Are you a business professional looking for more personal exposure? Are you looking for a platform to position yourself as a subject matter expert? If so, you’re probably considering creating or already have a LinkedIn account. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service with over 300 million users, boasting more than two new members signing up per second.
By creating a free LinkedIn account, you are able to build your professional identity online, stay in touch with colleagues, clients and prospects and discover professional opportunities, business deals, and new ventures. In addition to a personal profile, you also have the ability to create a page for your company. Both personal profiles and business pages have benefits that can help you grow your business.
Here are my top 5 benefits of adding LinkedIn to your digital marketing mix:
- Tell your company’s story
Are you currently sharing how your company started and why you are so passionate about the products or services you provide? Telling your story is a great way to build relationships with your prospects and strengthen relationship with existing customers.
- Build reputation and brand identity
By developing a consistent and well thought out posting strategy, you can build trust with connections and position yourself as a subject-matter expert. I recommend posting original content 3-5 times per week.
- Create engagement
Like other social media platforms, LinkedIn gives users the ability to interact and engage with connections. From your personal profile, you should actively like, share and comment on content that is being posted by connections in your immediate network. Also, look to become an active member of groups such as alumni associations, trade associations, networking groups and industry specific groups. This engagement is sure to get everyone’s attention.
- Generate leads
Are you looking to target Accounting professionals in the Rhode Island area? Or someone in HR at an industry leading healthcare provider? LinkedIn allows you to search for specific prospects by name, title, company, location and several other key profile values. Once you find who you’re looking for, send a connection request and make sure they see that you’re actively posting content and contributing to professional discussions. Before you send that email to offer your products or services, try sending a message or InMail from LinkedIn. Messages sent from LinkedIn have a much higher likelihood of a response.
- Recruit talent
If you are looking to fill a position within your company, LinkedIn is a great place to post your job opening. You can begin by posting the position to your company page, sharing it to your personal network and even posting it into relevant groups.
With all the potential benefits of having a LinkedIn profile, what are you waiting for? Upload that great head shot, make sure your profile is fully complete, develop a content strategy and get started with your online networking!
Need help developing a strategy? Let me know!
