Think LinkedIn is just a place for job seekers? That LinkedIn has no place in your online marketing strategy?
Think again!
Here’s a Marketing 101 lesson for you:
Go where the people are!
With LinkedIn growing at a rate of 1 person per second, I’d say people are moving onto that site in droves! But, can you really find potential customers or is everybody passing out resumes to find a new job?
LinkedIn is a great place to connect, network, share content and ideas. Here’s a few killer LinkedIn Marketing Tips to get you started:
- Pay attention to your profile. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of any social media site and LinkedIn is no different! The trick here is to use your keywords in your profile headline. After all, you DO want people searching for those keywords to find you, right? Think about it. Most people won’t be searching by using your name.
- Don’t sell. There’s no need. In fact, it’s heavily discouraged. Just be open to opportunities to share what you know.
- Join a group. This is where LinkedIn has it going on! The groups are the happening place. Just find one in your niche and ask to join. Then, be sure and add valuable content to all the discussions going on. It doesn’t take long to reap the benefit of becoming seen as the expert in your niche.
- Start a group. Want to build your fan/customer base quickly? This is the way! Invite all your contacts to join you in your group discussions, encourage them to leave links, network, and invite their friends. It’s a win/win.
- Events. Got something exciting going on? A free webinar, seminar, one-day product deal? LinkedIn Events is the ideal place to advertise. And, don’t forget to promote to your groups!
- Leave your mark. Be sure people know to look for you on LinkedIn. Place your link in your signature, on your e-mails, your biz cards, your site and anywhere else your prospects might be looking. It’s not enough to be there, you have to let people know!
LinkedIn is seen as a social site geared more toward professionals. The conversations tend to be more straight forward without the fluff you see on Facebook and Twitter. (No personal pictures of your kids, your dinner, or your vacation) You will find LInkedIn to be the place for business people!
The best part?
They are all ready to get down to the business of business.
Networking is the game.
Go play . . .
Peace,
-Martha
Martha
Martha Giffen is a speaker, consultant, and best-selling author of "Be Social Be Rich." She coaches biz owners on how to reach more customers in less time, and dishes it all out with a warm southern flare!
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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
LinkedIn is a fast-growing professional networking site and truly it helps a lot to promote your website online. The following Marketing tips are useful thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for stopping by, Nicolle. Glad you found some benefits!
Hey Martha,
I have been on LinkedIn for years but I used to the max when I entered blogging. I met so many amazing bloggers through LinkedIn and that was my learning stage so everything helped. I would definitely recommend being an active member of the group. Not only will you have so much to learn but you can be an excellent contributor. And people will listen!
Hajra recently posted..Will they call you over for a bloggers party?
Thanks so much for leaving your endorsement of LinkedIn, Hajra! Hearing it from other people really reinforces that it actually WORKS! Thanks!
Martha recently posted..Are You Ready To Up Your Game?
Martha what a smart idea the keywords in the profile! I’m on Linkedin since the beginning, but I’ve not felt such an engagement (and growth) I’ve experienced in Twitter or others social network, so I’m tend not to be so active in it. I recently shifted focus from “what I’ve done” (CV) to “what I’m doing” and I updated my profile accordingly. Now the first things you noticed are my brief description, by schedule, my blog posts and my slide share. Thanks for the post it’s really put Linkedin into a new perspective.
Fabrizio Faraco recently posted..When is the right time? NOW!
Be sure and participate in the LinkedIn groups in your niche. That is really the place for engagement! Thanks for stopping by!
Martha recently posted..Why People Love Twitter
Thanks for writing this post Martha. I’ve also been on LinkedIn for years, been a member of several groups, created groups, networked… but don’t spend nearly as much time there as I do on the other social platforms. Will have to give it fair shake.
Knikkolette recently posted..Social Media Engagement Tools: Part 2
You know, if you’re having success on other sites, does it really matter? There’s only so much time in a day. Twitter is still my fav place to spend my time and energy with FB coming in second.
Martha recently posted..Powerful Ways To Promote Your Business For Free
Hi Martha,
Wow! I had no idea Linked In was growing so fast!
I need to get with it for sure – From your post, I’ll get the profile set and join some groups – I like that it’s a professional place.
