Why and How to Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn
How to Build your Personal Brand on LinkedIN
In today’s tech world, just being skilled isn’t enough—you need to showcase your expertise to stand out. LinkedIn is the perfect platform for software engineers to do this, and building a strong personal brand there can open doors to job offers, collaborations, and even mentorships.
I have been writing consistently on LinkedIN since last 1.5 years and has a community of 50K+ like minded individuals.
You can check my profile here
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Here’s a simple, actionable guide to building your LinkedIn presence based on my experience
1. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Your profile is your first impression—make it count.
Use a Great Profile Photo: A clear, professional headshot increases profile views by up to 21% [Src]
Craft an Engaging Headline: Don’t just write your job title and company name. Tell how you can help others and create value.
Examples:“Full-Stack Developer | Passionate About Scalable Web Apps | Exploring AI Solutions”
“Helping you find right opportunities and grow big in tech”
Write a Captivating Summary: This is your chance to tell your story. Highlight your skills, values, and goals. End with a friendly CTA, like:
"Connect if you’d like to discuss tech trends or exciting projects!"Showcase Measurable Achievements: Replace generic descriptions with metrics.
Example: "Reduced API response time by 40% for an e-commerce platform handling 1M users monthly."
Pro Tip: Don’t skip listing your skills—LinkedIn’s algorithm uses them to match you with opportunities.
2. Post Consistently (and Experiment!)
The golden rule of LinkedIn: Consistency wins. Aim to post once or twice a week initially and later once you become more comfortable, increase your frequency.
I started with 1 post per week and now I am writing daily.
Even if your posts feel simple, regular activity keeps your name in front of your network.
What to Post
Projects: Showcase what you’re building. Share code snippets, screenshots, or GitHub links.
Lessons Learned: Talk about a bug you fixed or something new you learned.
Example: "Spent hours debugging a React hook issue—finally fixed it with useMemo. Sharing the solution here for anyone stuck!"Opinions on Trends: Share your thoughts on topics like AI, Web3, or tech layoffs.
Try Different Formats
Not all posts need to be text-heavy:
Text: Short and insightful.
Images: Visuals of your work or a helpful diagram.
Videos: Quick demos or tech tips or talking about recent news.
Polls: Engage your network with questions like, "Which language is better for backend—Python or Go?"
Pro Tip: Reflect on what works. Use LinkedIn Analytics to track engagement and focus on posts that resonate most.
3. Engage with Your Audience
Posting is just one part of building your brand—engaging with your network is equally important.
Respond to Comments: Always reply to people who comment on your posts. Start conversations!
Comment on Others’ Posts: Add value with thoughtful comments. For example, if someone shares a tech challenge, offer a solution or share your experience.
Support Your Network: Congratulate peers on milestones, celebrate achievements, and share interesting content from your connections.
Engagement helps build relationships and keeps you visible in your network.
4. Showcase Recommendations and Endorsements
Ask your managers, peers, or mentors to write you a recommendation. These testimonials serve as public proof of your expertise and work ethic. Similarly, endorse others’ skills to build goodwill.
I try to collect testimonials or recommendations from all my managers and mentors
Why Does This Matter for Software Engineers?
Having a strong personal brand on LinkedIn isn’t just about vanity or the number of followers—it’s about opportunities.
Get Discovered: Recruiters actively search LinkedIn for top talent.
Build Credibility: Your brand makes you stand out in a sea of resumes.
Expand Your Network: Meaningful connections can lead to mentorships, collaborations, or business ideas.
Attract Projects: Freelancers or consultants can use LinkedIn to land exciting gigs.
Brand collaborations : Once you establish yourself as an expert, you will also start getting brand collaborations.
Start Small, But Start Now
This week: Optimize your profile.
Next week: Write your first post about a recent project or lesson.
Every week: Post consistently and engage with your network.
With time and persistence, your LinkedIn presence will become a magnet for opportunities.
Your Actionable Checklist for This Week
✅ Update your profile photo and headline.
✅ Write a short summary about your goals.
✅ Comment on 5 posts in your feed.
✅ Post your first LinkedIn content
What Will You Post First?
Reply to this email and let me know—I’d love to hear about your first LinkedIn post. Let’s build a community of hustling engineers who lift each other up!
interesting read, I found some things I could improve.
Thanks, Hemant.
Wow, this is the kind of framework I've seen tailored for engineers, creatives, management consultants, and others—but no one seems to have created one specifically for people in investor relations." That got me thinking: maybe it's time to write it myself.
Hemant, I’ve noticed that many engineers don’t naturally lean into concepts like relational capital or servant leadership the way their peers in sales, marketing, or product roles do. But when they truly understand these ideas, they’re all in.
I wanted to share a resource I think would resonate, especially with my engineer friends. It's the Ferrazzi Greenlight Relationship Action Plan—a fantastic framework for identifying and nurturing the key relationships that can shape your career. Here's the link: Ferrazzi Greenlight Relationship Action Plan [https://ferrazzigreenlight.app.box.com/s/ivdo8jlm09t15ikx7g3mj557z6a9d0jt]. I’ve found it incredibly valuable, and I hope it’s helpful to others too!