How Entrepreneurs Can Establish Thought Leadership on LinkedIn

Introducing our guest blogger, Michelle Vella. Michelle Vella is a certified career strategist and LinkedIn educator dedicated to helping women discover their authentic career paths. Combining practical strategies with spiritual self-discovery, she empowers clients to align with their "soul work" and achieve their professional goals.

Enjoy!

Hi! I’m Michelle Vella, a Certified Career Strategist and LinkedIn Educator. LinkedIn has been at the core of my work for nearly a decade, not only helping me grow but empowering countless professionals along the way. Over the years, I’ve seen how impactful LinkedIn can be for building connections, establishing expertise, and driving meaningful career opportunities. Today, I want to share my insights with you so you can tap into LinkedIn’s immense potential and position yourself as a thought leader within your industry.

The Opportunity of LinkedIn

It might surprise you to learn that while LinkedIn has over 1 billion users, less than 1% actually create their own content. Think about that for a moment. The platform is filled with reshared articles, new job announcements, and training certificates—but original content is rare. Why? Because many people feel intimidated by the idea of putting themselves out there professionally, especially in front of their peers.

For entrepreneurs, this hesitation is a missed opportunity. LinkedIn is a “warm market”—a space where users are already in business mode and open to learning, networking, and engaging. Unlike other social media platforms, people on LinkedIn aren’t aimlessly scrolling for entertainment. They’re actively seeking connections and ideas.

This means that whenever you share your insights or experience, there’s an active audience ready to listen. And with so few creators, the opportunity to stand out and shine has never been greater.

Why LinkedIn is Different

What sets LinkedIn apart is the mindset of its users. When people log in, they’re not there to check on friends’ brunch photos or watch funny videos—they’re there with a purpose. They’re thinking about their goals, their network, and their growth.

This business-first mindset makes LinkedIn an extremely powerful platform for entrepreneurs. People on LinkedIn are already in a frame of mind to have meaningful conversations about industry trends, solutions to challenges, and professional advice. They’re much more likely to engage with thoughtful, business-oriented content than they might be on other platforms.

For example, if you post an insight or lesson learned from your entrepreneurial experience, the audience on LinkedIn is more likely to respond with genuine interest and dialogue. This doesn't just create engagement; it positions you as someone worth following, someone with valuable perspectives to share.

No other platform provides this kind of environment so consistently. By leaning into this mindset, you can establish credibility and build lasting professional connections.

Becoming a Thought Leader

One of the biggest misconceptions about posting on LinkedIn is the idea that you must be a complete expert before you share your thoughts. This simply isn’t true! If you know 10% more than the average person on a subject, you have enough knowledge to provide value to others. This is known as the "Rule of 10%," and it’s all about focusing on what you do know.

Thought leadership doesn’t require you to have all the answers—it’s about sparking conversation, sharing your perspective, and creating meaningful dialogue within your industry.

Getting Started

If you’re ready to start posting on LinkedIn but aren’t quite sure where to begin, here’s some advice to help you get comfortable with the process.

Observe and Learn: Spend the first two weeks simply scrolling through your LinkedIn feed. Notice the types of posts that capture your attention. Are they short and personal stories? Bold opinions? Tips with actionable steps? Also, take note of what discourages you—long, jargon-filled posts or overly sales-heavy content. Identifying your preferences will help guide the voice and format of your own posts.

Jump on Trends: While LinkedIn might seem behind other platforms when it comes to content trends, video is quickly becoming a hot medium here. Entrepreneurs like you have a chance to get ahead of the curve by incorporating video into your strategy. Whether it’s a quick tip or a behind-the-scenes look at your day, video can help you build a deeper connection with your audience.

Share Your Personality: Your posts don’t have to be overly formal or sound like a customer service reply. LinkedIn welcomes personality! Authenticity resonates, show your audience who you are.

Creative Post Ideas

Not sure what to post? Here are a few prompts to help you get started:

1. This is the hill I am prepared to die on: One thing you should know about ______ is _______.

2. Learn from my experience: 3 lessons I’ve learned as a [your role]. Bonus points for including a picture of yourself in your workspace!

3. Highlight someone’s impact: Give a shoutout to someone in your field who has influenced you. Don’t forget to tag them!

4. Overcoming challenges: "When I first started [my business], I had no idea how to handle [challenge]. One of the biggest lessons I learned was [key takeaway]."

5. Spotlight an industry trend: "I’ve noticed the rise of [trend] in [industry]. It’s exciting because [reason it’s impactful]. What are your thoughts?"

6. A day in your life: Share a photo or video of a “day in the life” of being an entrepreneur, with a short caption highlighting what you enjoy most about it.

7. Celebrate a win: Share a story about a time your work helped a client or customer achieve a specific goal. Highlight how rewarding it feels!

8. Debunk myths: "One of the biggest myths in [industry] is that ______. The reality is _____. What misconceptions do you notice in your field?"

9. Reflect on failure: "Not every plan works out perfectly. I’ll never forget the time I ______. It taught me ______, and I’m better for it."

10. Resources that inspire: Share a book, podcast, or tool that’s had a big impact on your growth. Ask your network for their recommendations too!

    
    

Set Yourself Up for Success

One final tip—make sure your LinkedIn profile is polished and professional before you start posting. A strong post will naturally drive people to your profile, and you don’t want to miss the chance to make a great impression. Your profile should clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and what makes you stand out.

If you’re not sure where to begin, I can help! Check out my LinkedIn Glow-Up Challenge, a digital course, where I guide you step-by-step to create a show-stopping profile in just seven days, using manageable chunks of time throughout your day.

LinkedIn is a platform filled with potential, especially for entrepreneurs looking to establish thought leadership. By tapping into its warm market, sharing your insights with authenticity, and staying consistent (even if that’s 3-4 times per month), you can position yourself as the go-to voice in your niche.

I share educational content often on LinkedIn, so if you’d like to learn more about LinkedIn, let’s connect! You can find me here.