LinkedIn for Smart Founders #2: How to Craft an Impactful LinkedIn Company Page Banner // Can You Advertise on LinkedIn with a Small Budget?

Welcome to the second issue of LinkedIn for Smart Founders! In this edition, you'll discover how to create a standout LinkedIn company page banner, learn whether it's possible to effectively advertise on LinkedIn with a budget below 1,000 EUR (hint: yes, it is!), and get the latest insights with the 5 hottest news and articles on LinkedIn marketing and advertising from the past two weeks. Let’s dive in and make LinkedIn work smarter for your business!

Bi-Weekly LinkedIn Tip for Smart Founders

Elements to Include in the Banner of Your LinkedIn Company Page

I suggest thinking of your LinkedIn Company Page banner similarly to the main header on your website - it is there to quickly show people what your company is about.

Here are the elements to consider when preparing a great banner:

• Color Scheme & Branding: Use your company’s color scheme and fonts. Keeping everything consistent helps people instantly recognize your brand.
• Call to Action (CTA): Use a CTA that invites visitors to take action, whether it is exploring services or learning more about your offerings.?
• Company Mission & Unique Selling Points (USPs): A short line about your mission or what sets your company apart can help visitors understand your business quickly. Keep it brief and direct.
• Visual Representation of Services or Products: Use icons, images, or short descriptors to give a quick snapshot of your offerings. This is especially useful for visitors who want to understand what you do at a glance.
• Strong Numbers: If your company has impressive stats - like the number of clients, successful projects, or positive results - feature those numbers on your banner. Strong figures, such as “500+ satisfied clients” or “90% success rate,” quickly communicate credibility and build trust.
• Visual Appeal: For the best impact, humanize your banner with images of real people, such as your team or customers. However, if your company prefers illustrations, stay consistent with your branding.
• Awards, Certifications & Affiliations: Adding symbols of excellence (like awards or certifications) can elevate your credibility. Don’t hesitate to showcase them, as it is a proven way to build trust.
• Client Logos or Testimonials: If space allows, add logos of your most important clients or a brief testimonial. These add social proof, showing that others trust your expertise.
• Contact Information: If you have room, provide a simple and direct way to get in touch, like a website link or email address. Keep it clean and non-intrusive.
• Event-Specific Visuals: If you are planning a launch or celebrating an achievement, you can customize your banner for the occasion. You can use your temporary banner to announce big news, new service launches, or milestones, then switch it back to your general banner when the event has passed.
• Alignment and Harmony with Other LinkedIn Page Elements: Check if your banner design works well with LinkedIn’s logo placement. Make sure no key elements are hidden or overshadowed by the logo and adjust as necessary to maintain a balanced look.

Finally, consider creating multiple versions of your banner for your employees. A customizable background will align with individual personalities and roles, making it easier for team members to visually represent your brand while still keeping elements of self-expression.?

Some excellent examples:

Interem

Total Freight International

SmartB2B.Marketing - The Art of LinkedIn

Smart Founders Ask Us

Can I advertise on LinkedIn with a very small budget (below 1000 EUR per month)?

Yes, you can advertise on LinkedIn with a small budget, even as low as 1,000 EUR per month—or less, actually, since LinkedIn often gives out free credits to tempt new advertisers. But let’s be real, you're probably wondering if that 1,000 EUR will actually deliver decent results, right?

Good question! And yes, I know what you might be thinking: “Here we go, another marketer about to give me the classic ‘it depends’ answer.” Well, don’t worry - I’m not going to leave you with just that! Let’s look at the specifics, based on the best-case scenarios, of course.

If you’re strategic with your targeting (for instance, avoiding high-cost markets like the US and Australia) and you're not promoting something with loads of competition, you could get more than 10 lower-funnel leads - like sales calls, demo requests, or trial sign-ups - with that 1,000 EUR. Take, for example, a software company I work with offering their solution for SEO marketing. Over three months, with a budget of about 1,000 USD per month, we managed to get 33 trial sign-ups at an average cost per lead (CPL) of 87.42 USD.

Now, if you're after middle-funnel leads, like webinar or ebook sign-ups, you could achieve even more – some 30+ middle funnel leads per month. For instance, I recently helped a web3 client generate leads from the US for a webinar on Real Estate Tokenisation Finances, with a cost per lead (CPL) of 35.89 USD over several months.

Are these results guaranteed? Absolutely not. But they’re examples of what’s possible when you target the right audience with the right offer. So, with careful planning, that 1,000 EUR can go a long way - no need to break the bank!

Monthly Hottest News and Articles about LinkedIn Marketing and Advertising

Welcome to Bi-Weekly Hottest News and Articles about LinkedIn Marketing and Advertising!

In this issue, we cover LinkedIn’s new Gen Z podcast via iHeartRadio, the process for obtaining a verification badge, the addition of message draft-saving, key statistics for transforming your 2024 networking, and critical updates to improve your LinkedIn profile.

?? Andrew Hutchinson from Social Media Today, LLC discusses LinkedIn's new podcast, "Let's Talk Offline," produced in partnership with iHeartRadio . This show, hosted by LinkedIn’s Gianna Prudente and Jamé Jackson (Gadsden) , targets Gen Z listeners and aims to address the challenges of early career experiences while maintaining personal values and well-being. Each episode promises to offer candid conversations and answers to questions that young professionals may hesitate to ask their superiors.?

