Welcome back, U.S. Networkers, from the holiday week. I hope you got to take some time off. I did and am now in Chicago through the end of July, instead of my usual home in Barcelona. If you’re in Chicagoland, please reach out and maybe we can get together!

This week, meet Ubaid Ur Rehman. He’s a visual strategist creating “fingerprint brands” for individuals looking to improve their personal branding, on and off LinkedIn.

Welcome, Ubaid. Please tell us about yourself.

I have a diverse background that includes photography, graphic design, branding, UX, and UI. I combine all these areas into what I now focus on—visual strategy. This could also be described as brand strategy or design therapy. My approach is deeply influenced by psychology, helping me ensure that every element in a design has a clear purpose and communicates effectively.

Why do you use LinkedIn?

I turned to LinkedIn primarily to connect with people who escaped the typical nine-to-five grind, as it's hard for those around me to understand how one can thrive outside a conventional job. This platform allows me to be true to myself, helps in expanding my business, and positions me as a leader in my field. It’s also great for making sure that when I travel, I already have connections, making new places feel a bit more like home.

What are your goals for using LinkedIn?

Initially, I wasn’t focused on selling through LinkedIn. My main objective was to build a network where I didn't feel confined by the restrictions of freelance platforms. LinkedIn has offered me the liberty to operate under my own terms.

Ubaid’s content strategy

Who’s your target audience on LinkedIn?

My audience is quite varied. I interact with founders, coaches, and solopreneurs—people who are not just creating content but are also looking to enhance their business strategies. I also connect with keynote speakers and individuals who need a strategic partner to help shape their brand’s online presence.

How do you decide what content to create and share on LinkedIn?

Each piece of content I create is purposefully crafted. For example, if I'm reaching out to keynote speakers, I might share a success story about how we revamped someone's personal brand to enhance their public speaking engagements. This showcases the tangible benefits of our collaboration.

What makes your content successful with your audience?

My content resonates because I back it up with a solid process and make complex ideas simple. People appreciate that I can take a challenging concept and explain it in a way that's easy to understand and apply. This accessibility is what they love.

Ubaid’s biggest growth levers

What has contributed most to your growth?

My growth has been significantly influenced by my willingness to engage deeply in conversations and networking on LinkedIn. I believe in giving first—providing value with no immediate expectation of return. This approach has built a network that not only supports but also enriches my professional life.

How do you track what’s working and know what to change?

While I'm not a big fan of diving deep into analytics, I do pay attention to how people react to my posts. If a post doesn't perform as well as others, I try to figure out why and adjust my approach accordingly.

How much time does it take?

How much time do you spend on LinkedIn daily?

I’m on the platform around 2 1/2 to 3 hours each day, which includes both content creation and engagement. I believe in actively participating in discussions and responding to comments, which fosters stronger connections.

Are you active on LinkedIn on the weekends, either posting or commenting or both?

My goal is to post 7 days a week but I might take a day off. Even on the days I'm not posting I am engaging in the comments or DMs.

How do you use DMs (direct messages) in the service of your goals?

Direct messages are a versatile tool for me. They are perfect for deepening connections I’ve made through comments or posts, or for initiating new professional relationships. My approach in DMs is to be personal and direct, offering or exchanging value in a way that respects both my time and that of my contact.

How Ubaid makes money

How do you generate revenue in your business?

Right now the core offer that I'm working through is helping founders and coaches design their Fingerprint Brand—the brand that makes them unique, extracted out of their personality. 

And I market it through my content mostly because I'm not a cold DM kind of person...I put out the content and engage with people. Most of my people are through referrals or they might have seen my content, they just want to work with me.

I might also help with strategy, they might be doing design on their own but want a strategic review. I have a few templates and eBooks as well that earn some passive income.

Consulting also comes into play, getting paid for my expertise rather than for my deliverables. People can jump on a call with me and learn; for example, I’ve been helping freelancers unblock their resistances, develop their offers, get their LinkedIn started, scale better, etc. 

How do you quantify your success on LinkedIn?

Since using LinkedIn effectively, I've been able to significantly increase my rates and overall income. More importantly, I have gained greater freedom in how I operate my business and structure my day-to-day activities.

I have a simple way to compare my life before and after I became active on LinkedIn: Now I can charge more than I was charging on the freelancing platforms. And my first four-figure client was from LinkedIn. So that’s one way to quantify: What I’m able to charge now vs. before LinkedIn.

And it’s like 5x or 7x what I was earning before, though I’m not tracking it closely. Like I said, I don’t put together the data. I’m just trying to enjoy the current moment and what’s happening.

Ubaid’s top tips

What advice would you give other Networkers who want to build and leverage their LinkedIn presence?

1. Just start!

2. Building trust and community takes time; you can't rush it.

3. Dedicate specific times for LinkedIn to maintain consistency.

4. Post regularly, even if it’s just once a week.

5. Understand that building on LinkedIn is about value exchange, not just monetization.

6. Share your learning journey; it helps build your community.

Ubaid’s best post

Stephanie’s note: I’ve asked each Networker to give me one “best post,” based on their own criteria.

Read this post on LinkedIn

Why Ubaid considers this his best post

People really resonated with my mission, belief system, values, and ideas that I shared in the post. I It also generated a lot of connection requests and DMs.

Network with Ubaid

Ubaid Ur Rehman on LinkedIn

Ubaid Designs on Instagram

What’s new on LinkedIn? Here’s what caught my eye this week.

Is a LinkedIn competitor emerging in India? (Jerusalem Post)

Have you seen those questions under LinkedIn posts (see the Tip post below for an example)? It’s an AI assistant, currently available to Premium members…but we’re not sure what they do yet. (Slate)

LinkedIn Newsletters get a few new features. (Forbes)

In case you didn’t know: You can connect with others on LinkedIn via a QR code. (Business Insider via Apple News)

Ugh, headlines. We just can’t talk about them enough because they continue to be pretty bad all around. My friend Alana Sparrow has something to say about headlines in this week’s Tip of the Week.

Read this post on LinkedIn

I’m always on the lookout for something that changes the way I use LinkedIn. It could be an idea, a tool, a process, or something strategic. Have a tip I should consider? Email me at [email protected].

That’s all for now—I look forward to seeing you again next week for another Networker interview.