5 Ways Top LinkedIn Creators Build Trust By Being Real

Forbes

12-05-2025

Your LinkedIn feed says a lot about who you are. Most people's feeds look identical. Creator after creator sharing the same structures, posting the same types of carousel, tweeting the same quotes. When everyone follows a template, no one stands out.
The most trusted voices on LinkedIn don't rely on hooks and formulas to build their presence. They stand out by being real humans sharing actual experiences.
I quadrupled my LinkedIn following in 2024 from 7k to 30k with consistent action and a commitment to authenticity. My AI for Coaches newsletter hit 8,000 subscribers in under three months without promotion. The growth happened because I shared real stories, honest opinions, and actual results. No formula could have created that level of trust.
The creators building real influence share their genuine experiences and original perspectives instead of following formulaic approaches. Here's how to join them.
Top creators document their path as it happens. They talk about clients they've helped, projects they've launched, and failures they've encountered. They let you see behind the scenes to understand how they work and what they believe. This builds genuine connection with their audience. Your real experiences solving problems for clients prove your expertise without you claiming it.
Show exactly what went wrong, the methods you used to fix it, and specific results that followed. Your audience will see themselves in these stories and trust that you can help them too. Never exaggerate results or make claims you can't back up. The messy reality of building something valuable creates stronger bonds than polished perfection ever could.
The most trusted voices aren't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. They spot trends that don't work and call them out directly. This honesty signals confidence and establishes them as independent thinkers who care more about truth than being liked. Take a stand against practices that waste people's time or money.
Share what you've learned about approaches that sound good but deliver poor results. Your audience will appreciate your willingness to protect them from common pitfalls. They'll see you as someone who puts their interests first, building trust that leads to real engagement. Growing your personal brand proves you can focus on serving over selling.
People trust what feels authentic. The best creators write exactly how they speak. They don't use templated language, corporate jargon, or unnecessarily complicated terms. You can tell a human wrote their posts because they sound like actual conversations. Record yourself explaining a concept to a friend, then transcribe it.
Notice the words you naturally use, how you structure your thoughts, and the examples that come to mind. This becomes the foundation of your authentic writing style. Keep sentences short. Skip fancy words. Make your point clearly and move on. Your audience will connect with content that sounds exactly like you.
Building trust requires showing up regularly. The best creators maintain consistency without obsessing over perfection. They commit to sharing what they know, even when they worry it might not resonate. This courage builds a following that appreciates their reliability. According to LinkedIn, businesses that post weekly see twice the engagement of those that post randomly. Make your plan.
Schedule time in your calendar for creating and sharing content. Treat this as a non-negotiable business activity, not something you'll do only if you feel inspired. Consistency means creating a reliable presence your audience can count on. When you show up regularly with memorable insights, your followers learn to look for your content.
Top creators treat comments as conversations, not vanity metrics. They respond thoughtfully to people who engage with their content. They ask questions. They continue discussions. This attention turns casual readers into loyal fans who feel personally connected. When someone comments on your post, respond with something meaningful.
Ask a follow-up question about their experience. Share additional resources related to their situation. Take the conversation to direct messages if appropriate. These one-to-one interactions build stronger relationships than any perfectly optimized post could achieve. Turn comments on your LinkedIn posts into brand new clients with authentic engagement.
Stop worrying about what your posts should look like and start sharing what you actually believe. Trust comes from consistency and truth, not tricks and templates. Share stories only you could tell. Describe failures and successes with equal honesty. Take stances that matter to you, even if they aren't popular. Attract the right people, building a network based on genuine connection rather than algorithm manipulation.
When you show up as yourself, you stand out and attract opportunities you never thought possible. Give your audience something real.