
How to Promote Yourself On LinkedIn Without Feeling Like You’re Bragging.
Having worked with hundreds of professionals helping them optimize their LinkedIn profiles, the most common concern I hear is:
“I don’t like to promote myself. It feels like I’m bragging.”
I get it. We’ve been raised to be humble. Our amygdala triggers fears that we will be judged and criticized.
But in 2025, we’re told that the only way to gain opportunities is to become a brand and optimize your online presence through channels like LinkedIn.
This is probably pushing you outside your comfort zone, but the only person who is going to promote your wins, your successes and accomplishments is you.
Chances are, there are a lot of people – even at work – who have no idea what you do and how you can help.
Here are some approachable, no-fuss tips to help you get out of your own way and tell your story:
1. Get Clear on What Makes You Stand Out with Your Brand Out
What’s your superpower? What’s something that is easy for you but seems challenging for others?
Maybe you’re the person who makes complicated ideas simple. Maybe you’re the one who can always find the perfect words. Maybe you know how to look through data to find the story behind the numbers.
Start paying attention to what people come to you for. Is it advice? Fresh ideas? A no-nonsense reality check? If you don’t know, ask your colleagues and family what they think you’re really good at.
Once you’ve nailed it down, lean into it. Share your insights, answer questions, and be generous with your knowledge. Focus on being of service. When you’re helping others and providing trustworthy advice, you’ll draw people in like a magnet.
Remember, no one knows what YOU know from your perspective. You’re actually doing a disservice to others if you’re not helping them!
2. Be Consistent
Promoting yourself isn’t about being online constantly and sharing what you had for breakfast. Building a strong and trustworthy brand is about showing up regularly in a way that feels natural for you.
If you’re focused on promoting through B2C channels, you’ll have to share very frequently. With LinkedIn, statistics support posting a maximum of one to three times a week (which is a lot more manageable).
The key is consistency over time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
3. Focus on Sharing Quality Content With Intention
Before you share any content, ask yourself: “Does this provide value? Is it something I’d want to read, watch, or share?”
The more thoughtful your posts, the more impactful they’ll be. You’re not just filling space; you’re creating something worth noticing.
And remember—engaging in two-way conversations with others is just as important as sharing your own content. Comment on posts, start conversations, and cheer others on. When you’re genuinely supportive, people will remember you.
4. Make Your Bio Work for You
Your About section on Linkedin is prime real estate to tell your story. Think of it like a quick elevator pitch.
Focus on the first few lines to hook people. Tell a story that highlights who you are, what you do, and how you help.
More importantly, WHY do you love to do what you do? Write for the reader—what’s in it for them?
5. Haters Gonna Hate
Most people are lurkers on social media and don’t have the courage to post. To paraphrase Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” quote:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
A lot of people can criticize, but few people actually have the courage to get into the arena.
In fact LinkedIn says that less than 1% of their members post weekly. With over a billion members, you have a huge opportunity to stand out by just showing up!
The Big Takeaway
Think of self-promotion as showing up for the people you can help. Who are you helping? What value are you adding? When you keep those questions front and center, your posts will feel less like a sales pitch and more like a genuine conversation. And that’s where the magic happens.
I’d love to learn from you…
What are your tips that will help other people stand in their value and tell their story?
How did you do it?