By Latisha S. | latisha@pancakedigitalsolutions.com
LinkedIn has always been a great place for corporate business owners and employees to network online, recently it has increased in popularity among small businesses and entrepreneurs. Which is why it is important to understand how to utilize LinkedIn for your small business.
Check out these 7 LinkedIn strategy tips to learn how to utilize LinkedIn for your small business and make sure that you are leveraging LinkedIn to its fullest potential.
Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
The most important thing to start with on LinkedIn (or any platform) is to start with a strong foundation. To do this you want to make sure that your profile is completely optimized for your market and to attract your target audience. This includes:
- Engaging Headline- Be sure that your headline is compelling enough to entice the viewer to click through to your profile. Try to write the solution you offer in your headline and not just your services.
- Professional Photo- When uploading your profile picture, make sure that your photo is a headshot that looks professional. It doesn’t have to be suit and tie professional, but you do want it to be high-quality and without a lot of background “noise”.
- Personalize Your LinkedIn URL- Don’t forget to personalize your URL! It looks more professional and also makes it easier for people to find you.
- Complete Contact Information- It’s surprising how many people miss this step, but completing your information not only looks professional, it also makes it easier for people to get in touch with you. Don’t forget to add your social media handles, website, phone numbers and city (if it is relevant; ex. Local business). People do not want to have to search everywhere to find your email, phone number or website.
- List of Skills & Relevant Jobs- This is where you can make your profile shine! Even if you don’t think that your previous skills and jobs are relevant to what you are currently doing, they are! Create a story out of it. Oh, you were a waitress? Well, then you must have amazing communication and people skills!
Connect with the Right People
A big mistake that I see people making on LinkedIn (and I’ve even done it myself) is connecting with people who aren’t relevant to your industry.
I recommend connecting with a few others in your niche, a few people who may be good to collaborate with or hire, and then your target audience.
You only get so many connections on LinkedIn…make them count!
3 Engage with Relevant People
Don’t forget that even if you don’t actually connect with someone on LinkedIn, you can still follow them and engage with their content. You also want to be engaging with those you are connected with.
Comment on their articles, posts and videos. Ask questions to start a conversation. If you do send them a DM, make it very meaningful and please DO NOT pitch to them. Build a relationship first!
Write Compelling Articles
Share your expertise and knowledge of your industry by writing compelling articles. Articles are a great way to set yourself up as an expert and thought leader.
You can also cross-post these on your other social media sites to draw more traffic back to your LinkedIn.
Create LinkedIn Videos
We all know by now that videos are ruling social media platforms. But, did you know that they also have the highest reach on LinkedIn?
For video creation on LinkedIn you have two options:
- Create a recorded video of 1-10 mins long. LinkedIn videos cannot go over 10 mins.
- Download a Facebook live that you have done (that’s under 10 mins) and upload it onto LinkedIn. You could also cross-post from IGTV or YouTube
Share Your Blog Posts
Whenever you write a blog post on your website, share it on LinkedIn! Not only will this help build your expertise, it will also bring more traffic to your website.
Be Consistent
I know that I have said this before, but consistency is the key to success on any platform! You can’t just show up once or twice a week, share a post and then abandon ship. You must consistently be engaging with your audience, posting thought pieces, and establishing yourself as the go-to person in your industry.
On the Table…
With all of the privacy changes on Facebook and Instagram, a lot of small business owners and entrepreneurs have started focusing more of their time and attention on LinkedIn. If you are looking to establish your authority in an industry and become a thought leader, then learning how to utilize LinkedIn for your small business and having a well-crafted LinkedIn strategy is sure to set you up for success.
Want to learn more social media tips and how to build your business online? Click to join our free Facebook community, Marketing 4 Makers.
Are you interested in learning what it would like to have support in your business? Contact us HERE.
For more social media tips, download our business checklists:
Facebook for Business Checklist