LinkedIn is a horsepower of valuable marketing tools, but many companies don’t fully utilize its resources. And given the number of options online shoppers have when browsing, the small business owner should take advantage of this valuable treasure chest of marketing tools.
What is LinkedIn and how is it different from other social media sites?
The LinkedIn community is a collection of people on the Internet who are interested in networking. The LinkedIn network is special because the members are mostly made up of professionals. LinkedIn currently has more than 145 million members worldwide. And the great thing about LinkedIn is that due to the group affiliations of the members, you and your company can easily network with professionals who are interested in your field, your industry, and your products or services. Conversations on LinkedIn are geared toward cultivating professional associations and moving business forward, rather than posting silly updates and images (Facebook).
So, let’s get started with your LinkedIn training.
Step 1: complete your profile.
Complete your LinkedIn profile. Because your LinkedIn profile shows up at the top of their Google results when people search for your first and last name, it’s important to make a good first impression with your LinkedIn profile.
Tips for a professional LinkedIn profile include a professional photograph, detailed work and educational summary, and any relevant business affiliations. It’s also important for LinkedIn to display your group memberships. So join groups that are relevant to your field of work.
Step 2: connect with people in your industry.
Connect with everyone in your industry. Compared to other social media sites where people connect with those they already know, LinkedIn offers valuable tools for networking with new contacts. Be selective, but at the same time, be sure to reach out to new connections within your industry. In the long term, this can create more business opportunities.
Step 3: Customize your URL and website address.
Customize your URL and add your website addresses to your LinkedIn profile. By adding your own URL and website addresses on the “edit profile” screen, you have the opportunity to funnel visitors to your company website or blog. A custom website name will encourage visitors to click through to your sites.
Step 4: Spice up your personal profile.
Spice up your profile with stories, video recommendations, and other cool topics. Let your personality shine through. Add a short bio that explains to viewers how you can help them and what it’s all about.
Step 5: follow the golden rule.
The golden rule applies when networking on LinkedIn. The more you give, the more you will receive. And do it with others … be courteous, professional and helpful. Recommend to others and seek recommendations for your own profile.
Step 6 – Join groups!
This is one of the most important steps in LinkedIn’s boot camp. Join groups! LinkedIn groups give you the most bang for your buck. By joining groups, you can get in touch with other experts in your industry. Try to join as many groups as you can and be sure to choose groups with a high number of members. This is useful because as your business grows and you add valuable content to your business blog, you can post those articles to your LinkedIn groups. By sharing your valuable content, you attract people to click, read your articles, and connect with you. In some cases, those people will buy your product or service, or take your MDA (Most Desired Action).
Step 7: set up a profile for your company.
Set up a profile for your company. Now that you have completed your personal profile and joined many valuable networking groups, it is time to create a company profile. In a LinkedIn company profile, you can add videos and provide valuable information about your company. This step gives your business valuable exposure. Feel free to promote your company’s strengths.
Step 8 – Automation, automation, automation.
There are many applications that can be integrated with LinkedIn and allow you the benefit of automation. TweetAdder, WordPress, and other applications give you the opportunity to automatically post articles and updates to your profile. Take advantage of this valuable integration tool. Not only do they save real time, but they are also methods marketers use to ping their prospects and reach new ones.
When adding your personal or company profile, keep in mind that people on LinkedIn often search for other experts in their field using a keyword search. So use your most important keywords in your profiles. Get started now and network!
