The LinkedIn landscape continues to evolve rapidly in 2025, with significant shifts in how professionals build their audience on the platform. If you're wondering what constitutes a "good" follower growth rate, you're not alone. Let's break down what's realistic, what's exceptional, and how you can optimize your LinkedIn growth strategy.

Understanding LinkedIn Follower Growth in 2025

LinkedIn has transformed dramatically over the past few years. What worked in 2023 doesn't necessarily work today. Based on the latest trends, video content has seen a 34% increase in uploads year-over-year and generates 1.4 times more engagement than other content formats. This shift has changed how quickly accounts can expect to grow.

What's Considered "Normal" Growth?

For most LinkedIn users in 2025, a monthly follower growth rate of 2-5% is considered normal. This means if you have 1,000 followers, adding 20-50 new followers each month puts you in the average range.

But "normal" varies significantly based on:

• Your industry (tech and marketing typically see faster growth)
• Content consistency (posting frequency)
• Content format mix (video now outperforms text)
• Engagement strategies
• Starting follower count (smaller accounts often grow faster percentage-wise)

Exceptional Growth Benchmarks

According to the analysis from The Smart Marketers, exceptional LinkedIn growth in 2025 looks like:

• Small accounts (under 5,000 followers): 8-15% monthly growth
• Medium accounts (5,000-20,000): 5-8% monthly growth
• Large accounts (20,000+): 3-5% monthly growth

These numbers reflect accounts that are actively implementing modern growth strategies, not passive profiles.

Key Factors Affecting LinkedIn Growth Rates in 2025

Content Authenticity

The shift toward authentic content is unmistakable. LinkedIn's algorithm changes now favor original content and show posts to people most closely connected with the creator. As noted by Laura Burton, generic AI-generated content lacking personality performs poorly.

"Will it be easier than ever to create content on LinkedIn with more apps providing content creation support? DEFINITELY. Will you need to inject your own marketing strategy and personality to continue to feed the algorithm? I reckon so."

Video Content Dominance

The data is clear: video content continues to outperform other formats on LinkedIn. Successful LinkedIn accounts are increasingly adopting video-first strategies, focusing on:

• Short-form content (under 2 minutes)
• Vertical formats optimized for mobile
• Strong captions for silent viewing
• Personal storytelling elements

Thought Leadership and Story-Driven Content

Thought leadership has become essential, with 75% of buyers being influenced by such content on the platform. Personal narratives drive engagement, with 64% of users finding personal-led posts compelling.

Community Building Over Broadcasting

LinkedIn expects more from content creators in 2025. The platform rewards content that sparks conversation and knowledge transfer, emphasizing community engagement over one-way broadcasting.

A Real Growth Story: From 500 to 15,000 Followers in 8 Months

Sarah, a marketing consultant, started 2025 with just 500 LinkedIn followers. Her growth was stagnant despite posting regularly. After analyzing the changing LinkedIn landscape, she implemented a new strategy:

1. Switched from text-only to a content mix with 60% video
2. Shared authentic stories about client successes and failures
3. Used LinkedIn Scheduler to maintain a consistent posting schedule
4. Actively engaged in communities related to her expertise
5. Tracked her analytics religiously

The results? Her account grew to 15,000 followers in 8 months—a monthly growth rate of approximately 47%. While this is exceptionally high, it demonstrates what's possible with a strategic approach.

"I was struggling to get even 10 new followers a month before changing my strategy," Sarah explained. "The turning point came when I stopped trying to sound 'professional' and started sharing real stories from my experience. People connect with authenticity."

Using AI Tools While Maintaining Authenticity

Automation tools like LinkedIn Scheduler have become integrated into successful growth strategies, allowing users to maintain consistent engagement without sacrificing authenticity. These tools help streamline administrative tasks, enabling professionals to dedicate more time to creating high-quality content.

The key is using these tools to enhance your human touch, not replace it. When used correctly, AI can help you maintain consistency while you focus on creating the authentic content that drives real growth.

