Start Driving Referrals with Your LinkedIn Profile

For years, I bought into the online entrepreneur hype and built my LinkedIn presence around a personality brand—a little charisma, a little storytelling, a little hoping the right people would notice.

And it worked… kind of.

But here’s the thing: Personality alone doesn’t drive referrals, business, or long-term opportunities. Showing up consistently does.

So, I made a shift. Instead of relying on personal branding alone, I started leaning into a strategy of visibility, credibility, and consistency.

And the results? A LinkedIn presence that doesn’t just attract likes—it attracts referrals, clients, and real opportunities.

In this Mondays with Mindi session, we talk about building a personal brand to set you up for referrals rather than relying on ad spend or aggressive outreach.

The Problem with Personality Branding

Let’s talk about something a little counterintuitive—personality branding alone isn’t enough to build a sustainable LinkedIn presence.

For a long time, I thought LinkedIn was about standing out with a strong personal brand. A little charisma, a little storytelling, a little hope that the right people would notice—and that sort of worked.

But here’s the problem: Personality doesn’t scale.

When you rely on personality-driven branding, you become the product. That means:

• You constantly have to show up in an entertaining way to keep people engaged.

• It’s harder to build real trust because personality alone doesn’t signal credibility.

• The second you stop posting, the momentum dies.

The shift that changed everything for me? Moving from personality-driven branding to consistent visibility.

Why 90% of Marketing Is Just Showing Up

One of my marketing mentors, Jeff Robbins, has this saying, “90% of marketing is just showing up.” And that’s never been more true than on LinkedIn.

When I started focusing on showing up consistently—even when I didn’t have the perfect thing to say, even when I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired—everything shifted.

Instead of focusing on being memorable for one or two viral moments, I started focusing on being reliable—someone my network could count on to show up, share insights, and engage regularly.

And you know what? That’s when the referrals, collaborations, and inbound leads really started coming in.

LinkedIn rewards people who show up consistently, contribute value, and stay top-of-mind. This isn’t about fame—it’s about frequency.

The LinkedIn Strategy Shift: From Flashy to Foundational

So what does this actually look like in practice? Here’s the shift I made:

Old Way: Personality-Driven LinkedIn Presence

• Focused on storytelling and personal anecdotes to capture attention.

• Posted inconsistently—only when I had something really good to say.

• Relied on big, viral-style posts to gain visibility.

• Didn’t have a system for engaging outside of my own content.

New Way: Consistent, Strategic LinkedIn Presence

• Focused on educating and engaging my network regularly.

• Showed up multiple times per week—even when my post wasn’t “perfect.”

• Made relationship-building part of my daily routine, not just content creation.

• Created repeatable systems to stay visible without burning out.

The result? A LinkedIn presence that attracts real opportunities, not just reactions.

How to Build a Presence That Drives Referrals

If you’re tired of feeling like LinkedIn is an exhausting performance, here’s how to shift your approach.

1. Show Up, Even When It’s Not Perfect

Stop waiting for the perfect post or the perfect insight. The more you show up, the more trust you build. The people who succeed on LinkedIn aren’t the ones with the best posts—they’re the ones who stick with it.

2. Build a Mix of Content That Keeps You Visible

Instead of relying on storytelling alone, mix in:

• Short, value-packed posts (quick tips, industry insights, lessons learned).

• Comment engagement (contributing to relevant conversations).

• Reposting older content (if it was useful before, it’s still useful now!).

3. Focus on Engaging More Than You Post

One of the biggest unlocks for me? Spending as much time engaging with others as I do creating content. Thoughtful comments, genuine conversations, and proactive networking go further than a single well-written post.

4. Play the Long Game

Personality branding focuses on quick impact. A consistent visibility strategy focuses on long-term trust. The opportunities don’t come from one viral post—they come from showing up, week after week, and proving you’re worth paying attention to.

Rethink Your LinkedIn Strategy for 2025

As we head into the new year, I challenge you to rethink how you’re showing up on LinkedIn. Are you relying on personality branding, or are you building a presence that drives real business?

LinkedIn isn’t about being the loudest person in the room—it’s about being the most consistent, credible, and engaging person in your space.

So tell me—what’s one shift you’re making in your LinkedIn strategy for 2025? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear!

Let’s Connect!

If you’re looking for a way to refine your LinkedIn presence, I’m revamping my LinkedIn resources right now, and I’d love to send them your way when they’re ready! Sign up at www.mindiramsey.com to stay in the loop.

I’ll see you next week on Mondays with Mindi! Until then—keep showing up, keep building, and let’s make LinkedIn work for us, not drain us. 🚀