What happens when you don’t set out to become a creator, but become one as a byproduct of showing up for your business? Amazing things, that’s what. You get paid for posts, appear on magazine covers, land podcast appearances, and get featured in publications and books!
So let’s take a look at some inspirational examples of LinkedIn use that shine the light on how to go from B2B LinkedIn influencer to visible creator.
On the Power of Showing Up Online
For Nicole Ramirez, becoming a creator was “definitely not a grand plan.” After being let go from her role at Forbes, she found herself scrolling LinkedIn looking for her next opportunity, as one does. She kept seeing posts from thought leaders, marketers, executives, and creators, and thought, “Wait… I can do that too!” So she started writing.
“At first, it was just reflections on what I’ve learned over my decade as a marketer and things I wanted to share as advice. No strategy, no niche, no content calendar. Just storytelling. The kind of honest posts I wished I was seeing more of. Those posts started getting traction, and before I knew it, people weren’t just engaging, they were reaching out with opportunities.”
While Nicole didn’t plan on becoming a creator, she got more intentional with it once she realized the power of showing up online.
For Lizzie Davey, posting on LinkedIn provided a respite from boredom and isolation during the pandemic. She was seeking connection. “The ‘brand’ part happened accidentally. Over time, I realized that the more I shared my real experiences, the more people connected with me. Consistency turned into visibility, visibility turned into trust, and trust turned into opportunity. The brand built itself because I showed up and shared useful insights in a human way.”
On the Income Opportunities for Showing Up on LinkedIn
Jessica Walrack built a brand on LinkedIn to become an active member of the content marketing industry and to grow her writing business.
“Opportunities to monetize my posts came as a side benefit. It’s still not the goal, but it’s a nice perk! Building a personal brand has brought me so many amazing connections and opportunities. I plan to continue to maintain a presence for many years to come.”
Jessica also believes that writers have a natural advantage due to our copywriting skills. “However, becoming a creator requires building community and dealing with detractors. You have to put yourself out there, which brings praise, criticism, and everything in between. It depends on whether that’s something you want to do.”
My own LinkedIn journey is certainly accidental. I started posting on LinkedIn in 2018 to find better-paying writing clients. I did find those clients, and more.
And after a year of posting consistently, other freelance writers started asking about my LinkedIn strategy. They wanted to pay me to fix their LinkedIn profile and brainstorm content ideas.
That’s how I started a second arm of my business — coaching freelance writers and copywriters on LinkedIn lead generation. Over the years, I’ve conducted live training sessions and workshops, created courses, and offered 1:1 consultations and done-for-you services.
As I developed more expertise in LinkedIn marketing, I landed opportunities to contribute insights to publications and magazines (much like the article you’re reading now!).
My visibility on LinkedIn attracted several cool opportunities like making the cover of Barefoot Writer magazine, getting featured in a book, landing podcast appearances, and more.
None of this was on my radar when I started posting on LinkedIn, but you never know where it’ll take you.
For Sumit Batra, applying to a creator hub program led to a sponsored content opportunity where he earned $50 for a post, and cool goodies such as a badge, water sipper, and stickers. You don’t have to be a huge creator to get started. Simply spot opportunities and be proactive in applying for them. It can be the beginning of an exciting journey.
So, if you’ve been looking for a sign, this is it. Taking LinkedIn seriously can lead you to exciting new avenues. You may get rich and famous. You’ve been warned!
Throughout this series (links to the articles are below), you saw perspectives and insights from creators who use LinkedIn to earn money and freelance writers who use LinkedIn to find better clients. I believe we’ve covered everything worth exploring, but if you have a question, let me know, and I will explore it in a future article.
Most importantly, get started with LinkedIn today.
If you’re interested in reviewing this whole series:
- Which path on LinkedIn? Creator or generating B2B writing leads?
- LinkedIn creator or thought leader? Depends on your goals
- Top tactics and tools well-paid LinkedIn creators are using now
- Use these content strategies to find leads from LinkedIn
- Defining success and the mindset of successful LinkedIn creators
- 3 mindset tricks to consistently use LinkedIn for lead generation