negotiable consistency
• Long-term mindset (compound interest thinking)

Content output:

• 3-5 posts per week minimum
• ~150-200 posts over 12 months
• Multiple formats and topics

Engagement:

• Daily commenting on others' posts
• Responding to all your comments
• Building genuine relationships

Strategic thinking:

• Clear positioning
• Content that serves your audience
• Tracking and optimization

This is work. But it's work that compounds.

For complete LinkedIn strategy, see our Complete Guide to LinkedIn Personal Branding.

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Months 1-3: Foundation Building (0 to 1,000 Followers)

The first three months are the hardest. You're building from nothing. Progress feels slow. This is normal.

Month 1: Setup and First Posts (0 → 200 Followers)

Week 1: Foundation

Day 1-2: Profile Optimization

Your profile must be complete before you start posting:

Critical elements:

• Professional headshot (not a selfie, not a logo)
• Headline that communicates value (not just job title)
• About section telling your story
• Recent experience listed with impact stories
• Featured section with best content (add as you create)
• Custom LinkedIn URL

Headline formula:
"[What you do] for [who] | [Proof/credibility] | [Secondary value]"

Example: "Building AI tools for technical founders | 3 exits | Sharing lessons from 15 years building companies"

About section structure:

• Hook (surprising fact or bold statement)
• Your story (how you got here)
• What you do now
• How you help people
• Call to action (follow for X)

For headline details, see How to Write LinkedIn Headlines.

Day 3: Content Strategy

Define your positioning:

• What space do you own? (B2B SaaS growth, AI for healthcare, etc.)
• Who do you serve? (technical founders, enterprise sales leaders, etc.)
• What unique perspective do you bring? (operator experience, contrarian views, specific methodology)

Choose 3-5 content themes:

Example for SaaS founder:

1. Product development insights
2. Go-to-market tactics
3. Fundraising lessons
4. Team building
5. Industry trends

Day 4-5: Create first 5 posts

Using proven formats from 15 LinkedIn Post Formats:

• Post 1: Introduce yourself (who you are, what you'll share)
• Post 2: Share a lesson learned
• Post 3: Tell a specific story
• Post 4: Share tactical insight
• Post 5: Ask a question

Day 6-7: Schedule for Week 2

Load posts into LinkedIn scheduler:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 9am
• Or Tuesday, Thursday at 9am + one weekend post
• Consistency matters more than perfect timing

Week 2-4: Consistency + Initial Engagement

Daily routine (30 minutes):

Morning (15 minutes):

• Check if your scheduled post published
• Respond to any comments immediately
• Comment thoughtfully on 3-5 posts from your feed

Evening (15 minutes):

• Check post performance
• Respond to new comments
• Comment on 3-5 more posts

Weekly (30 minutes on weekend):

• Review week's performance
• Create next week's content (3-5 posts)
• Schedule for following week

Engagement strategy:

Don't just like posts. Add value in comments:

Bad comment: "Great post! 👍"

Good comment: "This resonates. We found [specific related experience]. Have you seen [thoughtful question or additional perspective]?"

Your comments should be good enough that others engage with them.

Connection strategy:

Send 5-10 connection requests daily to:

• People in your industry
• Potential customers/partners
• Other founders at similar stage
• People who engage with similar content

Personalize every request:
"Hi [Name], I've been following your content on [topic]. Really resonated with your post about [specific thing]. Would love to connect."

Month 1 Goals

By end of Month 1:

• 12-15 posts published
• 200-300 new followers
• Profile fully optimized
• Daily engagement habit established
• Clear sense of what content to create

Common Month 1 challenges:

"My posts are getting no engagement."
→ Normal. You have no algorithmic trust yet. Keep going.

"I don't know what to post about."
→ Use the content frameworks. Share what you're learning.

"This feels like shouting into void."
→ It is. For now. Months 2-3 change this.

Month 2: Finding Your Voice (200 → 500 Followers)

Content Evolution

Week 5-8 focus:

By now you've posted 12-15 times. You have data.

Analyze your posts:

• Which got most engagement?
• Which formats worked best?
• What topics resonated most?
• What time of day performed better?

Double down on what works:

• If stories outperformed lists, write more stories
• If tactical posts beat philosophical, go tactical
• If morning posts beat evening, post mornings

Your first "big" post:

Around Week 6-7, try a comprehensive post:

• A framework you've developed
• A detailed case study
• A contrarian take with full reasoning
• A thread (carousel) with substantial value

This post should be your best work so far. It often becomes your first "breakout" moment.

