How to Get LinkedIn Followers Fast: The Complete Guide

The straightforward answer is this: you need to remove friction. Every time someone has to search for your company name, click through to your profile, and manually press follow, you lose them. And that is happening dozens of times a day without you even realising it.

Think about it. You deliver great service. A customer leaves happy. You hand them a business card. And then? They forget about following you on LinkedIn before they even get to their car.

This guide covers the proven methods to grow your LinkedIn following -  from profile optimisation and content strategy to the smartest offline-to-online tools on the market right now. Whether you run a salon, a retail shop, or a professional services firm, there is a strategy here that works for you.

Why LinkedIn Followers Matter for Business Growth

LinkedIn is the most commercially valuable social platform for businesses. It is where purchasing decisions get made, referrals happen, and professional reputations are built. With over 35 million LinkedIn users in the UK as of 2024, the potential reach is enormous.

But reach only matters when people follow you. Followers are what turn a one-off interaction into a long-term relationship. Every post you share lands directly in your followers' feeds. Over time, that consistent visibility builds trust -  and trust is what converts a follower into a customer.

For small businesses across the UK, this is particularly important. You may not have the marketing budget of a large corporation, but a strong LinkedIn presence levels the playing field. It signals credibility, attracts talent, and keeps your business in front of the right people without spending a penny on ads.

Why Most Businesses Struggle to Get LinkedIn Followers

The most common reason businesses fail to grow their LinkedIn following is not a lack of quality -  it is friction.

When you tell a customer, "Follow us on LinkedIn," you are asking them to take four or five steps: open their phone, go to LinkedIn, search for your business name (often wading through similar results), find the right profile, and press follow. Most people simply do not bother -  not because they do not like you, but because it is more effort than the moment allows.

There is also the offline-to-online gap. The majority of meaningful interactions UK businesses have with their customers happen in person -  in a café, at a trade stand, after a meeting, during a service appointment. Yet the tools most businesses use to bridge that moment (a business card, a sign on the counter) do nothing to direct people to LinkedIn quickly and easily.

The good news is that this gap can be closed. And the solution is simpler than you might expect.

Proven Ways to Get LinkedIn Followers Fast

1. Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile

Before you try to grow your following, make sure your profile is worth following. A complete company page -  with a professional banner image, clear description, website link, and regular updates -  is far more likely to convert profile visitors into followers. According to LinkedIn, complete company pages get 30% more weekly views than incomplete ones.

2. Post Content Consistently

The LinkedIn algorithm rewards consistency. Businesses that post at least three to five times per week see significantly higher organic reach. Share a mix of industry insights, behind-the-scenes content, customer success stories, and tips. The more value you give, the more reason people have to follow you.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Commenting on posts, responding to messages, and engaging in relevant industry conversations all increase your profile's visibility. When you engage, your name appears in other people's feeds -  which drives profile visits and, ultimately, follows.

4. Use Relevant Hashtags

LinkedIn hashtags work similarly to other platforms. Using two to five relevant hashtags per post can significantly expand your reach beyond your current followers. Think about what your ideal customer might be searching for and include those terms naturally.

5. Ask Customers Directly

This sounds obvious, but very few businesses actually do it. Train your team to mention LinkedIn when wrapping up an appointment or transaction. Ask happy customers to follow your page. It works -  but only if the process of following is easy. And that is where most businesses hit a wall.

All of these methods are effective, but they share a common limitation: they rely on the customer's willingness to take action. The moment you make following feel like effort, you lose the opportunity.

The Smartest Way to Get LinkedIn Followers Instantly (Modern Strategy)

The most powerful shift in LinkedIn marketing for small businesses over the last few years has been the use of NFC (Near Field Communication) and QR code technology to create a "tap and follow" experience.

Instead of asking someone to search for your business on LinkedIn, you place a physical product -  a card, a stand, or a tag -  in front of them. They either tap their phone against it (NFC) or scan the QR code with their camera. In under three seconds, they are on your LinkedIn page and following you.

There are no forms, no passwords, no searching. Just a single gesture -  and a new follower.

This approach is particularly effective in physical business environments: reception desks, checkout counters, salon stations, event tables, and anywhere customers spend time waiting or interacting. The conversion rate compared to verbally asking someone to follow you is dramatically higher simply because the effort required drops to almost nothing.

