Lessons on Personal Branding for HR from Top LinkedIn Profiles

As an HR or recruitment professional, why is it essential to follow thought leaders in your sector on social media? These leaders exemplify strong personal branding. Studying their strategies can offer invaluable insights into personal branding for HR. By observing best practices in the industry, you can discover key topics and trends. In this article, we'll explore notable thought leaders in HR and their branding techniques.

B2B thought leadership

What does the Edelman and LinkedIn study reveal about thought leadership? According to their research, thought leadership is crucial for reaching, engaging, and influencing decision-makers in B2B settings. Here are some key insights:

• 71% of decision-makers utilise thought leadership to stay updated on industry innovations.
• 71% use it to enhance their creativity.
• 68% rely on it for insights into future trends.

How do you differentiate thought leaders from the rest?

Can low-quality content diminish the value of thought leaders? Yes, according to the Edelman study. Quality matters. Experts must establish trust and credibility, especially if they're not yet market leaders. Key findings show:

• 53% of decision-makers believe new or small brands should produce thought leadership to gain partnerships.
• 50% think thought leadership is vital for attracting talent.

💡Tip: Building a strong brand is challenging. Consider engaging with Willow's coaches to enhance your reputation as a thought leader. You can take advantage of our free trial to test our services.

Josh Bersin

What can we learn from Josh Bersin? He is an influential HR analyst. Josh regularly shares sector-related content directly on LinkedIn. This not only showcases his thought leadership but also expands his audience. His longer articles help solidify his credibility and encourage engagement, thereby enhancing his professional brand.

When Josh posts on LinkedIn, he includes concise captions with a strong call to action. He communicates a clear message and often challenges his audience's perceptions. Furthermore, he effectively uses hashtags to draw in his target audience.

💡Tip: Learn to write engaging captions that catch your audience's attention.

Austin Belcak

How does Austin Belcak exemplify effective personal branding for HR? Austin is a prime example of a smaller brand producing impactful thought leadership content. He shares valuable insights and experiences relevant to both companies and job seekers. His posts are well-structured, thematically aligned with the industry, and effectively include calls to action.

Lesley van Opstal

How does Lesley van Opstal engage his audience? Lesley is another prominent figure in HR and recruitment. He helps recruiters and sales professionals enhance their business prospects via LinkedIn. His posts typically revolve around industry themes and employ engaging formats along with relevant hashtags. He challenges his audience to rethink their views.

Joel Lalgee

What strategies does Joel Lalgee use for personal branding? Joel stands out as a recruiter who injects creativity and humour into his LinkedIn posts. He packages industry news in an entertaining format. His approach is informal and engaging, making his posts memorable.

In addition to sharing humorous content, he strengthens his brand by providing valuable advice to hiring managers.

💡Tip: To maintain your audience's attention, choose and experiment with different formats. Analysing your performance can reveal which formats resonate most with your followers.

Why does personal and informal content matter?

According to the Edelman study, how should thought leaders present their content? They should understand their customer’s specific needs. Content delivered in an informal, personal manner resonates strongly. A clear point of view and identifiable author greatly enhance engagement. Don’t shy away from provoking thought and challenging existing viewpoints; your content should remain original yet should not overly promote your products.

Conclusion

Why is it essential to continually refine your thought leadership strategy? Due to intensified competition for attention and rapidly changing preferences, periodic review is vital. Utilising content curation and Willow’s post inspiration can bolster your expertise.

To strengthen your personal brand in HR, follow this checklist:

• Who is your audience and what are their needs?
• How can you share your expertise to educate your audience?
• What are your objectives for thought leadership beyond raising awareness?
• Will your audience learn something new from your content?
• Is your content excessively focused on selling?
• What sets you apart from others in your industry?
• Are you concentrating on topics your audience wants to engage with now?
• Who can enhance the story you tell?
• Do you have the required measurement tools in place?

Lastly, here’s how to create an outstanding company page on LinkedIn:

1. Create a customised link.
2. Tailor your news feed by following relevant individuals and signalling your interests to the algorithm.
3. Ensure your profile is actively accessible and accept all connection requests.
4. Select a personal and creative cover photo.
5. Publish articles featuring valuable content on LinkedIn.
6. Participate in groups and engage in meaningful interactions.
7. Encourage others to write recommendations.