Why you should be a part-time content creator (on top of your 9-5)

If you told me a year ago that LinkedIn could change my career, I wouldn’t have believed you.

In cybersecurity, we’re taught to keep our heads down and let our work speak for itself.

Sharing my thoughts on LinkedIn felt unnecessary—maybe even cringeworthy.

For years, my LinkedIn activity was minimal:

✅ Accepting connection requests.

👍 Occasionally liking posts.

🔄 Sharing an article every six months.

My profile sat idle while I focused on my “real job,” assuming LinkedIn was for job hunters—not someone like me.

I was so wrong.

How One Post Changed Everything

One day, I noticed peers sharing stories about lessons learned or practical tips—just regular professionals, not influencers.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I posted a short story about catching a phishing scam at work and how attention to detail made the difference.

When I hit “Post,” I felt nervous:

😨 What if no one reacts?

😅 What if it’s boring?

But to my surprise, the post received:

✨ 17 likes.

💬 Thoughtful comments.

📩 A message saying, “I’ve never thought about phishing like that—thanks for sharing!”

That small moment changed everything.

From 0 to 100K in 10 Months

Over the next 10 months, I posted regularly about cybersecurity tips, career lessons, and personal wins and failures.

The results were undeniable:

📅 Month 3: 1,000 followers and recruiter messages.

📅 Month 6: Connections with CISOs and industry leaders.

📅 Month 10: 100,000 followers, with benefits far beyond likes.

Here’s what having an audience gave me:

💵 Extra Income Streams: Invitations to speak, collaborate, and consult—all while keeping my 9-to-5 job.

📈 Career Opportunities: Job offers started coming to me.

🎤 My Own Platform: A space to share ideas and build credibility.

💡 Pro Tip: Consistency matters more than going viral. Share value, one post at a time.

Why Building an Audience Matters

For technical professionals, having an audience might feel unnecessary. But here’s what I’ve learned:

🌐 Your Network Expands: Connect with people who inspire and challenge you.

📩 Opportunities Find You: Job offers, speaking engagements, and partnerships come directly to you.

🌟 You Build Influence: A platform lets you control your professional narrative.

Building an audience isn’t about followers—it’s about creating options for yourself.

How to Start

1️⃣ Stick to What You Know: Share topics you’re comfortable with.

2️⃣ Post Consistently: Aim for one post a week with lessons or tips.

3️⃣ Engage with Others: Comment thoughtfully on posts in your industry.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t wait for perfection. Start small and improve as you go.

Want to Fast-Track Your Growth?

I’ve distilled everything I learned about building an audience on LinkedIn into a detailed guide. If you’re ready to grow faster, here’s what you’ll find inside:

📘 How to craft posts that get noticed (even if you’re not a writer).

📈 Strategies I used to go from 0 to 100K followers in just 10 months.

💼 Tips to turn your audience into real opportunities like extra income, collaborations, and career growth.

👉 Grab the LinkedIn Growth Guide here.

P.S. A year ago, I didn’t think LinkedIn had anything to offer me. Now, it’s given me career opportunities, extra income, and a platform to share what I care about. If you’re on the fence, start small. Post weekly and engage with your network—you might be surprised where it takes you.