LinkedIn is definitely an underused social network. Sure, it’s more of a “professional network”, but it is still social nonetheless. Let’s examine the 6 LinkedIn marketing tips featured on SocialMediaExaminer.com:
- Boosting Your Search Engine Optimization: LinkedIn gives you the option of customizing the three website links that appear on your profile. I believe the defaults are: “My Website”, “My Company Website” and “My Blog.” Instead of leaving the default verbiage intact, pick a short keyword phrase that describes how people search for your company. For example: a client in the “directory” space might want to link their URL to a keyword such as “Local City Guides”, instead of their company name.
- Promoting Your Blog Feed: Widgets are an easy way to get your blog content in front of LinkedIn users. If you are use (or plan to use) WordPress for your company blog, there is a WordPress plug-in for LinkedIn that will sync your blog posts and display them on your LinkedIn profile. If you aren’t using WordPress, you can use the “Blog Link” app on LinkedIn to import your blog posts. The “Blog Link” app supports TypePad, Movable Type, Vox, Wordpress.com, Wordpress.org, Blogger, LiveJournal and many more. Continue to cultivate your brand on your “professional homepage” on LinkedIn.
- Creating LinkedIn Ad Campaigns: LinkedIn has its own direct ads campaign that is targeted to the professionals who use LinkedIn. When you create a LinkedIn DirectAds campaign, you will be able to market your business to 57MM+ professionals with a median income of $108K/year. And who could forget targeting? You can target your ad by industry, job function, company size, and more. You also have the option to set up your campaign as CPC or CPM, and you can get started for as little as $50.
- Utilizing Events to Engage Clients: One of the great things about LinkedIn events is that you don’t have to be the event coordinator/organizer to create an event. You can create an event and send out invitations to your network, in hopes of meeting face-to-face if they’re attending. Possibly the best feature of LinkedIn events is the ability to view all upcoming events in your network from the homepage.
- Using Groups to Connect with People: Sure, we’ve all joined groups on LinkedIn with no or little intention of participating in them. Sad to say I’m one of those people. On the flip side, starting a group can be a great way to have access to email and to keep in touch of your growing group of followers. Remember that, when people from your network join your group, that action is visible to others in their network, which might pique an interest…and so on and so forth.
- Getting Recommendations to Attract More Clients: There is no better way to market your business and services than to have a glowing recommendation from a past/current client or partner. Recommendations ARE what sets LinkedIn apart from the other social networks - peers recommending the work or services of their colleagues. “How do I get recommended?” you might ask? Answer: “Give, and you shall receive.”
Read the article in its entirety on SocialMediaExaminer.com.
