The LinkedIn Top Voice badge has become one of the most respected credibility markers on the platform. It tells the world you’re not just active, you’re influential, consistent, and trusted in your industry.

Each year, LinkedIn highlights professionals and creators who shape conversations and share insights that educate their networks. These individuals earn the Top Voice badge, positioning them among the most recognized voices in their fields.

If you’ve ever wondered how to become a LinkedIn Top Voice or what the platform looks for when selecting these creators, this guide covers everything. We’ll break down the selection criteria, explain how the badge works, and outline exact steps you can follow to grow your credibility and visibility on LinkedIn.

What Is a LinkedIn Top Voice?

The LinkedIn Top Voice title is LinkedIn’s official recognition for professionals who consistently create valuable, trustworthy, and conversation-driven content. It’s the platform’s way of spotlighting experts who do more than just post lead discussions that educate and inspire.

LinkedIn introduced the program to help users identify credible creators in specific industries. Whether it’s a startup founder sharing growth lessons, a recruiter breaking down hiring trends, or a data analyst explaining AI tools, the Top Voices on LinkedIn badge signifies depth, originality, and influence.

There are two main types of badges now:

• Top Voice (blue badge): Awarded by LinkedIn’s editorial team and data team for consistent, expert-level contribution in a specific category.
• Community Top Voice (gold badge): given to active contributors within specialized collaborative articles or topic areas.

Both badges elevate your professional identity and increase your content reach. The LinkedIn Top Voice badge serves as a mark of credibility, signaling that your insights are trusted and your content adds genuine value to the professional community.

How LinkedIn Selects and Rewards Top Voices

LinkedIn doesn’t publicly disclose its exact selection formula, but a clear pattern has emerged from analyzing past Top Voice creators. The process combines algorithmic performance (engagement, activity, relevance) with editorial evaluation (authenticity, tone, and expertise).

Here’s a detailed breakdown of what influences the selection, and the practical actions that improve your chances of earning the badge.

1. Consistency and Posting Frequency

LinkedIn prioritizes creators who contribute consistently. Posting two to three times per week keeps your profile active in the algorithm’s ranking cycle.

Creators who maintain that rhythm for 90 days or longer typically see sustained reach and higher post visibility.

Consistency signals reliability. It also helps the platform understand your area of expertise and position you in relevant topic feeds.

2. Originality and Subject Expertise

The Top Voice badge recognizes professionals who add new perspectives to their industry.

LinkedIn favors content that is original, experience-driven, and supported by real examples or frameworks.

Creators who document processes, share case studies, or explain new trends in their field are more likely to stand out.

In contrast, repurposed or AI-generated content without context tends to perform poorly under editorial review. Each post should demonstrate clarity of thought and relevance to your audience.

3. Engagement Quality

Engagement depth matters more than total reactions. LinkedIn evaluates the quality of discussion around your posts, how often they attract detailed comments, not just likes.

When your content leads to meaningful exchanges or expert conversations, it’s classified as “high-impact.” Replies that extend discussion or provide additional viewpoints are seen as signals of influence.

Spending a few minutes daily to respond thoughtfully and participate in relevant threads helps maintain that quality signal.

4. Topic Relevance and Niche Focus

Every Top Voice has a defined subject area, whether it’s AI, leadership, design, or marketing. LinkedIn categorizes creators into these niches to surface their posts in specialized topic feeds.

Remaining consistent within a single domain strengthens both algorithmic classification and audience trust.

A focused creator profile (e.g., “B2B Growth Marketing” instead of generic “Business”) performs better in visibility and editorial reviews.

5. Profile Completeness and Authenticity

Before awarding recognition, LinkedIn’s editorial team checks for profile completeness.

A credible LinkedIn profile should include:

• A professional photo and branded banner
• A keyword-optimized headline that defines your value proposition
• An updated About section summarizing expertise and audience focus
• A Featured section with representative posts or media mentions

A complete and authentic profile helps validate that you are a real professional contributing original insight.

6. Constructive Conduct and Tone

LinkedIn monitors how creators interact on the platform. Creators who maintain a professional tone, respond respectfully, and encourage open discussion are more likely to be considered credible voices.

Posts or comment patterns associated with misinformation or hostility reduce the likelihood of recognition. Editorial review emphasizes consistent, constructive participation.

7. Collaborative Articles

In recent updates, LinkedIn Collaborative Articles have become one of the most direct ways to gain visibility.

By contributing well-rated responses to topics within your expertise, you can earn the Community Top Voice (Gold Badge), which is a verified indicator of subject authority.

Consistent contributions across several months build a strong credibility record in LinkedIn’s internal scoring system.

8. Network Interaction and Visibility

Visibility grows through participation in relevant creator networks. Engaging with other professionals in your field through comments, reposts, or co-authored content increases your reach in related audiences.

The editorial team also considers a creator’s influence within professional circles, not just their follower count. Regular interaction with peers, especially other Top Voices, reinforces that influence.

9. Data-Driven Improvement

Monitoring your LinkedIn analytics helps refine your strategy. Creators who adapt based on post performance, like identifying formats, tones, and topics that perform best, maintain stronger growth over time.

LinkedIn rewards iterative improvement. Consistent adjustment based on measurable engagement patterns signals professional awareness and audience understanding.

10. Editorial Review and Selection

Even after algorithmic qualification, final selection involves human review.
LinkedIn’s editorial team assesses whether a creator’s voice aligns with the platform’s values: professionalism, expertise, and educational contribution.

The review emphasizes accuracy, clarity, and consistent engagement rather than virality or follower size. Badges are awarded to voices that sustain long-term credibility, not one-time visibility.

Common Mistakes That Prevent You From Earning It

• Posting inconsistently or only when inspired.
• Sharing promotional or sales-driven content too often.
• Copy-pasting or AI-spamming without context or originality.
• Ignoring comments and never engaging with your community.
• Lacking a clear voice or niche focus.

LinkedIn values creators who contribute to conversations, not just those who broadcast.

LinkedIn Top Voices: What’s Changing

As of 2025, LinkedIn is expanding Top Voice recognition into micro-niches.
New categories include:

• AI & Future of Work
• Sustainability & Impact
• Personal Branding & Creator Economy
• Tech & Startups

The emphasis is shifting from “influencers” to professionals who share expertise. Even small creators with under 10K followers can now earn the badge if they consistently provide value.

Conclusion

Becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice rarely happens overnight. It’s the result of quiet consistency of writing one thoughtful post after another when no one’s clapping yet. Every post you share is a signal to LinkedIn that you’re contributing meaningfully to your industry’s conversation. If you keep showing up with insight, integrity, and intention, you’ll eventually find your audience. And when you do, the badge will simply be LinkedIn’s way of catching up with what your community already knows: you’re a voice worth listening to.