5 things I wish I had done differently on LinkedIn (that would’ve 20X-ed my LinkedIn growth)
Kristo Olli
When people see that I’ve grown my LinkedIn audience 10X in the last 2 years, they often assume I did everything right from the start.
I didn’t.
In fact, looking back, I now know I could’ve grown twice as fast if I had avoided a few simple mistakes early on.
My goal with this article? To help you skip the slow, painful parts, and grow smarter right from day one.
Below are the 5 LinkedIn mistakes I made, what I learned, and what you can take from them.
1. I was inconsistent with commenting
Some weeks I left 10 thoughtful comments a day. Other weeks… I left zero.
The truth? Commenting is one of the fastest ways to grow on LinkedIn, especially in the beginning.
Every thoughtful comment is a mini-post:
✓ People see your name
✓ You show your expertise
✓ And you naturally attract profile visits
The problem was consistency. Without it, your visibility disappears.
Lesson learned: Commenting isn't optional – it’s a growth accelerator. Aim for 5–10 meaningful comments daily (it takes less than 10 minutes).
2. I undervalued storytelling
In the beginning, I thought “value” meant sharing tips, frameworks, and strategies. And while these help, my best-performing posts were never the most “tactical” ones.
They were stories – moments of struggle, lessons learned, emotions people could relate to. People remember how you made them feel, not just what you taught.
Lesson learned: If you want engagement, connection, and trust, tell stories. Not every day, but far more often than I did when starting out.
3. I didn’t talk directly to my ideal clients
I used to post “general value” – hoping it would resonate with everyone. But when you speak to everyone, you speak to no one.
Once I started calling out the specific people I wanted to help – founders, CMOs, HR leaders, career builders – everything changed.
My engagement improved. My inbound leads skyrocketed. People finally said: “It feels like you’re talking exactly to me.”
Lesson learned: Specificity isn’t just better for growth – it’s better for business.
4. I didn’t sell enough
My business has grown entirely through inbound leads. That's wonderful – but it also means I’ve left money on the table by not mentioning my offers often enough.
Posting alone is not a sales strategy.
You still need to:
✓ talk about what you offer
✓ explain who it’s for
✓ mention how people can work with you
✓ reach out when relevant
Visibility fuels awareness. Sales come from clarity + action.
Lesson learned: Selling isn’t pushy when done with intention. It’s service.
5. I was terrible at replying to DMs
If you ever waited weeks (or months 😬) for a reply… I’m genuinely sorry. It was never personal. Just overwhelm.
But the truth is: The best opportunities don’t come from posts – they come from conversations. Partnerships, clients, collaborations, invites… they all start in the DMs.
Lesson learned: Growth isn’t just metrics – it’s people. And people deserve timely replies.
So, what would I do differently if I started today?
I’d double down on:
Daily comments
Clear, honest selling
Consistent storytelling
Speaking directly to my niche
Being human and responsive
Because LinkedIn growth isn’t magic – it’s momentum. The smarter you build that momentum, the faster things start to compound.
Want to grow faster (and smarter) on LinkedIn?
If you want:
clearer content
a stronger brand
consistent engagement
and a LinkedIn presence that actually drives opportunities…
