In today’s digital landscape, a brand’s reputation often begins with its people—especially the senior leaders who set the tone for culture, credibility and connection. Executives are no longer behind-the-scenes decision-makers. They’re expected to show up online with authenticity, vision and insight. LinkedIn offers the perfect platform to support that presence.
Whether it’s a nonprofit CEO championing community causes or a healthcare executive pushing innovative strategies, consistent and thoughtful activity on LinkedIn builds trust, grows networks and amplifies an organization’s mission. According to the 2024 Edelman-LinkedIn B2B Thought Leadership Impact Report, 73% of decision makers say an organization’s thought leadership content is a more trustworthy basis for assessing its capabilities than traditional marketing materials.
At Devine + Partners, we help executives refine their online presence and craft messaging that positions them as go-to voices in their industries. The result? A shift from passive profiles to powerful platforms for influence.
Crafting a Thought Leadership Strategy
Thought leadership doesn’t start with posting. It starts with clarity.
Before anything goes live, leaders should define their voice, values and goals. What do they care about? Who are they speaking to? What conversations do they want to lead? What insights can they uniquely offer?
That clarity is reflected in a polished profile, from a compelling headline to a professional headshot and a concise summary that ties personal mission to organizational purpose. A great LinkedIn profile tells a story. Not just what someone has done, but who they are, what they believe in and the difference they’re working to make.
Post Strategically and Engage Authentically as a Thought Leader
Leaders who post consistently and with intention tend to see the strongest engagement. That doesn’t mean just posting for the sake of it. It means sharing content that offers value and reflects both personal and organizational missions. It’s also best if the content is timely and relatable to readers.
Effective post topics might include:
- Community engagement or mission-driven work
- Reflections on industry trends
- Leadership lessons or team-building insights
- Recaps from conferences and speaking events
Authenticity is key. Posts should feel personal, timely and relevant to the audiences that matter most. And because LinkedIn is about relationships, leaders should also comment, react and share others’ content. Engaging with peers, partners and stakeholders signals that they’re not just broadcasting, they’re part of the conversation.
5 Proven Ways for Creating Engaging LinkedIn Posts
People scroll quickly. To capture attention and encourage interaction, follow these best practices:
- Use strong opening hooks: Make the subject clear in the first sentence to grab attention. LinkedIn posts often crop posts after the first line. Make it count.
- Break up text: Use emojis as bullet points or line breaks to improve readability and flow.
- Put links in the comments: LinkedIn de-prioritizes posts with outbound links. Keep engagement high by placing links in the first comment instead.
- Encourage interaction: Ask a question or invite your audience to share their perspective.
- Prioritize short video content: Even simple, direct-to-camera clips perform well when they’re authentic and mission-driven.
Final Takeaway
Establishing leaders as LinkedIn thought leaders is about building trust, strengthening relationships and positioning your organization for long-term success.
Are you ready to elevate your executive presence online?
From defining clear goals to profile development, at Devine + Partners, we help bring LinkedIn thought leadership strategies to life. Reach out to us at resteasy@devinepartners.com.
Devine + Partners is a Philadelphia public relations agency . We offer a full range of communications services – from message and content development and media relations to issues management and employee and community engagement.