Engagement Strategy Evolution

The 10-10-10 rule:

Daily engagement routine:

• 10 thoughtful comments on others' posts
• 10 minutes responding to your own comments
• 10 connection requests with personalization

Strategic commenting:

Priority 1: Engage with peers (50% of comments)
People at similar follower counts in your space

• They're building too
• More likely to reciprocate
• Creates community

Priority 2: Engage with larger accounts (30% of comments)
People with 10K-50K followers

• Exposes you to their audience
• When they reply, their followers see you
• Be genuinely valuable, not clout-chasing

Priority 3: Engage with your audience (20% of comments)
People who consistently engage with your content

• Thank them
• Ask them questions
• Build relationships

The Reply Guy Strategy (used wisely):

Find 3-5 accounts slightly bigger than you posting similar content:

• Set notifications for their posts
• Be first to comment with value
• Their engaged audience sees you
• Some will click through and follow

Critical: Only do this where you genuinely add value. Don't be spammy.

Month 2 Goals

By end of Month 2:

• 28-30 total posts published
• 500-700 total followers
• First post with 50+ reactions
• 5-10 meaningful DM conversations started
• Clear pattern of what content works

Month 3: Building Momentum (500 → 1,000 Followers)

Content Sophistication

Week 9-12 evolution:

You now have 30+ posts. Time to level up.

Add new formats:

Carousel posts:
LinkedIn documents/PDFs that become swipeable

• Frameworks
• Step-by-step guides
• Lists with detail
• Case studies

Tools: Canva (free templates), Figma

Longer-form insights:
900-1,300 character posts with depth

• Deep dives on specific topics
• Detailed case studies
• Comprehensive frameworks

Personal stories:
Vulnerable, authentic stories about your journey

• Failures and lessons
• Behind-the-scenes struggles
• Character-defining moments

The Content Mix (Week 9-12):

• 40% Tactical/Educational (frameworks, how-tos)
• 30% Personal/Story (journey, lessons learned)
• 20% Industry insights (trends, observations)
• 10% Engagement (questions, polls)

The First Collaboration

Around Week 10-11, do your first content collaboration:

Find someone at similar stage:

• Similar follower count
• Complementary expertise (not competitor)
• Similar audience

Collaboration options:

Option 1: Tag collaboration
Create a post that genuinely references their work
Tag them thoughtfully
They often engage, exposing you to their audience

Option 2: Q&A exchange
Interview each other via DM
Each posts the insights
Both tag each other

Option 3: Joint framework
Create a framework together
Both post about it from different angles
Cross-promote

Month 3 Goals

By end of Month 3:

• 45-50 total posts published
• 1,000-1,200 total followers
• First post with 100+ reactions
• First carousel post published
• 2-3 collaborations completed
• Consistent 2-3% engagement rate

Month 3 reality check:

If you're at 800-1,000 followers after 3 months of consistent effort, you're on track. The next phase accelerates dramatically.

For content creation efficiency, see 30-Minute Content System.

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Months 4-6: Acceleration Phase (1,000 to 4,000 Followers)

The compound effect kicks in. Your content library is working for you. The algorithm trusts you. Growth accelerates.

Month 4: Doubling Down (1,000 → 1,800 Followers)

Strategic Content Focus

Your best-performing content types from Months 1-3:

Analyze your top 10 posts:

• What format? (story, framework, list, etc.)
• What topic? (which theme resonated most)
• What hook? (how did they start)
• What structure? (how were they organized)

Create more of what works:

• If tactical posts perform best, go 50% tactical
• If stories resonate, write more stories
• If contrarian takes drive engagement, lean into your unique perspective

The Pillar Content Strategy:

Create one comprehensive "pillar" post per week:

• 1,000-1,500 words
• Your best thinking on important topic
• Takes 60-90 minutes to create
• Designed to be saved and shared

Example pillar topics:

• "The Complete Framework for [Your Expertise Area]"
• "Everything I Learned About [Topic] After [Experience]"
• "The [Number] Mistakes Most People Make With [Topic]"

These posts become your "greatest hits" that continue driving followers months later.

Engagement Scaling

The Algorithm Boost:

At 1,000+ followers, LinkedIn's algorithm starts favoring you more:

• Your content gets shown to more non-followers
• Your engaged followers trigger wider distribution
• Each post has higher ceiling for reach

How to capitalize:

First-hour engagement is critical:

• Post when your audience is most active
• Respond to comments within 30 minutes
• Create conversation in comments (ask follow-ups)

The Comment Loop:

When someone comments:

1. Reply with value and a question
2. They reply again
3. You reply again
4. This back-and-forth signals high-value content to algorithm

Strategic profile optimization:

Update your Featured section weekly:

• Pin your best-performing post
• Showcase your best frameworks
• Include any media mentions or notable content

Month 5: Visibility Expansion (1,800 → 2,800 Followers)

Building Thought Leadership

The Authority Signals:

Original frameworks:
Create named frameworks people can reference

• "The [Your Name] Method for [Topic]"
• "The [Number] [Thing] Framework"

Data and research:
Share original analysis

• "I analyzed [number] [things]..."
• "After [time period] of [experience]..."

