Many of us use LinkedIn to maintain our professional profiles and connect with prospects, clients/customers, community business owners, and industry leaders. However, simply having a profile that you check periodically is just the beginning. Here are some features and tools you need to use to make the most of the powerful network.
Network Connections and Invitations
There are a couple of different strategies that you can use when deciding who to accept or add as connections. The answer to that question will depend on your business type, your target audience, and what function your LinkedIn account serves. If you want to connect with others in your community as a business professional and make relationships, you might want to consider accepting connections from the area. However, if your target audience is laser-focused, you might want to be more selective. This is a personal choice, and you can change your mind if you find that one method isn’t working for you. Try them out and see what fits best for you and your business.
Messaging
This is one of my favorite features! Messaging allows me to build relationships with those in my network and learn more about them. I can send direct marketing to those who can benefit from social media management services. I learn about my network in these direct messages and can use that information to help them in various ways. I can connect people together who can help one another. I can keep up-to-date on life changes, job changes, promotions, and work anniversaries. It helps me maintain relationships with my network and comment on events in their career. One of the biggest pieces of advice I can offer is to customize your messages as you send them. Even if you use the notification tab to keep apprised of changes, customize your message directly to them. So many people click the standard messages and send those along. This is nice, but if you want to make an impression that lasts, customize it and make it personal.
Posting Content
Content on LinkedIn is one of the best ways to keep up with industry changes. I follow many industry leaders and CEO-level individuals on social media, and I love getting their perspectives. In the same regard, it’s a terrific way to share industry news with your network as well. You spent so much time perfecting that awesome blog post on your website – throw a link to it on LinkedIn, write a compelling introduction, and see increased traffic. Keep in mind that LinkedIn in a professional network, so you want to post appropriate content. That’s not to say that you can’t use a well-placed meme here or there, but don’t overdo it.
Company Pages
You can have an individual presence on LinkedIn, and your company can also have one. This is a place to put up current content as well. There are trackable analytics, so you can see how much traction your posts are gaining. These profiles are a way that you can reach individual members on LinkedIn and add to your Search Engine Optimization ranking. As your company grows, employees can also have a live link to your company page when they list their job on the profile.
LinkedIn is a tool that almost everyone uses, but many don’t take the time necessary to stand out in the crowd. If you put a little work into your profiles and maintain relationships with your connections, you will find that LinkedIn is a great resource for your business!