Blog
Online Marketing with LinkedIn
As a professional networking site LinkedIn is an excellent way to meet and share information with fellow professionals. It is a way of proving professionalism and expertise in a given field, fostering professional relationships, and hopefully turing associates into clients. LinkedIn is similar to BNI without the expense or forced referrals.
With LinkedIn company pages are used as a profile page for the company rather than using them to provide information to connections. LinkedIn is better used and leveraged by individuals with their personal profiles linking to the company. It is for professionals wanting to connect with other professionals for professional purposes. This is contrary to Facebook which is for socialization, fun, and sharing personal information. LinkedIn has much less spam and advertising. With Facebook, the more connections you have, the less useful the site is in terms of business. It is difficult to separate personal life from business, and information is often watered down with posts from other connections. LinkedIn is short sharp and to the point. Connections are made based on what individuals can do for each other in terms of business.
The answers section in LinkedIn can be used to find answers to questions, post questions, and above all, answer questions where you can. By answering questions you are getting your name out there, gaining trust, and proving that you have knowledge and expertise! You will earn respect, and gain contacts.
The best ways to make the most from LinkedIn are:
Make connections with people that can benefit from your expertise, and that may be able to benefit you/your organisation. Connections may be old colleagues, associates, friends, friends of friends etc. They may even be people you don't know, but would like to connect with. In this case LinkedIn lets you know your degrees of separation. if you know someone that knows the person, you can ask for an introduction, or if not introduce yourself. Search should be used to find contacts that you "need". It is important to reach out to your contacts every now and again, not just if you need them.
Ask and answer questions or participate in discussions. This is an easy way of showing your expertise, gaining trust, and building your reputation. It is always better to answer more questions than you ask in order to maintain an "expert" image.
Recommend and introduce contacts. By participating and helping out connections, they will do the same in return to you. Be sure to only recommend people that you have had good experiences with, as others will rely on your recommendation. The same goes for making introductions. Only introduce people if you believe that they will be mutually beneficial.
Research your connections and learn more about them. This can prove useful before a meeting, as things can be brought up to discuss and build a relationship on. Find out what you have in common and what you can bring to the relationship.
Continue to be interactive. Like Facebook, LinkedIn is not something where you can post something once and expect ongoing benefits. You must keep up to date both in your usage and in your profile information. People will connect with others that participate in discussions and interact with others.
Join groups and participate in discussions that are posted. This is a great way of connecting with others and sharing information. It is also another way of showing your expertise.
Update your status regularly to remain top of mind. By changing your status and reminding people of upcoming events, new blogs, changes to your website, or new products, people will be constantly reminded that you and your organisation exist, and that you are active.
It is important to keep all interactions on social networking sites positive. Leaving negative feedback will only reflect badly on you and your organisation. This does not mean that you have to agree with everything someone says, but disagreements should be stated in a positive way and not knock the other person's opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and the majority of the time there is no right or wrong answer.
It is also important not to oversell yourself or your organisation. Remember people join LinkedIn to gain useful contacts and information. They do not join to be marketed to.
About
Brynn- Like this post? Share with your friends:
