From Unknown To Influential
How to build a powerful personal brand on LinkedIn within 90 days and take your profile from unknown to influential
ONLINE AUTHORITYLEADERSHIP & INFLUENCE
Serena Holmes
1/9/20264 min read
There’s something humbling about starting from zero on LinkedIn.
Even if you’re an expert in your field… even if you run a company… even if you’ve built real businesses and made real impact — LinkedIn doesn’t care.
It treats everyone like a blank slate until you prove otherwise.
And honestly? That’s the opportunity.
I’ve seen founders, CEOs, real estate investors, financial advisors, even introverts who swore they’d “never post” show up consistently for 90 days and transform from relatively unknown to becoming the kind of person people follow, quote, and DM for opportunities.
Not because they gamed the algorithm.
But because they built trust in public.
If you’re ready to take that same leap, here’s the exact 90-day blueprint we use with clients inside Executive Lens — simple, repeatable, and wildly effective.
Why 90 Days Matters More Than You Think
Ninety days is long enough to establish credibility…
but short enough that you can actually see the finish line.
Based on LinkedIn’s own data, the platform rewards:
creators who post consistently at least 2–3x/week
profiles that keep people reading for longer
accounts that build genuine community (comments > likes)
You don’t need viral posts.
You need repeat impressions.
The average Canadian LinkedIn user spends 7–10 minutes per day on the platform — not much. But if you show up during those minutes with clarity, consistency, and value, your audience starts to associate you with expertise and reliability.
Ninety days is where the compounding effect kicks in.
The 90-Day Plan to Grow Your LinkedIn Organically
Phase 1 (Days 1–30): Build the Foundation
This is where you clean up the “digital storefront.” If your profile doesn’t land, nothing else matters.
1. Optimize your profile like it’s a landing page
Your profile should answer three questions instantly:
Who are you?
Who do you help?
Why should anyone care?
This means:
A clear headline (not a job title — a value statement)
A banner image that builds authority
An About section written in a storytelling voice
Proof: media links, testimonials, interviews, podcast episodes, press mentions
If someone lands on your profile and can’t tell if they should follow you in three seconds, you’ve already lost them.
2. Pick your 3 content pillars
Most people don’t grow on LinkedIn because they post about everything.
You need constraint.
Choose:
Your expertise (industry insights, predictions, frameworks)
Your journey (wins, losses, pivots, mindset shifts)
Your human side (family, health, behind-the-scenes, why you do it)
This balance makes people trust you for your brain and like you for who you are.
3. Publish 2–3 posts per week
Don’t worry about perfection.
Focus on clarity, storytelling, and giving people something that makes them think or feel.
Engagement goals this month are simple:
Comment on 10–15 posts daily
Reply to every comment you receive
Start 3 new conversations each week
LinkedIn is basically networking with a global reach.
Phase 1 is about being seen.
Phase 2 is where you become remembered.
Phase 2 (Days 31–60): Build Momentum
Once your foundation is set, you shift into deeper credibility.
4. Post a weekly “signature” series
This could be:
“Monday Mindset”
“Leadership Lessons from the Field”
“Real Estate Insights in 60 Seconds”
“Behind the Build”
“Founder Fridays”
“What I Learned This Week”
A recurring series creates anticipation.
It tells the algorithm who to show your content to.
And it establishes you as someone who actually has something to say.
5. Introduce more emotionally driven storytelling
Tell the story of a mistake you made.
Share a moment that changed your career.
Explain why you operate the way you do.
One of the top-performing content types on LinkedIn right now?
Vulnerable, thoughtful, human posts.
People remember how you make them feel, not how perfect your résumé looks.
6. Increase content variety
This is where your feed starts to feel full, dynamic, and magnetic:
Carousels (LinkedIn pushes these heavily)
Short videos (30–90 seconds, simple, direct, relatable)
Thought-provoking text posts
Behind-the-scenes moments
Lessons learned from client calls, team meetings, deals, or challenges
Aim for 3–4 posts/week this month.
Momentum is your friend — don’t let it slip.
Phase 3 (Days 61–90): Become Influential
This is where you lean into authority.
Not ego.
Authority.
7. Create one deep-dive piece per week
Think:
A breakdown of a recent project
A 10-frame carousel explaining a complex topic simply
A video answering the question you get asked most
A “hot take” on where the industry is going
This is where your expertise shines.
8. Be the one who starts conversations
Instead of waiting for engagement, create it:
Tag partners, collaborators, clients
Ask questions
Share data, charts, or insights
React to industry news
Build on other creators’ posts
Thought leaders don’t just broadcast — they connect dots.
9. Build your community intentionally
By now, you should:
Have DM conversations flowing
Be getting invited to podcasts, panels, or collaborations
See consistent commenters who are becoming part of your tribe
Have people reaching out with business opportunities
Relationships turn visibility into opportunity.
What Most People Get Wrong About LinkedIn Growth
Here’s the quiet truth:
Influence on LinkedIn has almost nothing to do with talent.
It has everything to do with consistency, clarity, and the courage to show up even when the likes are low and the views are inconsistent.
The people who win on LinkedIn are the people who refuse to disappear.
You don’t need luck.
You need a process.
Where You’ll Be After 90 Days
If you follow this plan with discipline, you will:
Grow your following organically
Be recognized as a voice in your industry
Attract clients, partners, and investors
Build a reputation that compounds
Create real momentum you can’t buy with ads
Start showing up in searches more often
Be top-of-mind when people need what you offer
Most importantly?
You’ll feel like the version of you who finally stepped out from behind the scenes and started owning your expertise publicly — the version that inspires trust at scale.
Ninety days is all it takes to go from unknown to influential.
And the sooner you start, the sooner that compounding effect begins.
If you want help building a magnetic personal brand on LinkedIn — one that actually converts into business — that’s what we do every day at Executive Lens.
You bring the genius.
We turn it into influence.