(Online) networking is not about how many people you know, but how many people know you.
From making connections and establishing partnerships to generating leads and boosting your brand awareness, LinkedIn can become an important part of your online marketing strategy.
Unlike Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, LinkedIn is a professional platform designed to help you establish and reinforce business relationships.
Here are 10 ideas how to use LinkedIn to find new customers, partners and ultimately grow your business:
1. Identify Your Goals
Just like any marketing initiative, it’s crucial to identify your goals. Good marketing goals for LinkedIn may include: establish your expert position, generating and nurturing leads, driving qualified traffic to your website, promoting events, and more…
2. Create a LinkedIn Company Page
If you don’t already have one, create a LinkedIn Company Page. Personal profiles don’t have the same marketing, advertising, and recruiting features as Company Pages, making them less effective at promoting your business. As you create your page, think about the kind of impression you want to create among potential customers and employees. This will help you select the right photos and messages to use on your page.
3. Promote Your Company Page
Once you have a Company Page, announce it to your clients, suppliers, team members and personal network. Announce it on your personal LinkedIn profile, link to it in the footer of your emails, put a Company Follow link on your website, …
4. Post High-Quality Content Regularly
High-quality content should be targeted and should accomplish two goals. First, it should deliver value (teach how to solve a problem or answer a question). Second, establish you as an expert in your field. The more you post (at least once a week), the more people you can potentially reach and convert.
5. Demonstrate Thought Leadership
Provide a unique perspective on your audience problems, your industry, or your niche. Sharing your vision or your opinion on the future of your industry or creating a definitive guide on your product are two ways to demonstrate your expertise and position your company as a thought leader.
6. Find Highly Targeted Prospects and Connections
You can focus on the exact industry, company size and job role [of people] that would typically buy your product or service. For example, if you are selling change management coaching for managers in small businesses in a certain country – you can set your advertising campaigns to only be shown to businesses under 100 employees, based in that country – and within that group, only to managers at those companies with HR titles.
7. Grow Your Email List
Having a list of contacts on LinkedIn is good, but having those contacts on your email list is GOLD. Send a message to everyone on your LinkedIn contacts saying thank you for being connected on LinkedIn, and offer them an incentive (lead magnet) to opt-in to your email list.
8. Stay on Your Connections’ Top-of-Mind
Stay in touch with your LinkedIn contact by posting regular/daily status updates and weekly LinkedIn blog posts. Monthly send invitations to webinars or downloading a white paper, report or an ebook…
9. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
Experiment with posting at different times of the day or week. If you find that a particular type of post gets more engagement than others – do more of it! Look at your competitor’s pages. How effectively are they using LinkedIn? Is there anything they’re doing that you don’t do? Is there anything they’re not doing that you can do?
10. Always Measure Your Results
Use LinkedIn’s analytics to get tons of insight. Visitor analytics – gives you everything you need to know about the people who click on your page. Update analytics are the engagement metrics for all your LinkedIn posts. Follower analytics – gives you all the information you need on your audience.
Now It’s YOUR Turn
For five minutes… come up with as many ideas as you can… what could YOU do use LinkedIn to grow your business?
Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta
Top Commenters – last 30 Days
Let's Brainstorm
Please share your ideas (all of them or just one) in the comment box below… and let’s get WOWing.
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh Neta
201 comments
I have a bit a love/ hate relationship with LinkedIn. Because, so far it was a time consumer.
1. Read the post of Nisandeh, Aramik and Franck.
They are experts. I read even in Nisansehs post, thinks we were not tought in the trainings. Because LinkedIn Changad a lot since then. Especially about the business page.
2. Make sure your profile consists of
- Questions that your prospects recognize
- how You can help
- why you are the go to person
3. Post a pole and ask friends to comment.
4. Link to your website.
5. In the experience, put only relevant experience
6. Have relevant clients write a nice testimonials.
7. Make sure not to exchange testimonals.
8. Make sure you have a system to post linked in posts. Or use a VA
9. If you post a pole. Wait with liking other posts.
(Ask Franck)
10. Connect directly with relevant members that show interest in your post.
94 comments
no idea lol
69 comments
Ask for endorsements to build your expert role.
112 comments
I just finished a LinkedIn challenge with Franck Fielemon. My profile improved and I have increased my connections etc. From where I started it has been a huge step. In comparison to others it is meagre. So, don't compare myself with others! What I learned and what I will continue:
1. being more effective when posting on LinkedIn as in more comments and reactions by improving the quality of my posts.
