When it comes to social media that’s geared toward the business world, LinkedIn is a working professional’s one-stop networking shop. With business networking at its heart, it’s no wonder that an array of business professionals use LinkedIn everyday to make important connections that help their companies grow.
So, what are some ways you can use LinkedIn to help promote your company, make lifelong connections, and build your business?
Make Your Profile Count
First
impressions go a long way in the business world and the same is true
for the world of LinkedIn too. So, take time to create a compelling and
professional profile that truly speaks to your business. Your LinkedIn
profile is the first thing visitors see when they land on your page, so
don’t waste a golden opportunity to impress.
In addition, LinkedIn
and SEO are essentially online business partners, which makes your
profile that much more important. Why? Because LinkedIn is highly search
engine optimized, so every time someone searches you or your LinkedIn
business page, your profile is the first thing they see in the search
results.
Get Your Heading and Title Right
If you
don’t represent yourself in the most straightforward way possible, your
business is going to have trouble growing. LinkedIn puts a lot of
emphasis on your professional heading and title, so make sure the two
elements work together to represent you and your business aspirations in
the most complimentary way In other words, skip the fancy
corporate jargon and let visitors know exactly what it is you do. If
you’re a digital marketing consultant, that’s all you have to say in the
heading. Elaboration is fine and perfectly acceptable in the title,
which is where you’ll tell others you’re also a social media expert and
small business marketer.
Recommendations go a Long Way
Not
only do recommendations prove to others that your business is a
reputable one, they also directly help your LinkedIn presence grow. And,
the best way to gather a strong backing of recommendations is to simply
ask for them. But, with asking comes some technique, common sense, and a
little LinkedIn business etiquette.
For recommendations, make
sure you tailor your recommendation request to each person specifically
and don’t ask for requests from LinkedIn subscribers that can’t directly
speak to your work ethic. Likewise, recommending others in return is a
great way to keep the mutually beneficial business cycle that’s LinkedIn
going.
Make Worthwhile Connections
Making
connections for connection sake will get you nowhere fast in the
LinkedIn business world, so try to make business connections that count.
LinkedIn includes a “People You May Already Know” tool that’s great for
making meaningful connections, but use it sparingly and do a little
research on your own.
Likewise, it’s important to keep up with the
LinkedIn contacts you already have by updating your contact page and
consistently updating your business page as well. Once your LinkedIn
connections increase, you’ll have to search for laptop deals because
your business will grow so fast you’ll need computers for all your new
employees.
Get Your Employees Involved
Speaking of
new employees, getting your business’s employees involved with LinkedIn
is an effective way for your company to grow. Not only does it show the
LinkedIn business world that your company is legitimate and successful,
it also increases the exposure of your business.
Just keep in
mind that your employees should follow the same profile protocol as your
business itself. Make sure the titles, headings, and even profile
pictures of your employees speak to the caliber of your business. And,
while you’re at it, encourage employees to make their own connections to
better everyone’s LinkedIn presence.
Join and Create Groups
Although
LinkedIn is for the business-minded world, within LinkedIn are specific
business groups for certain areas of focus within the business arena.
And, joining a LinkedIn group is an effective way to build your business
and its authority by making relevant, thought-provoking comments on
discussion postings.
Likewise, taking the time to create your own
business group will skyrocket your LinkedIn presence. Not only does it
give your business the opportunity to start relevant discussions on
topics important to your brand, it gives other like-minded connections
the opportunity to join a specific business group that might otherwise
not exist.
LinkedIn is a great tool for building your personal and professional world, so follow some of the tips above, keep making connections, and watch your business grow.
Do you already use LinkedIn and have other tips? Leave a comment below.
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