LinkedIn's Secret System: How to make tech opportunities come to you

The Spaces convened a practical discussion on building a powerful LinkedIn presence and “building in public,” led by host (unnamed), with guests Sarah Badijo (branding strategist and LinkedIn coach), Frida Effle (data/AI practitioner and co‑founder, VCShop), and Timmy (Cloud Infrastructure Engineer and technical writer). The panel aligned on starting with rigorous profile optimization (professional headshot/DP, banner, headline with keywords, concise summary, skills, education, recommendations), then consistently posting authentic, relevant content that documents real work. Sarah emphasized branding fundamentals, psychology (hooks, first‑second impressions), and LinkedIn‑specific algorithm habits: complete profiles, verification, endorsements, community engagement, and reciprocal commenting to trigger 1st–3rd degree network propagation. Frida highlighted short‑form storytelling, a recognizable voice/tagline, and projects that solve real problems—avoiding vanity dashboards and abrupt niche shifts that confuse the audience you built. Timmy shared a technical path: write clear, current, replicable articles; focus on modern stacks; and document your journey across platforms. Do’s and don’ts centered on deciding your path (job seeker, founder, thought leader), surrounding yourself with aligned peers, investing in brand assets, staying consistent, and ensuring depth of craft so your public presence matches delivery. Closing reflections underscored fulfillment, visibility, and growth enabled by disciplined personal branding.

Building a Powerful LinkedIn Presence and "Building in Public" — Session Notes

Participants and Roles

• Moderator (name not captured): Hosted and facilitated Q&A, framed the problem of LinkedIn feeling "too professional" and competitive, guided topics from profile basics to algorithms and content.
• Frida Effle: Computer Science graduate; co-founder (mentioned as VCS Hop/VCS Orb — a data-driven branding/identity initiative for professionals); works across computer vision/data; video editor. Focus: getting started on LinkedIn, authenticity, short-form content, building substance through problem-solving projects, audience–content fit.
• Timmy (Cloud Infrastructure Engineer): Background in Cyber Security; consulting experience across fintech/banks/government; also a technical writer. Focus: building in public with relevant technical content, clarity and usefulness, consistency, and deep hands-on competence.
• Sarah Badijo: Branding expert/strategist; founder of Star Wonders (African branding and strategy agency); LinkedIn expert/coach (14k+ community); Forbes Black community member; worked with international clients in beauty, fashion, fintech. Focus: brand foundations, profile optimization, storytelling, content psychology, LinkedIn algorithm levers, consistent engagement.

Context and Framing

• Challenge: Many feel LinkedIn is "too professional" or performative, making it hard for beginners to stand out against profiles with stacked achievements.
• Goal: Practical playbook to start, build credibility, and attract opportunities via LinkedIn and by “building in public.”

How to Start on LinkedIn (Beginner Focus)

• Frida Effle

  • Start by documenting what you are actually doing, however small: events you attend, classes/projects you take, volunteer work, personal experiments. Use posting to keep yourself accountable.
  • Avoid vague, generic "I want to change the world" posts without substance. Talk about your day-to-day, real tasks, and learning.
  • Optimize your profile before posting: clear profile photo, relevant banner, concise headline, keyworded About summary, education, projects, skills. A good post drives profile visits—don’t waste them on an empty profile.
  • Follow relevant people and learn from peers who share realistic, incremental progress—not only sensational "prodigy" content.

• Sarah Badijo

  • Foundation is like laying bricks: it takes time and involves multiple elements working together.
  • Basics first: professional display picture (DP), coherent headline, filled experience and skills, endorsements/recommendations, verification if available. People judge quickly from your “cover.”
  • Ensure CV/profile consistency; remove irrelevant items that dilute your positioning. Align profile with who you are and aspire to be.

• Timmy

  • Start by sharing knowledge in digestible ways. Writing is a high-leverage entry: break complex topics into simple, useful explanations.
  • Relevance beats noise: what helped before (e.g., calculator projects, basic HTML) may no longer signal value. Build and write about what matters now.

Content Strategy: What Works Now

• Sarah Badijo

  • Storytelling remains a cornerstone, but formats evolve. Long-form walls of text are less effective today; concise storytelling performs better.
  • Research what currently works: follow 2–3 top practitioners in your niche; analyze their patterns and adapt to your authentic voice.
  • Develop distinctiveness so your audience recognizes your style (phrases, visuals, structure) instantly.

• Frida Effle

  • Authenticity and short-form content drive engagement. If you must go long, break into a series.
  • Maintain brand cues (e.g., a recognizable image style) and a simple tagline so your content is immediately identifiable.
  • Build projects that solve real problems and answer meaningful questions (e.g., budget analysis, market/job trends) instead of trivial outputs (e.g., "my daily songs dashboard"). Substance attracts opportunities.

• Timmy

  • Publish relevant, technically current content (e.g., Kubernetes, Red Hat) rather than obsolete topics. Relevance triggers engagement, questions, and new connections.
  • Use writing to clarify your own thinking and to help others; clarity and usefulness compound credibility.

Psychology, Hooks, and Profile Signals (Why People Stop to Read You)

• Sarah Badijo
  • Content psychology matters. People decide within seconds based on your DP, headline, first line (hook), and visual.
  • Learn to craft strong hooks. The hook determines whether people click “see more.”
  • Brand consistency helps memory retention: don’t change DP frequently; keep a consistent visual/voice system.