2. be more consistent in posting. I used to post my blog every fortnight. I will do more posts.
3. keep finetuning my profile.
4. react more on posts from others and in this way increase my visibility on LinkedIn.
5. find ways to make more connections which look promising, probably more in the direction of coaches as Brain Gym can be used in coaching sessions as well.
160 comments
This is a real Aramik topic.
I actually should be more active and respond to my automatic posts... It's still not my thing.
Just by reading these posts, I got some ideas already (newsletter subscription, didn't even know it existed).
576 comments
I really like the fairly new function of the newsletter- it will send newsletters in mailboxes! I didn’t have a company name,
Website or mailing list so I used this to start.
@aramik and @franck, what tips would you have on how to create more engagement on LinkedIn? I find this still quite a challenge.
328 comments
Hi @Gerdy, I am sorry, I just now saw your question.
Let me start by saying: I totally understand your challenge. As this is actually a very strange (and new) feauture that LinkedIn is testing (I am not sure they are going to keep this feature as i already heard a lots of complaints..) But for now, these are my tips:
1: Sign in with as many as newsletters you can from the real LinkedIn influencers (like Mark Williams, John Espirian, Gary Vaynerchuck ),just to learn from their templates and strategies. I find this one of the best ways to implement.
2: Don't be "newsletter"-y... People hate it when they feel they got another "spam"newsletter. So just pretend you are just having a conversation in the coffee corner and tell stories
3: Keep it short and to the point
4: Have just 1 Call to Action and make it simple.
5: Measure every thing
these are my tips for newsletter.
For creating more engagement:
1: you want more engagment, get engaged! So block 30 minutes per day, to just go over your time line and respond to the posts you like.
2: Learn about my "ochtend-post"-strategy so that you can creat daily easy content to let your network know you as a person, not a company or logo
3: Introduce and tag your network with each other
4: repeat these steps daily!
And if I may be bold: please : Take care of your profielpicture on LinkedIn and Optimize your profile as I am teaching you in my e-book (i know you just download it;))!
576 comments
THANK YOU. Those are great ideas. I really like the newsletter so far:) We'll see where it heads to.
1. DONE
2. GREAT tip. I can see that I get lost in business language.
3. hm that's not what I see with Gary V for instance- but I like it, it fits me better...
4. I can do that
5. What is everything? views, likes and comments?
1. ouch... that feels to me like a time waster. is this really paying off? I'll give it a try.
2. Where can I find it?
3. hm never thought about it. I'll have to think about how to do this while giving value
I optimized my profile yesterday following your steps, didn't know my picture wasnt good enough:) changed that one too.
Thanks a million Aramik!
328 comments
WOW @gerdy! You are on FIRE, my friend! Go go go! Love the way you Speed up your implementation. \
2. Just be you, Business Language is not really you. Let them fall in love with YOU, not your business.
3. Just check them out and keep them nearby. I am not agreeing on every thing they are doing or saying either. But they are great examples to follow and just to see what you can model from them.
4. K.I.S.S will always work for you.
5. EVERY thing: Likes, Comments, Sharings, New connections, Profiel visitors, referrals...
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1. Do not give it a try, Embrase it fully and make it your life style for at least 180 days (btw: interesting that you think giving is a waste of time... 🙂 think again!)
2. In my eboek with 100 tips. If you cant: Just give me a GIL and I will send you the guidlines.
3. You can do it in different ways:
a) trough Your inbox - Make a message and just add 2 people you want to introduce to each other. Then write a short message like
"Hi Kees and Pim, I wanted to introduce you to each other! I think you can do business/help each other out.
@kees = great copy writer I trust and @Pim =Great webdesigner I love to work with.
So guys: Add each other and have a talk! "
(Some thing like this!)
b) Just go over your timeline and see what or who people are looking for! For example:
"I am looking for a great LinkedIn trainer to invite in my Online Summit to give a training for 500 participants...
When you see this, you just go to the comments and tag me (!!), like: "i would recommend @Aramik Garabidian "
(Some thing like that:))
In both cases: Keep it simple AND integer! Don't Oversell or Underestemate Your Value of recommendation.
+ fantastic that you changes your profile Picture! This is much professional and nicer. Now I can recommend you to all my network! hahahha!
Keep up the great work and if you have any questions, just let me know
(Do know that I now I am on vacation and will respond a little bit later than you are used to be)
328 comments
As a LinkedIn & Social Selling Expert, is this topic of course a "Wij van de WC-eend"-Topic.
