How to Become a LinkedIn Top Voice in 2026

If you’re wondering how to become a LinkedIn Top Voice in 2026, the short answer is that you need to become the kind of creator LinkedIn wants to put a spotlight on. You can’t hack it but you can absolutely work towards it. Top Voices are selected by invitation, based on signals like content quality, originality, consistency, professionalism, and trust.

That said, the best strategy isn’t chasing the badge directly, but building the kind of profile and content presence that makes the badge come to you.

What is a LinkedIn Top Voice?

LinkedIn Top Voices are a select group of global experts, leaders, changemakers, public figures, and innovators who consistently share valuable perspectives in their field. Active members get a blue badge on their profile (not to be confused with a verification badge) that shows they’re a recognized voice in their industry.

The program exists to highlight members who educate, inspire, and inform the wider LinkedIn community. In practice, that means original ideas, consistent posting, and a professional presence matter far more than vanity metrics alone.

How Top Voices on LinkedIn Works 

Top Voice is an invite-only program but if you believe you (or someone you know) has something valuable to contribute, you can also submit a nomination via LinkedIn’s Nomination Form. Answer a few questions and put yourself forward.  

Nominations don’t guarantee selection, but they’re worth a shot. Just try not to overdo it: LinkedIn recommends submitting no more than one nomination every six months. 

Top Voice vs. Community Top Voice: What’s the Difference?

LinkedIn used to have two badges: the blue Top Voice and the gold Community Top Voice.

The gold badge, tied to collaborative articles, was discontinued in 2024; largely because responses had become too generic and AI-generated to be genuinely useful.

So when people ask about becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice today, they mean the blue, invitation-only badge. That’s the one that still counts.

How LinkedIn Selects Top Voices

LinkedIn says it considers several factors when choosing who gets the badge: 

• Platform presence
• Quality and originality
• Subject matter expertise
• Safety, trust and professionalism
• Prominence within their field

Existing Top Voices are also reviewed regularly, and LinkedIn may add or remove members at any time.

That means there is no shortcut or guaranteed formula. The best approach is to build a profile and content presence that consistently signals expertise and credibility.

How to Become a LinkedIn Top Voice: 6 Tips

Since it’s invitation-only, there’s no checklist that guarantees the badge. But there are specific habits and practices that put you on LinkedIn’s radar – and they’re worth building regardless of whether the badge follows.

1. Build a strong personal brand

Your profile is your first impression. It should be immediately clear who you are, what you do, and why your perspective is worth following.

Make sure your profile includes:

• A professional profile photo
• A clear headline with your niche
• A detailed ‘About’ section with your point of view
• Relevant work experience, achievements, and certifications
• Featured content that supports your expertise

2. Pick one clear niche

Top Voices are recognized for depth, not breadth. Choose one area where you have real experience and can consistently offer original insights. The clearer your niche, the easier it is for both LinkedIn and your audience to understand what you stand for, and the more trustworthy you become over time.

Here’s Jack Appleby’s profile who’s recently become Top Voice in the social media, influencer marketing and content creation category as inspiration: 

3. Publish valuable content worth reading

Quality beats quantity every time. Share ideas, lessons, industry analysis, and personal perspectives that people genuinely can’t get from a generic post or a recycled take.

Strong LinkedIn content usually has:

• A clear opinion or point of view
• Real experience behind it
• Practical, actionable advice
• Industry insight or data
• Something people can actually use

4. Show up consistently

Consistency is one of the strongest signals LinkedIn looks for. Posting regularly and contributing meaningful content over time builds the kind of presence that gets noticed.

You don’t need to post every day but you do need a sustainable rhythm. A content calendar and scheduling tool will be your best friends here. More on that in a second.

For more tips, consider taking this LinkedIn course:  

5. Engage with your community

Beyond publishing content, Top Voices also participate in conversations. Commenting thoughtfully on other posts, replying to your own comments, and joining industry discussions all strengthen your presence.

Engagement shows LinkedIn that you’re part of the professional conversation, not just broadcasting into the void. It also signals that your expertise is being noticed and valued by others.

6. Be trustworthy and professional

LinkedIn’s Top Voice criteria explicitly includes safety, trust, and professionalism. Clickbait, misleading claims, and engagement bait are unlikely to help your chances (and could actually hurt them).

A thoughtful, consistent point of view is always more powerful than trying to game the system.

How Metricool Can Help You Get There

Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice is really about one thing: showing up consistently with valuable, original content over time. Metricool helps you do exactly that.

With Metricool, you can:

• Plan and schedule your LinkedIn content in advance.
• Keep a consistent publishing rhythm without having to post manually every day.
• Review performance data to see which topics generate the most engagement.
• Understand what’s working (text posts, carousels, video?) and double down on it.
• Save time by organizing your content calendar in one place.

Metricool helps you stay consistent, analyze what works, and refine your LinkedIn strategy based on real data.

Can LinkedIn Remove the Badge?

Yes. LinkedIn reviews Top Voices twice per year and can remove the badge if a member no longer meets the criteria or violates platform policies.

If you earn it, treat it as a responsibility. Keep publishing original, high-quality content and stay active in your community. The badge reflects your ongoing presence, not a one-time achievement.

Is Becoming a Top Voice Worth It?

For creators, consultants, founders, and subject-matter experts, becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice can be a meaningful credibility signal. The blue badge increases visibility, builds credibility, and helps people immediately understand that you’re a recognized voice in your field.

It can also open doors: speaking opportunities, consulting leads, partnerships, new clients. But here’s the thing: the authority you build while working towards the badge is often more valuable than the badge itself.

Final Thoughts

There’s no shortcut to becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice. The real answer is to build a profile and content strategy that consistently signals expertise, trust, and originality.

LinkedIn is looking for professionals who educate, inspire, and elevate the conversation. If that’s your approach, you’re already moving in the right direction.