Contrarian positions:
Well-reasoned takes that challenge conventional wisdom

• "Everyone says X. Here's why Y works better..."
• "Unpopular opinion: [thoughtful contrarian take]"

Behind-the-scenes transparency:
Show what others don't

• Real numbers and metrics
• Honest failures and lessons
• Your actual process

The Cross-Platform Strategy

Repurpose your best LinkedIn content:

To Twitter:

• Condense LinkedIn posts into threads
• Share key insights as standalone tweets
• Link back to LinkedIn profile

To Newsletter:

• Expand on popular LinkedIn posts
• Combine related posts into deeper analysis
• Promote newsletter in LinkedIn posts

Benefits:

• Expands total reach
• Different audiences discover you
• LinkedIn posts promote other channels
• Other channels drive LinkedIn followers

Collaboration Scaling

Month 5-6 goal: 1-2 collaborations per week

Types:

Shared insights:
Quote or reference others' content thoughtfully
They often engage and share

Guest perspectives:
Ask thought leaders in your space questions via DM
Post their insights (with permission and tags)

Joint content:
Create resources together
Both promote to your audiences

Month 6: Breaking Through (2,800 → 4,000 Followers)

The Viral Post Strategy

By Month 6, you understand what resonates. Time to shoot for a viral moment.

Viral post formula:

Strong emotional trigger:
Surprise, validation, inspiration, or righteous anger

High shareability:
Makes people look smart/informed when they share

Perfect timing:
Commenting on trending topics in your industry

Simple structure:
Easy to read on mobile
Scannable with line breaks
Hook that stops scroll

For detailed viral mechanics, see Viral Tweet Anatomy.

How to engineer viral moments:

Pick your best insight from the month:

• The most surprising thing you learned
• The most counterintuitive observation
• The most valuable framework

Spend 2x your normal time crafting it:

• Perfect the hook
• Add concrete examples
• Include data/proof
• Make it quotable

Post at optimal time (Wednesday 9am typically best).

Engage heavily in first hour.

Reality check:
Not every attempt goes viral. That's fine. One viral post in Month 6 can add 1,000+ followers in a week.

Months 4-6 Goals

By end of Month 6:

• 90-100 total posts published
• 4,000-5,000 total followers
• Consistent 3-4% engagement rate
• First post with 200+ reactions
• Newsletter launched (500+ subscribers)
• 5-10 collaborations completed
• First "viral" post (100K+ impressions)

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Months 7-9: Compound Growth (4,000 to 7,500 Followers)

Network effects fully activate. Growth becomes easier, not harder.

Month 7-8: Authority Establishment (4,000 → 6,500 Followers)

Content as Authority Building

The shift:

Months 1-6: Proving you know your stuff
Months 7-9: Establishing yourself as THE voice

How:

Deep, original thinking:

• Comprehensive guides (2,000+ words)
• Original research or analysis
• Proprietary frameworks
• Predictions and forward-looking insights

External credibility:

• Guest posts on industry publications
• Podcast appearances
• Speaking at events
• Media quotes

Community building:

• Regular Q&A posts
• Respond to most DMs
• Feature others' content
• Build reciprocal relationships

Engagement at Scale

The challenge:

You now get 50-100 comments per post. You can't respond to everything.

The solution:

Prioritize responses:

Tier 1 (Always respond):

• Thoughtful, substantial comments
• Questions you can answer
• Comments from other creators you respect
• Anyone you're building relationship with

Tier 2 (Often respond):

• Interesting perspectives
• Comments with follow-up potential
• Recognition from new followers

Tier 3 (Like but don't respond):

• Simple agreement ("Great post!")
• Emoji reactions
• Brief comments with no follow-up

Tier 4 (Ignore):

• Spam
• Self-promotion
• Trolling

The rule: Respond within first 2 hours to Tier 1 & 2. Algorithm rewards early engagement.