First of all : I would not recommend you to use Company Pages in your Marketing Plan, just like the LinkedIn groups. They both just don't work. I do recommend to just creat a company page, put a logo and your credentials so that you take take it over in your "Experience"-part of your profile.
Ofcourse You should have a Detailed and Strategic Implementation Plan for Your LinkedIn Marketing. And yes: You should capitalise on this amazing platform as 95% of Your Fellow-Small Business Owners don't. You know why?...
Because They think that "LinkedIn is too Business-thing (te zakelijk)" or "Can I be my self on LinkedIn?" or "Does My message/brand belong to an LinkedIn Audience or Group?" and I can go on and on and on with all these Mind-fu%#s... Because it is just not true 🙂
I have already shared my best 50 LinkedIn tips in the other blog ( https://nisandeh.com/10-ideas-how-to-improve-your-linkedin-profile/ )
So please let me share my 5 Do's and Don't with you so that You exactly know how to implement it.
Don'ts:
1: Never ever Spam Your (new) connections after they Accepted your invitation to join your network
2: Stop Pitching Your Product through your Profile
3: Do not advertise on LinkedIn Unless you have a budget of 10.000 euro per month you don't want to have any ROI from 🙂
4: Thinking of Creating/Coping your content of Insta/facebook into LinkedIn. It does not work the same at all.
5: Joining discussions about #metoo, Politics, Religion, Corona, belanstingdienst, The wars all around the world...
6: Give Automated answers with a 👍or "Thank You". Take your time to respond like a human 🙂
7:
Do's:
1: Start a LinkedIn Blog (check my blogs to see how I am doing)
2: Think of LinkedIn as your Long Term Relationship Builder instead of a Selling Platform
3: Plan 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening to Network with Your time line and just to GIVE (introduce people, comment on the posts, Tag the ones you recommend and so on...)
4: Check your daily "profiel bezoekers"! This is a huge Lead generator as if you really get personal with your profile visitors, you can make an impact and friends on LinkedIn. Because LinkedIn is the ONLY platform that allows you to see who has been to your profiel and you just can connect with them and send them messages.
5: Always send a personal invitation when you are inviting New connections and Always do a great "Welcome"-follow up when they accepted your invitation.
6: Just use "jij/je" and Avoid "U". be personal!
7: LinkedIn is a Conversation Platform Not a hard Sales Platform. Focus on Giving and being a Joybringer in every thing you say, do and post on LinkedIn.
==========
And let me give you also a bonus tip that could make a huge impact on your business.
Warning 1: This only takes 2 minutes a day.
Warning 2: It looks so simple and it works like a charme that you'd use it for a while...
Warning 3: It can bring you 1650 of Your ideal clients per year!
So ready?
This is my "2 Minute Prospecting" Stratgey!
step 1: Go to Home
step 2: Go to the Search (zoek balk) above left
step 3: Type the job/accupation (Beroepsfunctie) of Your Ideal Target audience
step 4: click on "See All People results"
step 4: Check the hits (Above left), for example : If I would search for "Coach", I would hit 3.900.100
step 5: Go above to "location" tabblad and fill in "Netherlands" or "Nederland"
step 6: Now I have 234.000 hits
step 7: Just go over the profiles and Choose 5 people to connect by: First go to their profile, then click on More and then invite them personally with this note "Hi , Ik kwam je net je profiel tegen op LinkedIn. Mag ik je aub toeoegen aan mijn netwerk? warme groet, "
Step 8: Do this with ONLY 5 profiles per day!! (no more other wise you will get banned by LinkedIn... believe me I have tested this out :))
Step 9: Do a great welcome-Follow up
Step 10: Taaadaa! Celebrate! Because now You have a potential of inviting 5 people (your ideal clients!) per dag, that would make 35 per week, 144 per month and 1650 (!!) per year!
========
Anyway: I just got really excited, I hope you are still with me 🙂 Ofcourse if you have any questions, just let me know in the comments and I would love to answer all of your questions and help you!
576 comments
Aramik, would you recommend to invest in LinkedIn Premium and why? Without its hard to see who visited my profile (only the first ones) but I find it super expensive for just that function.
328 comments
Hi @Gerdy, thanks for your great question.
And yes: I would recommend only the first (cheapest) level, it's called "Career" and is 29,99 euro.
Because then you will acces to all of your Profile-visitors of the last 90 day and then you can Follow-up them personally.
So not all the other expensive ones. This one is just 1 euro a day and it is worth it!
Btw: You can always use the 30-day FREE membership to find out, just that you know!
175 comments
Very valuable information with a joyful human touch. I love your contribution, Aramik!