Content Types That Drive Follower Growth in 2025

Based on the latest LinkedIn data, here's a breakdown of content types and their impact on follower growth:

Content TypePurposeBenefitsImpact on Follower GrowthThought leadershipEstablish authorityBuilds credibility and trustHighIndustry insightsShare valuable informationPositions you as an expertMedium-HighHow-to guidesProvide practical valueIncreases engagement and sharesMedium-HighVideosVisual storytellingBoosts engagement and retentionVery HighPollsInteractive contentEncourages participation and feedbackMedium

Leveraging Analytics to Optimize Growth

Data-driven decision making remains fundamental to LinkedIn growth success in 2025. Several key metrics have proven particularly valuable:

• Engagement Rate: Measures how well your content resonates
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): Indicates the effectiveness of your calls-to-action
• Follower Growth Rate: Shows the pace at which your audience is expanding
• Post Impressions: Reflects the reach of your content
• Profile Views: Indicates interest in your personal or company profile
• Lead Generation Rate: Measures the effectiveness of your LinkedIn marketing

When interpreting these metrics, look for patterns over time to identify which content types perform best and how different metrics correlate with each other.

The Role of Employee Advocacy in Company Growth

For businesses, employee advocacy has emerged as a powerful tool for amplifying reach. Companies are increasingly empowering their employees to share content and engage with their personal networks, extending brand reach while adding authenticity.

Successful employee advocacy programs:

• Encourage personal branding
• Allow flexibility in content sharing
• Promote authentic engagement
• Establish guidelines for interactions

Setting Realistic Growth Goals for Different Account Types

For Personal Brands (Under 2,000 followers)

• Realistic monthly growth rate: 5-10%
• Focus areas: Consistency, video content, authentic storytelling
• Time investment: 5-7 hours weekly

For Small Businesses (2,000-10,000 followers)

• Realistic monthly growth rate: 3-7%
• Focus areas: Employee advocacy, thought leadership, community building
• Time investment: 10-15 hours weekly (across team)

For Established Brands (10,000+ followers)

• Realistic monthly growth rate: 2-5%
• Focus areas: Data-driven optimization, video strategy, community management
• Time investment: 15-20 hours weekly (dedicated resource)

Future Growth Trends on LinkedIn

LinkedIn's trajectory in 2025 indicates several emerging opportunities. One significant development is the potential introduction of monetization features for content creators. While the exact timeline remains uncertain, LinkedIn appears to be following other social platforms in this direction.

The platform is also likely introducing new credibility indicators to replace discontinued top voice badges. As noted in late 2024 predictions: "LinkedIn recognized the badges don't provide enough credibility, given how easy it was to get one! I'm predicting LinkedIn already has something up its sleeve."

These evolving features create opportunities for early adopters who stay attuned to platform changes.

How to Increase Your LinkedIn Follower Growth Rate

1. Create consistent, authentic contentFocus on sharing genuine experiences and insights rather than polished corporate messaging.
2. Embrace video contentPrioritize short-form video (under 2 minutes) with strong captions and personal storytelling elements.
3. Engage actively in communitiesParticipate in discussions on others' posts, providing valuable feedback and contributions.
4. Use data to refine your approachTrack performance metrics and adapt your strategy based on what works.
5. Build your personal brand alongside your businessPersonal-led posts perform 64% better than company-only content.
6. Use scheduling tools strategicallyMaintain consistent posting schedules without sacrificing authenticity.
7. Balance AI efficiency with human creativityUse AI tools to streamline processes, but ensure your unique voice shines through.

Why Traditional Growth Metrics Might Be Misleading

While follower count growth is important, engagement quality often matters more in 2025. A smaller, highly engaged audience typically generates more business value than a large but passive following.

Consider tracking these alternative growth metrics:

• Engagement-to-follower ratio
• Comment quality (substantive vs. surface-level)
• Content shares by industry influencers
• Profile-to-connection conversion rate
• Direct message inquiries from content

Conclusion

LinkedIn growth in 2025 requires a multifaceted approach that balances technological advancement with human connection. Successful strategies integrate authentic content creation, community building, data analysis, and continuous adaptation to platform changes.

The most effective approaches prioritize genuine value creation over shortcuts. As platform competition increases, those who commit to thought leadership, authentic engagement, and strategic community building achieve sustainable growth. By leveraging analytics to refine approaches while remaining adaptable to emerging trends, professionals and brands can maximize their LinkedIn presence.

Remember what Sean McPheat wisely noted: "Growth doesn't happen by accident - it's intentional." This mindset of intentional, continuous improvement positions LinkedIn users to thrive through platform changes and evolving trends.

Ready to take your LinkedIn growth to the next level? Explore how AI tools like Ppostdrips can help you maintain consistency while you focus on creating the authentic content that drives real growth.