Month 9: Momentum Peak (6,500 → 7,500 Followers)

The Flywheel Effect

By Month 9, your content machine is humming:

Your backlog works for you:
Old posts continue driving followers through:

• LinkedIn search
• Profile visitors scrolling your history
• Reshares and saves
• Internal LinkedIn recommendations

Your network amplifies you:
Engaged followers share your content
Each share exposes you to new audiences
New followers discover your content library

The algorithm favors you:
Consistent performance over 9 months
High engagement rates
Complete profile with activity
Algorithm pushes your content further

Content Strategy Evolution

The 80-20 shift:

Months 1-6:
80% creating, 20% repurposing

Months 7-9:
60% creating new, 40% repurposing old

How to repurpose:

Resurface top performers:
Your best post from 6 months ago?
Most followers haven't seen it.
Repost with slight variation or update.

Expand into new formats:
Turn top LinkedIn post into:

• Newsletter feature
• Twitter thread
• Carousel with more detail
• Short video

Create content series:
Take a pillar topic and create:

• Week 1: Overview post
• Week 2: Deep dive on component 1
• Week 3: Deep dive on component 2
• Week 4: Case study applying the framework

Months 7-9 Goals

By end of Month 9:

• 135-150 total posts published
• 7,500-8,500 total followers
• Multiple posts with 500+ reactions
• Newsletter with 1,500+ subscribers
• First speaking engagement
• Featured in publication or podcast
• 5-10 inbound opportunities from LinkedIn

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Months 10-12: Breaking 10K (7,500 to 10,000+ Followers)

The final push. You're known in your space. Growth is exponential.

Month 10-11: Final Acceleration (7,500 → 9,500 Followers)

Strategic Amplification

Going beyond organic:

Guest content:
Write for publications your audience reads

• Industry blogs
• Company blogs
• Major publications

Include "Follow me on LinkedIn" in bio
Each article can drive 100-500 followers

Podcast circuit:
Appear on 2-3 podcasts per month

• Industry podcasts
• Founder/entrepreneur podcasts
• Topic-specific shows

Speaking:
Virtual or in-person events
Share insights on LinkedIn
Tag organizers and other speakers

Media:
Pitch yourself as expert source
Respond to journalist queries (HARO, etc.)
Share media mentions on LinkedIn

The Partnership Strategy

Strategic collaborations:

Partner with 3-5 creators at your level:

• Regular mutual engagement
• Share each other's best content
• Joint projects or content
• Rising tide lifts all boats

The mastermind approach:

Form a small group (5-7 people):

• Weekly check-ins
• Share what's working
• Accountability for consistency
• Support each other's growth

Month 12: Crossing 10K (9,500 → 10,000+)

The Final Push

Content intensity:

Increase to 5-7 posts per week for final month:

• Best content you've created
• Repurpose top performers
• Collaborate more
• Create "event" around milestones

The 10K celebration:

When you hit 10K:

• Thank your audience (genuine, specific)
• Share lessons from the journey
• Tease what's next
• This post often performs exceptionally well

After 10K: What Changes

Opportunities multiply:

• More inbound from quality people
• Speaking invitations
• Partnership proposals
• Media requests
• Client/customer inquiries

Influence compounds:

• Your posts regularly reach 50K-100K people
• Comments on others' posts get significant visibility
• Network introductions become powerful
• Platform for launching initiatives

The responsibility:
Larger platform means larger responsibility

• Quality standards matter more
• Your words reach many people
• What you promote has impact

Months 10-12 Goals

By end of Month 12:

• 180-200 total posts published
• 10,000-12,000 total followers
• Consistent 4-5%+ engagement rate
• Newsletter with 2,500+ subscribers
• 3-5 speaking engagements completed
• Multiple media mentions
• Clear business ROI from LinkedIn presence

For overall brand strategy, see Building a Personal Brand as a Founder.

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The Success Metrics That Actually Matter

Followers are one metric. Here are the ones that indicate real success:

Primary Metrics

Engagement Rate:
(Total engagements ÷ Impressions) × 100

• Goal: 3-5%+ consistently

Quality of Followers:
Are they your target audience?

• Check follower profiles regularly
• Adjust content if attracting wrong people

Inbound Opportunities:
What's LinkedIn driving?

• Business inquiries
• Partnership proposals
• Speaking invitations
• Media requests
• Quality connection requests

Secondary Metrics

Profile Views:
Trending up as followers grow

• 500-1,000/week at 1K followers
• 2,000-3,000/week at 5K followers
• 4,000+/week at 10K followers

Post Reach:
Average impressions per post

• Should grow faster than follower count
• Indicates algorithmic favor

Saves and Shares:
Posts people find valuable enough to keep

• Higher saves = reference-worthy content
• Higher shares = amplification

For algorithm optimization, see LinkedIn Algorithm Decoded.

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Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall 1: Inconsistency

The mistake:
Posting daily for 3 weeks, then nothing for 2 weeks.