Turn Every Customer into a LinkedIn Follower

At Tapilink, we have built a range of physical products specifically designed to help UK businesses collect LinkedIn followers effortlessly. Here is a look at the three main options:

1. QR and NFC LinkedIn Followers Card

The Tapilink LinkedIn Followers Card is a sleek, business card-sized product that works in two ways simultaneously. The built-in NFC chip allows anyone with a modern smartphone to tap the card and land instantly on your LinkedIn page. The printed QR code on the front gives the same result for those who prefer to scan.

It is ideal for handing out at client meetings, networking events, or as part of a welcome pack. Unlike a traditional business card, which gets forgotten in a drawer, this card prompts an immediate action -  follow -  in the moment of connection. You never have to chase someone up asking if they found you on LinkedIn.

Best for: consultants, accountants, solicitors, estate agents, freelancers, and anyone who attends networking events regularly.

2. QR and NFC LinkedIn Followers Stand

The Tapilink LinkedIn Followers Stand is designed for counter or desk placement. It sits upright, making it immediately visible to anyone who walks up to a reception desk, checkout point, or service counter. The display surface features both a QR code and NFC tap zone, so customers can follow you without needing to be asked.

The stand works particularly well when paired with a short prompt -  something like "Follow us on LinkedIn for weekly tips" or "See what our clients say -  follow us on LinkedIn." A simple message alongside the stand turns passive visitors into active followers without any effort from your team.

Best for: retail shops, salons, dental practices, clinics, estate agencies, coffee shops, and any business with a physical reception or service counter.

3. QR and NFC LinkedIn Followers Tag

The Tapilink LinkedIn Followers Tag is the most versatile product in the range. Compact and lightweight, it can be attached to lanyards, clipped to bags, placed on product packaging, or used as a luggage-style tag at trade shows and exhibitions. It carries the same NFC and QR dual functionality as the other products in the range.

If you regularly exhibit at trade events, attend trade shows, or work in a setting where you are moving around and meeting people, the Tag means you are always carrying your LinkedIn follow link with you -  literally. Anyone who interacts with you can follow your business instantly, without you having to explain a thing.

Best for: trade show exhibitors, market traders, tradespeople, delivery professionals, event staff, and brand representatives.

Real-Life Use Cases in the UK

Hair Salon

A salon in Manchester places a Followers Stand on the reception desk. Clients waiting to check out are prompted to follow the page for styling tips and seasonal offers. The salon gains 20–30 new followers per week passively, with zero extra staff effort.

Restaurant

A Birmingham restaurant includes a Followers Tag near the card machine. While customers wait for the payment screen, they tap or scan. The restaurant's LinkedIn page starts gaining local business followers who become regulars and refer others.

Retail Shop

A boutique in Edinburgh puts a Followers Stand on the checkout counter alongside a "Follow us for new arrivals" prompt. It converts browsing customers into LinkedIn followers who stay engaged long after they leave the shop.

Professional Office

An accountancy firm in London hands out Followers Cards to new clients at initial meetings. Rather than the client maybe finding the company on LinkedIn weeks later, they follow on the spot -  and start seeing content immediately.

In each of these cases, the business is not relying on the customer to remember, search, or take initiative. The follow happens in the moment -  which is exactly when it is most likely to happen at all.

Final Thoughts

If you are serious about growing your LinkedIn presence, the most important thing you can do is remove the barriers that stand between your customers and your follow button.

Content, consistency, and hashtags will all help over time -  but they rely on people already following you. The real lever is making it easy for the people you interact with every single day to follow you in the moment they feel most connected to your brand.

NFC and QR technology makes that possible. It turns every counter, every handshake, and every product handoff into a LinkedIn growth opportunity -  silently working in the background while you focus on running your business.

If you are a UK business looking to grow your LinkedIn following without overhauling your entire marketing strategy, the Tapilink range of LinkedIn follower tools is worth a serious look. They are simple, affordable, and designed specifically for the kind of everyday interactions your business already has.

Start with one product, place it where your customers spend time, and watch your follower count grow without asking anyone to do anything complicated.