A business strategist on LinkedIn is someone who helps companies, entrepreneurs and executives develop strategies, systems and processes to achieve their business goals. They provide strategic advice, planning and implementation support to take businesses to the next level. With over 740 million members globally, LinkedIn has become a go-to platform for business strategists to establish their expertise, attract clients and deliver value.
What does a business strategist do?
A business strategist typically performs some or all of the following functions:
Strategic planning
– Facilitate the development of vision, mission, values, goals and objectives
– Conduct environmental scans and SWOT analyses
– Identify strategic issues and options
– Formulate strategies and strategic plans
Organizational development
– Design organizational structures, systems and processes
– Implement organizational changes and transformations
– Improve workflows, communication and collaboration
Business analysis
– Analyze operations, capabilities, competitive landscape, industry dynamics and market trends
– Identify opportunities for growth, optimization and innovation
– Assess risks and challenges
Performance improvement
– Set KPIs and benchmarks
– Develop dashboards, scorecards and tracking mechanisms
– Identify performance gaps and improvement initiatives
– Implement programs to enhance productivity, efficiency and effectiveness
Change management
– Assess change readiness and identify impacts
– Develop change plans, communications and training
– Provide coaching to lead and sustain change
– Measure and reinforce change
Leadership development
– Assess leadership competencies and development needs
– Design leadership training programs
– Provide coaching and mentoring to leaders
– Strengthen leadership pipeline and succession planning
Why become a business strategist on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the key benefits of establishing yourself as a business strategist on LinkedIn:
Access to clients
With over 303 million monthly active members, LinkedIn provides instant access to a massive global audience of professionals and businesses looking for strategic advice and services. A compelling LinkedIn profile allows strategists to showcase expertise, credibility and thought leadership to attract clients.
Build authority and trust
By actively publishing insightful content, commenting on discussions and building connections, strategists can establish themselves as trusted advisors and subject matter experts. LinkedIn provides tools to demonstrate knowledge, perspective and strategic foresight.
Low-cost marketing
LinkedIn offers a free platform to create an online presence and connect with potential clients. Premium features provide additional opportunities for lead generation and marketing. Overall, LinkedIn allows strategists to market themselves in a cost-effective manner.
Ongoing learning
Following industry leaders, joining groups and learning from high-quality content enables strategists to stay updated with the latest trends, tools and best practices. This supports continuous professional development.
Flexibility and reach
With remote access from anywhere, LinkedIn allows strategists the flexibility to work independently or collaboratively across geographies. It provides global reach to offer services and attract clients from around the world.
What skills should a business strategist have?
To deliver effective strategic advice and solutions, business strategists require a diverse set of hard and soft skills:
Hard skills
– Strategic analysis
– Business planning
– Data analysis
– Financial modeling
– Market research
– Project management
– Change management
Soft skills
– Critical thinking
– Problem solving
– Decision making
– Leadership
– Emotional intelligence
– Communication
– Storytelling
– Facilitation
– Presentation
– Persuasion
This combination of hard skills (technical expertise) and soft skills (human abilities) allows strategists to understand business contexts, identify issues, formulate strategies, influence stakeholders, lead execution, and deliver sustainable results.
What are the steps to become a business strategist on LinkedIn?
Here is a step-by-step process to establish yourself as a credible and successful business strategist on LinkedIn:
1. Build a compelling profile
– Craft an informative headline and summary
– Highlight experience, skills, accomplishments and differentiation
– Use relevant keywords to optimize discoverability
– Showcase thought leadership content
2. Expand your network
– Connect with clients, partners, influencers and peers
– Join relevant industry and interest groups
– Follow companies to track news and opportunities
– Get recommendations and endorsements
3. Engage with insights
– Share useful articles, videos, posts, blogs and visuals
– Comment on discussions with strategic perspectives
– Post thought-provoking questions to spark conversations
4. Establish expertise
– Publish long-form posts on strategy, leadership and business
– Share case studies demonstrating strategic impact
– Provide tips, frameworks and models
– Offer strategic Q&As
5. Market your services
– Promote service offerings, programs and solutions
– Participate in LinkedIn groups to connect with prospects
– Utilize LinkedIn ads to reach targeted audiences
– Send customized connection requests and messages
What types of content should a business strategist share?
To build credibility and attract clients, business strategists should share various types of strategic, leadership and business content on LinkedIn including:
Content Type | Examples |
---|---|
Thought leadership articles | Industry analyses, future trends, predictions, expert insights on strategy, change, innovation etc. |
Case studies | Client success stories demonstrating strategic impact |
Strategic frameworks | Models, matrices, methodologies and tools for strategy formulation and execution |
Blog posts | Long-form perspectives on business strategy and leadership best practices |
Videos/Presentations | Educational talks on business strategy, organizational change, leadership lessons etc. |
Research reports | Studies, surveys, interviews and polls on strategic issues |
Checklists/Guides | Steps, tips, guidelines for strategic planning, analysis, execution |
Quotes | Inspirational quotes on leadership, strategy, change management |
Book summaries | Key lessons from influential business books |
Latest news | Relevant announcements, developments and trends |
Sharing diverse, relevant and engaging content allows strategists to demonstrate expertise, promote services, spark discussions and attract clients.
What are some best practices for business strategists on LinkedIn?
Here are some top tips for business strategists to maximize their LinkedIn presence and success:
Craft an authentic brand
Showcase your unique personality, leadership style and values authentically. Avoid sounding overly promotional or corporate.
Spotlight niche expertise
Whether it is specific industries, business functions or strategy areas, spotlight your specialized strengths.
Prioritize relationships
Instead of hard-selling, focus on building trust and rapport through helpfulness and conversations.
Demonstrate experience
Back up your expertise with real-world experience, client examples and track record of results.
Curate meaningful content
Be selective and share only insightful content that inspires strategic thinking.
Interact frequently
Comment on articles, like posts, share updates, offer assistance – be actively engaged daily.
Monitor notifications
Stay on top of post reactions, comments, shares and messages so you can respond promptly.
Join discussions
Offer your perspectives and advice by participating in LinkedIn Groups relevant to your focus areas.
What are some examples of successful business strategists on LinkedIn?
Here are some leading business strategists excelling at thought leadership and engagement on LinkedIn:
Marshall Goldsmith
One of the world’s top executive coaches and leadership thinkers. Provides daily leadership insights.
Daniel Goleman
Renowned psychologist and author sharing expertise on emotional intelligence and leadership.
Porter Gale
Top marketing strategist helping brands with positioning, messaging and storytelling.
Whitney Johnson
Thought leader on personal disruption and entrepreneurship through her Disruption Advisors.
Dorie Clark
Marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker and author of books like Entrepreneurial You.
Mindy Gibbins-Klein
Leadership trainer and founder of REALthought Leaders consulting firm.
David Meerman Scott
Bestselling author and growth strategist for businesses looking to build thought leadership.
Liz Wiseman
Researcher and advisor focused on leadership development and organizational culture.
Conclusion
LinkedIn provides an immensely powerful platform for business strategists to establish expertise, deliver value and attract clients. By actively engaging through compelling profiles, strategic content and relationship-building, consultants can position themselves as trusted advisors and subject matter authorities. The most successful strategists focus on specialized insights, authentic branding and nurturing meaningful connections over self-promotion. With its reach, tools and network effects, LinkedIn enables experienced strategists to grow advisory businesses and impact at scale.