Why it fails:
Algorithm rewards consistency
Audience forgets you
Momentum lost

The fix:
Use batch creation: 30-Minute Content System

Pitfall 2: Only Broadcasting

The mistake:
Posting but never engaging with others.

Why it fails:
No reciprocity
Algorithm notices low engagement
Miss relationship-building opportunities

The fix:
10-10-10 rule daily (10 comments, 10 min on your comments, 10 connections)

Pitfall 3: Buying Followers

The mistake:
Paying for followers to speed growth.

Why it fails:
Fake followers don't engage
Kills your engagement rate
Algorithm detects and suppresses
Credibility destroyed if discovered

The fix:
Never, ever do this. Organic only.

Pitfall 4: Copying Others

The mistake:
Replicating successful creators' content exactly.

Why it fails:
Inauthentic
Doesn't leverage your unique experience
Audience sees through it

The fix:
Study patterns, but use your own stories and insights

Pitfall 5: Giving Up Too Soon

The mistake:
Quitting at Month 3 because growth feels slow.

Why it fails:
Months 1-3 are foundation
Growth accelerates Months 4-6
Compound effect kicks in Months 7+

The fix:
Commit to full 12 months before evaluating

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The Realistic Timeline

Let's be honest about what's realistic:

If you do everything in this guide:

• Post 3-5x per week consistently
• Engage 30 minutes daily
• Optimize based on data
• Stay committed for 12 months

You'll likely reach:
8,000-15,000 followers (most land around 10K)

Factors that increase results:

Advantages:

• Existing small audience (500+ starting point)
• Notable credentials (previous exits, major company experience)
• Hot industry (AI, etc.)
• Natural writing ability
• Extra time for engagement

These can get you to 15K-20K in 12 months

Factors that slow results:

Challenges:

• True zero starting point
• Niche topic with small audience
• Limited time (30 min/week max)
• Not naturally comfortable with content

These might mean 5K-8K in 12 months

Both are successful outcomes. The absolute number matters less than the quality of your audience and opportunities generated.

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After 10K: What's Next?

Growth Continues

Months 13-18:
Often 10K → 20K with same effort

• Network effects compound
• Content library works for you
• Reputation precedes you

Months 19-24:
20K → 30K+ with consistency

• Authority firmly established
• Opportunities abundant
• Influence at scale

Strategic Choices

Option 1: Scale Content
Increase frequency
Add team support
Build media company

Option 2: Monetize Directly
Consulting
Products/courses
Speaking
Sponsorships

Option 3: Leverage for Business
Use audience to launch products
Fundraise
Hire
Build strategic partnerships

Option 4: Give Back
Mentor others
Elevate other voices
Share what you've learned

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Your 12-Month Action Plan

This Week

• Optimize your LinkedIn profile completely
• Define your positioning and content themes
• Create your first 5 posts
• Schedule them for next week

This Month

• Post 12-15 times
• Engage daily (10-10-10 rule)
• Add 200-300 followers
• Learn what content resonates

This Quarter (Months 1-3)

• Publish 45-50 posts
• Reach 1,000 followers
• Establish daily habits
• Test different formats
• Find your voice

This Half (Months 1-6)

• Publish 90-100 posts
• Reach 4,000-5,000 followers
• Create pillar content
• Start collaborations
• Launch newsletter

This Year (Months 1-12)

• Publish 180-200 posts
• Reach 10,000+ followers
• Establish authority
• Generate business outcomes
• Build sustainable system

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The Bottom Line

Growing to 10,000 followers in 12 months isn't magic. It's math.

The formula:
Consistency + Value + Engagement + Time = Growth

The commitment:
30-45 minutes daily for 12 months

The reality:
Most people quit at Month 3
Those who persist to Month 12 succeed

The opportunity:
10K engaged followers changes your business
Opens doors you couldn't reach otherwise
Creates optionality and leverage

Start today. Commit to the full 12 months. Track your progress. Adjust based on data.

One year from now, you'll either have built a meaningful audience or wish you'd started today.

The choice is yours.

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About Influence Craft

Building to 10K followers requires consistency. Influence Craft makes consistency effortless—turn your voice recordings into polished posts in minutes. The system that helps busy founders maintain the posting frequency needed to reach 10K. Learn more at influencecraft.com.

Related Resources:

• Complete Guide to LinkedIn Personal Branding
• 30-Minute Content Creation System for Busy Founders
• LinkedIn Algorithm Decoded: How to Get Your Posts Seen
• 15 LinkedIn Post Formats That Drive Maximum Engagement
• Building a Personal Brand as a Founder