How five minutes a day can grow your business on LinkedIn

by Mel Berry, Co-founder of Social Firefly

If you had an hour extra everyday what would you spend it on? This was a recent question Brighton Chamber asked business owners in a recent poll.

The top answer? Social media.

No surprises there. For so many of us running or working in local businesses, that probably hits home. We want to be more visible online — to connect with customers, collaborate with other Brighton businesses and share what makes our work brilliant.

But social media, LinkedIn in particular, can feel like a bit of a black hole. You hop on for a quick scroll, and suddenly 45 minutes have vanished in a blur of posts, likes and “should I be doing more of this?” thoughts.

Here’s the good news: you don’t actually need a whole extra hour to make LinkedIn work for you. Just five focused minutes can get you on the right track.

That’s where the 5x5x5 method comes in.

What is the 5x5x5 method?

It’s as simple as it sounds: spend 5 minutes on social media, reacting to 5 posts and leaving 5 meaningful comments.

That’s it. Just 5 minutes of focused, purposeful engagement per day.

Instead of losing time in the scroll, you’re showing up with intention — joining conversations, cheering people on and making real connections. It’s short, simple, and surprisingly powerful.

Why it works (especially for local businesses)

LinkedIn’s algorithm loves real conversation, but people love authenticity. That’s something smaller, local businesses do brilliantly — because our communities are built on trust and human connection.

Here in Brighton, we’re lucky to have a network full of creative, collaborative, and community-minded businesses. When you leave a thoughtful comment on a Chamber member’s post, or drop someone a quick message saying “I loved what you said about [insert topic],” you’re not just boosting engagement — you’re deepening relationships.

The 5x5x5 method works because it builds:

• Visibility – You stay on people’s radar without having to post every day.
• Trust – Thoughtful, consistent engagement shows you care.
• Momentum – Each interaction can spark a chat, a collaboration or a new client relationship down the line.

It’s relationship-building, not content-chasing.

How to make it work for you

If you fancy giving it a go, here’s how to make 5x5x5 a quick daily habit that actually sticks:

1. Schedule your five minutes
Pick a regular time — maybe 9am before the workday kicks off, or while your coffee’s brewing. Short, focused bursts beat “I’ll check LinkedIn later” every time.

2. Comment with intention
Go beyond “Great post!” and add something that shows you’ve actually read it — a thought, a question or your own experience. That’s what starts genuine conversation.

3. Mix it up
Some days, you’ll comment on Brighton Chamber members’ posts. Other days, you might message someone you’ve worked with recently or congratulate a local business on a new project or award. Keep it varied and human — that’s the magic combo.

4. Track your wins
After a couple of weeks, check what’s changed. Are more people engaging with your posts? Have you had interesting replies or new conversations? Those small, steady steps add up.

From connection to creation

Once you’ve been doing the 5x5x5 for a couple of weeks, you’ll start to notice patterns. Maybe your comments about sustainability get the most traction, or your conversations with other founders spark interesting insights.

That’s your content goldmine.

Instead of staring at a blank post window, use your own comments and messages as starting points — turn them into short reflections, questions or stories for your feed.

You’ve already done the hardest part: thinking, engaging and connecting. Posting just makes those thoughts visible to a wider audience.

And because your ideas come from real conversations, they’ll sound natural — not forced or overly polished.

The common thread: time well spent

The Chamber survey said it all — people aren’t craving more time to sell, they’re craving more time to nurture the connections that turn into opportunities.

The 5x5x5 approach is a small, realistic way to do exactly that. Even if you never find that extra hour, five minutes of genuine engagement can go a long way.

Instead of trying to “win” at LinkedIn, it helps you use it as it was meant to be used — to build relationships, share ideas and open doors.

So next time you’ve got 5 spare minutes, perhaps between meetings or before you tackle your inbox, try reacting to 5 posts and leaving 5 thoughtful comments.

It’s not about going viral. It’s about showing up consistently in your corner of Brighton’s thriving business network.

Come say hi at Brighton Summit!

We’ll be managing the socials for Brighton Chamber’s biggest event, the Brighton Summit, this November!

You’ll spot us wearing our Social Firefly t-shirts, running around capturing all the brilliant moments and conversations happening throughout the day. If you’re there, come and say hi!

We’d love to chat more about the 5x5x5 method, social media or anything else LinkedIn-related over a coffee (or a post-Summit pint).

So if you ever find yourself wishing for that extra hour in the day, remember — you don’t need it. Five minutes of genuine connection can make just as big an impact.

See you at the Summit — and see you on LinkedIn!