To be a savvy marketer you need to generate leads through Inbound Marketing and in order to do that you need to grow your Social Media Footprint. One of the best social media platforms I have found is LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 150 million members following over 1.9 million companies worldwide.
LinkedIn has company profile pages that are comprehensive with product information and even details about Special Offers. A LinkedIn Company Page also provides an ideal platform to tell your story, engage with followers, and share career opportunities. It helps humanize your business, giving visitors a chance to learn about the people behind your organization. Any LinkedIn member can follow a company that has set up a Company Page to get updates on key developments.
You are probably asking, I have a facebook company page already, why do I need a LinkedIn company page as well? To help answer that I have found this analogy that explains it perfectly –
Every social media platform has its own personality, facebook is a lot like the local pub. A pub is a place where you can go in, chat with friends, tell a few jokes and relax a bit.
LinkedIn is more like a trade show—a place where you’d keep things pretty buttoned-up and formal. No need to mention your vacation in Las Vegas on LinkedIn.
Here are 8 steps to follow to ensure your LinkedIn profile is up date and working for you:
1. Complete your LinkedIn profile – Full name and Image
It is a good idea to start with your personal profile, the more complete and updated this is, the better it will work for you. Go to the menu bar at the top and select “Profile”, scroll down and select “Edit Profile”. Include your full name and surname and photo. Research suggests that when people see a profile that is incomplete or without a photo, they see it as inactive.
2. Personalise your headline
In general keep it short and sweet, make it appealing, but it is a good idea to include your current position so that when a customer is looking for you they’ll be able to find you more easily.
3. Add work history
The more complete the better. The great thing about LinkedIn is that you can get word-of-mouth recommendations and trusted testimonials, people trust others more when they have been recommended by someone. Ask for recommendations by colleagues, employers and customers (previous and current), etc. Don’t just use the LinkedIn generic message, but personalise your message with specifics.
4. Customize your Public Profile Link
On the right hand side of the Profile page you will find the link to “your public profile URL”, click on this and then customize your link, this will help you get found when people are searching for you on Google or Bing.
5. Customize your Website URL
Link building is one way to get noticed online, and this is a very easy link to build. At the bottom of the profile page you will find “Additional information”, you can add multiple website, blog and other social media links here.
6. Create a profile badge
Promote your profile by adding a badge to your blog, online resume, or website. Follow the link and instructions at the bottom of the Profile page.
7. Grow your network
When you meet people be sure to invite them to join your professional LinkedIn network. You can also join groups or start a group. You can get introductions through others in your network. Start building your network today!
8. Advertise on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Ads allow you to create and place ads on prominent pages on the LinkedIn.com website. People click on your ads and visit your website. You specify which LinkedIn members view your ads by selecting a target audience: by job title, job function, industry, geography, age, gender, company name, company size, or LinkedIn Group. Control your advertising costs by setting a budget and only pay for the clicks or impressions that you receive.
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