Personal Branding Leads to the Best Opportunities - Always be Branding, not Selling.

After my last post, a Phoenix-based executive reached out asking about the best resource for online networking. He was exhausted from posting on LinkedIn thinking that this would create exposure and a network for a job.

The irony? He was already using the best resource—LinkedIn, but not to his full potential.

But like many professionals, he hadn’t built a strong personal brand and was relying heavily on job listings because he needed something now. The problem? Networking and personal branding don’t work well on-demand. They’re long games that reward consistency and connection before you’re in need.

So here’s the tough but simple truth:

👉 If you’re not actively building a community on LinkedIn, you’re not really building a personal brand.

You can post all day, but if you’re not engaging with your audience—especially in the comments—you’re leaving massive opportunity on the table.

The data backs it up:

·         Posts where the author replies get 2x more reach

·         Timely responses boost dwell time (a major algorithm signal)

·         Active comment threads stay visible longer

Yet most people still post and ghost... and then wonder why their content goes nowhere.

Would you rather follow someone who acknowledges you—or someone who ignores you?

If you want your brand to attract real opportunities, this is where the magic happens:

Why Community Building Matters✔ Builds trust — you value your audience’s input✔ Signals leadership — visible, consistent engagement = authority✔ Fosters real relationships — DMs often start with great comments✔ Boosts visibility — more replies = more reach✔ Increases loyalty — people return when they feel seen

Want to engage like a top LinkedIn creator? Start here:

1.      Respond within 24 hours — A quick “Thanks for that insight, [Name]!” goes a long way.

2.      Go deeper than ‘Thanks!’ — Ask a follow-up, build on their idea.

3.      Spark conversations — Tag others, cross-reference comments, ask questions.

4.      Slide into DMs — Not to sell, but to build. “Hey [Name], loved your perspective on [topic]—let’s keep in touch.”

You don’t need to post more. You need to connect more.