Being fairly new to FB and Twitter, I never really knew how to approach the personal aspect.
I am excited that I don’t have to on Linked In.
Thanks for the information!
Christine
Christine Brady recently posted..How to Write an eBook while Writing Very Little
Glad you gained some insights, Christine. LinkedIn is still personal, it’s just a different crowd. Totally business oriented. Let me know how it goes and if you need social media help, click on my “work with me” tab for three ways I can help you
Martha recently posted..How’s Your 2012 Productivity?
I’m a LinkedIn lover, for sure, Martha.
One feature I haven’t taken the time to explore yet is “Answers”.
I think it’s going to prove to be a rock solid way of sharing my expertise with others. So all I need to do now is head over there and look for people who are asking questions “I” can “answer”.
I totally agree with you that participating in the right groups will reap some wonderful benefits and rewards. I definitely have my favorite groups … and you’re a member of some of them.
If any of your readers are sitting on the fence about whether to jump over to LinkedIn and give it a try … or not …
I say Go For It!
Melanie Kissell recently posted..5 Ways Podcasting Can Help Your Blog
I was slow to embrace LinkedIn but it definitely has advantages. The main one being the “professional” crowd it attracts. You don’t have to guess if people are a good fit for what you are offering.
Martha recently posted..Powerful Ways To Promote Your Business For Free
One question – do you see any benefit to the premier package on LinkedIn?
Great list. Love LinkedIn
Roberta Budvietas recently posted..The 3 21st Century Business Phases
All I can say is I’m not using it. If I change my mind, I’ll let you know!
Martha recently posted..Powerful Ways To Promote Your Business For Free
Hi Martha, you know, I have been on Linked in for a while now, but really have not gotten much out of it. I know it’s got to be because I haven’t really spent the time I should.
I’m not going to get anything out of it if I don’t allot the time to it… am I?
I’m hearing more and more about Linked In lately so I knew there must be come value. I think you just put the cherry on top for me Martha. I’m going to invest some time over there this week.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Jayne
Jayne Kopp recently posted..Law of Attraction in My Life – Pretty Cool to Positively Putrid!
Find your target audience, and you will LOVE it!
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Linked In is also a great place to run ads. I used them they last they were affordable for my small budget. The appeal is how easy they are to target. It generated good traffic for a blog I was promoting at the time.
I wanted to add that people I talk too don’t put their blog on their LinkedIn profile. I think it is worthwhile. If your blog is successful you have gained some great bragging rights! Such as Marketing saavy and writing ability. Great skills to show off.
Susan Silver recently posted..Improve Your Typography with Simple CSS
Thanks for that information about LinkedIn ads! Great to know it’s good for small businesses on tight budgets! Glad you stopped by . . . .
Martha recently posted..Are You Ready To Up Your Game?
Keywords in the profile headline? Wow, what a great idea! Why haven’t I thought of it? Very good advices, thanks, Martha!
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I don’t know WHY you never thought of that but now that you know, go DO it! Good luck to you
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Hi Martha I’ve been on linked in for years but I really haven’t gotten much out of it. It kind of feels like a resume database where everyone’s recommending each other for jobs.
I don’t make a lot of effort on there and I know with most of these things what you get out of it is related to what you put into it. But I just can’t really see how to really utilise it.
I have joined a few groups, perhaps I need to look for some better ones.
Dan recently posted..Replace your brain with Evernote
It’s all in the networking. Decide what group of people you need to network with and seek them out. If your prospects fall into a certain group, join groups where they will show up.
Make people look for your content. For example, the blog post you wrote about Evernote was VERY informative. If you are looking to teach people how to improve their lives with tech, then start showing them you can. Leave that blog link in all your groups on LinkedIn and see if you can get a conversation started.
Just a little advice . . .
Martha recently posted..Powerful Ways To Promote Your Business For Free
I do actually auto tweet my tweets to linked in. I know some people don’t like the idea but it’s about the extent of my interaction with linked in. I’ve had a few people come back to me via linked in that wouldn’t have if I didn’t push the Tweet to it so I still think it’s an ok idea (although I can’t measure how many people it annoys).
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