As a LinkedIn user, you might have noticed that some profiles have got blue badges. These are LinkedIn Top Voices, a sign that the platform has recognized them as thought leaders in their fields.
Earning the coveted LinkedIn Top Voice badge requires you to consistently create unique and engaging content and contribute meaningfully to your niche or industry. Getting the Top Voice badge on LinkedIn is not easy; however, with the right approach and consistent effort, you can increase your chances of earning it.
What Is LinkedIn Top Voice?
A LinkedIn Top Voice is someone that LinkedIn has recognized for consistently sharing high-quality, valuable content that engages and inspires other users on the network. Top Voices are known for their expertise, authenticity, and ability to start meaningful conversations. Their posts get more visibility, positioning them as trusted leaders in their industry.
Each year, LinkedIn curates a LinkedIn Top Voices list in various categories, such as tech, marketing, finance, and more. To get a spot on this list isn’t random, you need to consistently create highly valuable, impactful, and engaging content.
However, keep in mind that LinkedIn Top Voices is an exclusive, invite-only program where LinkedIn carefully evaluates content shared across the platform to discover and recognize rising thought leaders and emerging experts.
The top voice badge on LinkedIn typically appears on your profile and posts. There’s also a LinkedIn community top voice badge, which is awarded to users who add value to collaborative articles on the platform.
Top voices on LinkedIn get more visibility. This badge also underscores credibility, which can lead to more professional or business opportunities, such as growing your network and getting new clients.
There are two types of LinkedIn Top voice badges:
- LinkedIn Top Voice Blue Badge: LinkedIn awards this badge to members who excel in specific industries, such as tech, marketing, or finance;
- LinkedIn Community Top Voice Gold Badge: A now-retired program that recognizes hyper-local or niche community engagement.
How to Become a Top Voice on LinkedIn
So, how to get a top voice badge on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn’s editorial team and algorithms analyze factors like content quality, engagement rates, and follower growth to award the blue badges. But there’s no certain formula to becoming a top voice. We just have patterns that we can reverse-engineer.
How to Become a LinkedIn Top Voice Blue Badge
Here are some tips to help you meet the LinkedIn top voice badge requirements:
1. Focus on Your Niche and Own It
It is super important to create content that covers a specific niche or industry because LinkedIn gives out the Top Voice badges based on your mastery, expertise, and experience in your specific field.
Are you a cybersecurity expert? A sustainability strategist? Or an AI engineer?
Always create content in your area of expertise and authority.
The LinkedIn Top Voice categories include industries like technology, finance, venture capital, healthcare, entrepreneurship, media, education, marketing, and AI. If you’re a subject matter expert in any of these industries, your chances of becoming a Top Voice on LinkedIn are higher.
2. Post Valuable, Original Content Regularly
Create and share high-quality content on a regular basis. For example, it is a good idea to publish 3-5 LinkedIn posts per week. However, consistency should not come at the expense of substance.
LinkedIn values high-quality contributions that reflect originality, authenticity, and a unique style. The platform gives more visibility to members who share content with a distinctive voice and fresh perspectives that make their insights stand out.
So, write and post well-researched, thoughtful, and impactful content consistently. Consider posting news, guides, case studies, commentary, tips, personal stories, and industry analysis to have LinkedIn recognize your contributions and award you a Top Voice badge.
3. Engage with Comments
Engagement is one of the most important factors that LinkedIn considers when selecting top voices on LinkedIn. So, when people leave comments on your posts, be sure to respond. Ask thoughtful questions and thank people for their input.
Also, comment on posts from other leaders in your field. LinkedIn’s algorithm notices who sparks meaningful dialogue.
4. Use LinkedIn’s Features
While LinkedIn posts spark meaningful conversations, posting images, videos, articles, and LinkedIn live videos are great ways to share your thoughts and insights at length and in more engaging ways.
Using multiple features increases your visibility and helps you build a diverse content presence. A mix of content formats also shows you’re adaptable and willing to try new things.
5. Use Data and Storytelling Style
Stats grab attention and stories keep it, so consider following the data and storytelling style for your content and posts.
Example: “Last quarter, our team reduced client onboarding time by 40%. Here’s the three-step framework we used…”
5. Follow and Engage with Other Top Voices
To become a LinkedIn Top Voice, it is best to first follow and learn from other top voices on the platform. Check their content, comment on their posts, and build relationships with them. This will help increase your visibility and credibility in the LinkedIn community. Plus, it helps you stay inspired and up-to-date on what’s working for others.
6. Optimize Your Profile
A high number of top voices LinkedIn profile views often come from properly optimized profiles. Make sure your profile is up-to-date, with a strong headline, summary, and relevant keywords. Use keywords in your headline, highlight achievements in your “Featured” section, and include media (videos, PDFs) to showcase your work.
How to Become a LinkedIn Community Top Voice Gold Badge
The LinkedIn Community Top Voice badge (previously gold) was LinkedIn’s way of recognizing users who contributed meaningfully to the platform’s community through collaborative articles.
While LinkedIn has retired this badge, many users remember it as a great way of the platform to recognize experts and knowledgeable professionals from different fields for their contributions to collaborative articles.
The main requirements to get the LinkedIn community top voice badge was to make thoughtful, valuable, and insightful contributions to LinkedIn collaborative articles and receiving upvotes from others in the LinkedIn community. It recognized users who sparked engaging and meaningful conversations.
Compared to the blue badge, it was easy to get the gold badge since anyone could earn it with enough upvotes. On the other hand, LinkedIn’s editorial team selects recipients for the blue Top Voice badge through an exclusive, invite-only process.
What Happened to LinkedIn Community Top Voice Badge?
If you’ve been on LinkedIn for a while, you may recall the LinkedIn community top voices badge being prominently displayed on profiles.
Unfortunately, on October 8, 2024, LinkedIn decided to phase out the gold Community Top Voice badge and discontinued its automatic award system for contributions to collaborative articles. This change came as a response to feedback from the community and LinkedIn’s ongoing effort to maintain the integrity and high standards of the Top Voice program.
Even though the gold badge has taken a backseat, LinkedIn still pays attention to users who actively contribute to the community. This is evident from the fact that the platform still awards blue badges. LinkedIn now emphasizes larger initiatives like the LinkedIn Top Voices list, which highlights contributors across various industries.
So, if you want to get LinkedIn recognition, aim for the blue badge.
Top Voices to Follow on LinkedIn
As stated previously, it is a good idea to take inspiration from existing LinkedIn top voices if you want to get a slot among them. Following other top voices can give you insight into their strategies, content, and approach.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of profiles you should follow:
- Industry experts who post original insights;
- Thought leaders who create engaging, conversation-starting posts;
- Professionals who use multimedia (videos, polls, and more);
- Leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk who share actionable advice for business owners;
- Experts in AI, cybersecurity, and software development who dominate tech-related categories;
- Professionals who offer resume tips, interview prep, and workplace strategies;
- Experts in specialized fields who bring unique perspectives to the table.
Pay attention to what makes their content successful and adapt those lessons to your own strategy. You don’t have to copy them, but you can learn a lot by observing what they do well.
Here are some top voices on LinkedIn you might want to follow for inspiration:
- Alexine Mudawar;
- Andy Mewborn;
- Anthony Kennada;
- Brandon Fluharty;
- Carla Harris;
- Chaniqua (Nikki) Ivey;
- Cherilynn Castleman.
Is Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice Worth It?
Yes, becoming a top voice on LinkedIn is worth it if you care about building your professional reputation.
A LinkedIn Top Voice badge can:
- Increase your credibility;
- Give you more visibility on the platform;
- Help you connect with like-minded professionals;
- Get you speaking gigs, collaborations, and media features.
Being a top voice meaning to give real value comes from the relationships you build and the opportunities that arise when you consistently share meaningful content. The badge is a nice bonus, but the real win is becoming someone whose voice matters and leads to opportunities.
However, there’s a downside too. The pursuit of badges can sometimes lead to burnout if you prioritize metrics over meaningful contributions.
Start small, refine your niche, post weekly, and engage with purpose. The badge might follow but even if it doesn’t, you’ll build a network that values your insights.