In recent years, LinkedIn has become a hub for those based in business and those wanting to connect. It's a networking powerhouse but despite this, we see that a lot of business owners aren't taking advantage of what this innovative and professional social network has to offer.
Today we are going to look at how you can optimise LinkedIn to your advantage to grow your connections and possibly attract a few clients along the way.
If you don't know what LinkedIn is, it's a social network that was designed for professionals and businesses alike.
LinkedIn has been around since 2003 and was primarily aimed at working professionals and those wanting to progress in their careers. It now boasts over 630 million users and employs 18,000 staff around the world, making some impressive acquisitions as it has grown such as Lynda.com, Slideshare, and Pulse.
It is also heavily used by recruitment firms and headhunters, with the layout of the LinkedIn profile making it perfect for them to assess the credentials of a prospective candidate.
Getting started with LinkedIn
The first thing you're going to want to do is set up a LinkedIn profile for yourself and a page for your business. Your profile is the place for you to show off your work experience, credentials, and skills you have.
Your business page like any other social network is like a front page for your business on the site. Some have said that it's equally as important to have a LinkedIn page for your business as it is a website.
LinkedIn also has a facility where you can sponsor posts. Either from your business or personal page. This will lift it higher on the home feeds of users and can help you to grow your reach and potentially attract some clients.
Sponsored posts are heavily utilised by recruitment firms who are wanting to advertise jobs.
Growing your client base
Another way to optimise LinkedIn to your advantage is to post relevant and original content. You will always want to bear in mind the tone and style of the content you are writing and who your audience is.
Of course, not all of your posts have to be about business, but it is a great place to boast about milestones in your business or even in your personal professional life. It's always a great place to dish out business tips and to congratulate others on their milestones.
So how can this help your grow your client base?
Let me tell you, because it's the perfect place to connect profiles with others that may be interested in your business or a great place to find suppliers or even a business you could start on a joint venture with.
There is also a feature called 'groups' on LinkedIn which acts as the perfect place to connect with others who share the same interests or even work in the same industry.
All in all, LinkedIn can be a very valuable asset both to you as a business owner and also to your business itself.
If you want to know more about how to optimise LinkedIn to your advantage get in touch with me today and let's have a chat.