No longer is LinkedIn just a platform to showcase your “online CV”.
LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, now with over 500 million users in 2019.
Whether you run a B2B business or whether you’re a service professional (such as a real estate agent, mortgage broker, freelancer, massage therapist), here are some key reasons as to why you need to be jumping on the LinkedIn-bandwagon.
1. Powerful marketing platform
Now, we’re talking about both your personal LinkedIn profile and LinkedIn company pages here.
LinkedIn is the #1 channel that B2B marketers use to distribute content at 94% (Source). Content can of course be long-from text, imagery, videos, blogs and presentations.
Some ways to market your business on LinkedIn is to…
- Share your customer testimonials and feature them on your profile.
- Write LinkedIn pulse article or share blogs from your website to demonstrate your expertise and provide value to your audience. Furthermore, turn these into long-form Slideshare presentations.
- Curate and share industry news to help position you/your business as the authority in your niche.
2. Your target audience is on there
No more “my customers aren’t on there” excuses. Did you know…
- 80% of B2B marketing leads from social media come through LinkedIn.
- 46% of social media traffic to your company site or blog comes from LinkedIn.
(Source: LinkedIn)
What’s more: Key decision makers are on LinkedIn
Is your target audience business owners, CEOs, home owners, recruiters, or other key decision makers? Well LinkedIn is teaming with them!
- 61 million LinkedIn users are senior level influencers and 40 million are in decision-making positions.
- Of the 87 million Millennial users, 11 million are in decision-making positions.
- LinkedIn is the most-used social media platform amongst Fortune 500 companies.
(Source: Foundation Inc)
It’s inarguable: your potential customers/clients are hanging out on LinkedIn. Go get ’em.
3. Build your personal brand
Probably more relevant to service professionals, your personal brand is – in a nutshell – the image of yourself that you share with the world (or how the world perceives you). This encompasses not only your physical looks and branding, but also your personality and personal value proposition (what you offer to the world). LinkedIn offers a great opportunity to build your personal brand and provide value to your target audience and network.
So, utilizing your LinkedIn personal profile is super important when building a personal brand.
How could this be beneficial to you? Put simply, if you’re an insurance broker, the next time that someone is thinking about contacting an insurance broker (and you’re an active connection of theirs on LinkedIn)… they are more likely to think of you.
Some ways to you build your personal brand on LinkedIn is to…
- Showcase your work. Put together some case studies and link to these on your personal profile.
- Optimize your personal profile. Including choosing a quality, professional profile photo and filling out all of the sections (especially the bio section) and use keywords from your industry/profession.
- Engage with other users; Like and comment on other posts, sharing your thoughts. Remember: social media is about being social and having a two-way conversation!
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Feeling overwhelmed? No time? Need someone to take the LinkedIn marketing off your hands? Hire a freelance social media manager! For a monthly fee, you can have consistent and quality content across your social media channels – building your brand, increasing engagement, reach and enquiries. Contact me for a free 15 minute call and request a quote.