LinkedIn Algorithm: How to Work With It (Not Against It)

• Sarah Badijo

  • LinkedIn “tells you what it wants” (e.g., prompts about adding skills, experience, verification). Do the basics thoroughly: fill all sections, add skills, seek endorsements, ask for recommendations, verify identity where applicable.
  • Join or build a community of committed peers; reciprocate endorsements and comments. Daily engagement target (e.g., 10+ thoughtful comments) helps surface your profile in notifications.
  • Network dynamics: when first-degree connections engage, your post propagates to their second-degree network; continued engagement fans it into third-degree. Community engagement and consistency drive reach.

• Timmy

  • Less about "growth hacks," more about consistent value. Put out useful, relevant articles; let them do their work. Engagement and opportunities follow from demonstrated competence.
  • Diversify presence beyond LinkedIn (he’s landed an opportunity via Instagram). Your brand should be coherent across platforms.

• Frida Effle

  • Your audience conditions your algorithm. If you built followers on celebratory posts and switch abruptly to deep technical content, expect engagement drops. Align your output with the audience you’re cultivating—or intentionally rebuild your audience around your true niche.
  • Substance beats vanity. High follower counts without demonstrable work are exposed fast when actual deliverables are required.

Do’s and Don’ts for Beginners

• Sarah Badijo

  • Do decide your direction first: job seeker, founder, thought leader—your profile and content should reflect this.
  • Do surround yourself with peers who share your goals; avoid distractions and diluted effort.
  • Do be bold and consistent; commit to the process.
  • Don’t spiral into unhealthy comparisons. Either take inspiration or compete (with a specific metric like consistency), but stay focused.
  • Do build a personal brand: a recognizable voice and visual identity that travels across topics.
  • Don’t over-change core brand elements (e.g., DP). Invest in a professional photo.
  • Do invest time daily (e.g., one hour) for networking, posting, and engaging. Global opportunities often request your LinkedIn—maintain it as a central proof-of-work hub.

• Frida Effle

  • Do "put yourself out there"—even basic progress can help someone else. But fix the profile first.
  • Do talk about your projects and the reasoning behind them; avoid trivial builds that don’t answer real questions.
  • Do choose a lane (you can pivot later) and show up consistently. Pick a sustainable cadence (daily/weekly/monthly) and honor it.
  • Recommended resource: The Brand Gap (for accessible branding fundamentals).

• Timmy

  • Do build around what works for you (his wedge was technical writing). Your wedge could be video demos, micro-threads, or visuals.
  • Do document your journey: what you tried, what worked/failed, and the lessons.
  • Do be intentional and show proof of competence. Referrals and inbound opportunities follow quality work.
  • Don’t rely on shallow knowledge. Deepen your craft so when opportunities arrive, you deliver well and sustain reputation.

Practical Playbooks

• Profile Optimization Checklist

  • Professional headshot and relevant banner
  • Clear, keyworded headline (what you do, for whom, with what value)
  • Focused About section (problem you solve, proof, call-to-action)
  • Experience with outcomes and projects (attach media/demos)
  • Skills aligned to your niche; request endorsements
  • Recommendations from colleagues/clients; offer to reciprocate
  • Consider verification; ensure contact options are present

• Content Cadence and Format

  • Short-form storytelling with a strong hook
  • Series format for longer narratives
  • Post project breakdowns: problem, approach, result, lesson
  • Mix of "build logs," demos, and explainers (for technical profiles)
  • Consistent voice, visuals, and posting rhythm

• Engagement and Distribution

  • Daily comment quota on relevant creators (quality > quantity)
  • Endorse and recommend peers; join creator circles/communities
  • Repurpose across platforms (tailor format to each)
  • Track what resonates; iterate without losing authenticity

Notable Contrasts and Complements Among Speakers

• Strategy vs. Substance: Sarah emphasizes strategic brand architecture and algorithmic levers; Timmy leans into consistent substance and relevance; Frida bridges both, warning about audience–content mismatch and advocating for problem-solving projects.
• Format Shift: Sarah and Frida align that shorter storytelling outperforms long-form now; Timmy’s written explainers work when they are highly relevant and simplified.
• Algorithm View: Sarah provides structured guidance on optimization and propagation; Timmy treats "algorithm" as secondary to utility; Frida stresses audience conditioning and consistency of niche.

Memorable Lines and Insights (Paraphrased)

• "People judge your cover in seconds; the hook decides if they read more." (Sarah)
• "Build projects that answer real questions; avoid trivial dashboards." (Frida)
• "Relevance beats nostalgia. What worked five years ago won’t necessarily work today." (Timmy)
• "Your audience trains your algorithm—sudden content shifts can tank engagement." (Frida)
• "LinkedIn literally tells you what it wants—fill everything and engage consistently." (Sarah)

Closing Reflections: What Tech/Building Has Done for Them

• Sarah: Reinforced purpose; brought fulfillment.
• Frida: Gave visibility and a platform to help others; put her work into the world.
• Timmy: Enabled personal and career growth; reinforced problem-solving and curiosity.

Key Takeaways

• Start with profile hygiene and clarity of direction; your profile is a conversion page.
• Be authentic and useful. Short, story-led, problem-solving content wins attention.
• Build for today’s relevance; document and explain your journey.
• Treat engagement as a daily practice. Communities amplify reach.
• Maintain brand consistency (voice, visuals); don’t chase every trend.
• Depth of skill sustains the brand—get good, then get loud, and keep showing up.