328 comments
You are sooo welcome, my dear friend @Ine! Did you know you have almost 100(!!!) comments?? WHOOHOO!! GO GO GO GO!!!
112 comments
Hi Aramik,
Great tips. I have a question. My clients are people, mostly kids, with a learning challenge like dyslexia, adhd and the like. How can I use the 2-minute Prospect Strategy you describe?
Thanks for your ideas on this one.
67 comments
Some input from my side:
I have been buidling my company Omzetcoach.nl in the last 5 years with the help of LinkedIn. Currently I employ 4 people and we work in a team of 8. We have generated millions of views, thousands of leads and attracted close to a thousand customers now. The strategy I apply is based on giving, connecting and adding value to the network. We are using social selling techniques, inbound marketing techniques and a structured follow up process. I call it Linkedin for Business. Especially for B2B with a target audince on LinkedIn.
We have identiefied multiple strategies, two of which are the strongest: volume based visibility based on free organic reach (compare it to advertising and promotion but without the ad spend) and an account based approach to get on the radar of your target audience. The search functionality and sometime paid sales navigator acount are very helpful.
Fundamental based on five pillars;
1. Personal branding -> Profile optimization and customer attractiveness
2. Building your network -> set goals to grow your connections/followers every month and activate your LinkedIn network both on- and offline
3. Sharing valuable insights -> also learn how the LinkedIn algoritm works, what are do's and don'ts and how to influence reach
4. Building relationships -> once the network will grow organice reach combined with e-mail marketing and lead generation efforts will have a growing impact (and need) as well, have a process and supporting systems and aim at getting people on your mail list.
5. Create and manager opportunities - build a pipeline and follow up!
175 comments
Thank you for your 5 pillars, Franck. What do you mean by 'activate your LinkedIn network offline'? Just asking people you meet in real life to connect? Or is there more I can do?
67 comments
Ine yes it means meeting them in real life. This could be by phone, zoom or face to face. E.g we organize Link & Drink network meetings on a frequent basis. And it's one of my good habits to pick up the phone and call one or two new LinkedIn connections every day.
111 comments
As I said before, I do my best to avoid social media as it's not good for my mental health. However, I use LinkedIn to research about producers and other indie companies that are looking for scripts and to start a relationship with them.
I wasn't aware that there is a difference between a personal page on LinkedIn and a Company one, but I will ask my VA to check whether it's something that can be useful for me. I'm also not sure whether as a 1-person business I can be called a "company"... or have use for the functionalities of a Company page.
Would love to read your input on these questions...
67 comments
Bina from my experience the company page is a waste of effort and time from the perspective of impact and reach. However it's on the other hand almost a "must have" if people consider doing business with you. I would recommend just to create it with a logo, contact details, link to website and product portfolio and an occasional update. Don't put effort in attracting more followers.
111 comments
@Frank - Thanks so much for this... so I guess no point for me even to bother with it I can use better my VA's time on other social media issues
328 comments
@Bina : So please tell me how you do your research? Which steps do you follow and most of all: What are your measurements? 🙂 Or shall I say "Intentions" ? (As I know you don't set Goals :))
And yes: I wouldn't use the company page. Like Frank said: Just make sure you have one, put in your "Experience" Field of Profile that you have some logo there and let it go... Seriously 🙂 I have tested it 1000 times, it just doesn't work 🙂 You can much more focus on building your Authority Position through your Personal Branding through your regular profiel.
And please check my tips about B2B search a I am sharing how you can Target your Audience of 1650 (!!) per year just by implementing 1 strategy for 2 minutes a day 🙂
111 comments
@Aramik - I ask my VA to do the research for me and mainly we use the search function and look for producers, directors, scriptwriters, production companies etc... and then connect with them and try to set a Zoom meeting to talk more face-to-face.
I will definitely tell my VA to check all your tips and download your e-book - I can always use an expert on stuff that I have no desire or inclination to learn but need to use...
328 comments
Great @Bina!
May I be bold?
Please think of a long term Follow-up Plan with your VA. I personally hate to be talked into a (zoom)call if I don't really know you and you are new to me on LinkedIn. In stead: Train your VA how to just ask the right questions and engage with them gently. teach her how to be interessted and not interessting.
Short term: You may find it going very slow...
Long term: an huge advantage, believe me!
And no, Don't download my Ebook 🙂 Just let her introduce herself and ask all of your questions directly to me through my inbox. We are more than friends, we are family. So just write all of your questions and let me help you right-away. OK? 🙂