LinkedIn's initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand its podcast offerings, which began with the launch of its Podcast Network in 2022. With podcast popularity on the rise, LinkedIn's collaboration with iHeartRadio seeks to broaden its audience while delivering meaningful guidance to the next generation of professionals. Observing how LinkedIn builds on this audio platform to expand its offerings will be fascinating as this partnership develops. Read the full article to learn more!

?? Have you already noticed the verification badge on some LinkedIn profiles? Published by Igniting Business s, Ben Seidel explains the process and benefits of obtaining a LinkedIn verification badge. The badge indicates that LinkedIn has confirmed the authenticity of a user’s government-issued ID. Verification is free and available to all LinkedIn users, regardless of account type. Seidel highlights the advantages of verifying your profile, such as boosting credibility, avoiding impersonation, and standing out if you have a common name. Verified users often experience increased profile views, comments, and messages. While not mandatory, verification is strongly recommended, especially for professionals who engage in outreach, have a personal brand, or occupy executive roles. It can help build trust and improve visibility on the platform. Follow the link to the full article!

?? LinkedIn is expanding its functionality with a new feature: the ability to save message drafts. Lindsey Gamble 's article, "LinkedIn Adds Support for Saving Message Drafts," details how users can now keep unfinished messages in a "Drafts" section, accessible through a filter next to the inbox search bar. Although this update may seem small, it offers significant benefits for frequent LinkedIn users by allowing them to save and return to draft messages, thus enhancing messaging efficiency. This new feature is part of LinkedIn’s ongoing efforts to improve its messaging system, which also includes the introduction of the Starred option for key messages, an expanded AI Writing Assistant, and messaging for Company Pages. Together, these updates aim to refine the user experience on LinkedIn. Full article:

??LinkedIn is not just a networking tool but a powerful space to connect with professionals, build your brand, and grow your career. Jeffbullas.com reports that to make the most of LinkedIn, it's essential to understand some key statistics about the platform. Knowing these stats can help you optimize your presence, craft more effective strategies, and achieve better results. For example, as jeffbullas.com reports, LinkedIn has over 1 billion users worldwide, with the majority aged 25 to 34, making it a prime platform for career-focused individuals. Additionally, 75% of people who recently changed jobs used LinkedIn to make informed decisions, showing its influence on career moves. Video content on LinkedIn is also growing rapidly, with a 34% increase in uploads year-over-year, making it a crucial tool for engagement. Follow the link to learn the other exciting stats from the full article.

?? William Arruda at Forbes emphasizes that your LinkedIn profile plays a crucial role in shaping your personal brand, especially in today’s digital-first world where first impressions often happen online. To ensure your profile stands out, it is suggested making a few key changes. One of the most important is fortifying your headline. Instead of just listing your job title, use a combination of your role, relevant keywords, and something unique or intriguing to set yourself apart. Another vital update is refreshing your "About" section, ensuring it’s written in the first person and includes personal details to make you relatable. Additionally, keeping your "Featured" section updated with multimedia content, such as images or videos, can boost your profile's appeal and highlight your thought leadership. Read the full article to discover more important changes.

Our Special Offer - Ready to Optimize or Create Your LinkedIn Company Page? Let’s Get Started! ??

Is your LinkedIn Company Page looking a little outdated, or do you need one set up from scratch? Now’s the perfect time to optimize your page to attract more clients, build credibility, and showcase your brand—without breaking the bank!

Special Offer for Startups & Small Businesses

We understand that growing businesses need to make the most of their resources, so we’re offering a tailored solution to help you get your LinkedIn Company Page looking sharp and professional.

What’s the Offer?

For just €200, you’ll get:

• LinkedIn Company Page Setup or Optimization: Whether you’re starting fresh or need a revamp, we’ve got you covered.
• Draft Copywriting Included: We’ll craft copy for your company’s overview, mission statement, and key sections, aligning with your brand’s voice and goals.
• Banner Requirements & Ideas: While we don’t design the banner, we’ll provide clear guidelines and creative ideas for what your banner should include to make an impact.
• Page Optimization for SEO & Branding: Ensure your page is easy to find and fully optimized to represent your brand the right way.

Perfect for Those Who:

• Want a professional-looking LinkedIn presence without the hassle.
• Need guidance on what elements to include for a strong company page.
• Are ready to make their company stand out on LinkedIn but don’t have the time to start from scratch.

This offer is designed to help you build or refine a LinkedIn Company Page that will engage your audience, highlight your brand’s strengths, and set you up for future success.

Get Started Today for Only €200!

This is the perfect, low-risk way to invest in your LinkedIn presence. Whether you’re a startup or small business, we’re here to help you create a page that works for you.

?? Share this offer with other small businesses or startups that could benefit from a well-optimized LinkedIn page.

Let’s take your LinkedIn Company Page to the next level—starting now!

Brought to you by the SmartB2B.Marketing Team. SmartB2B.Marketing - The Art of LinkedIn is an award-winning LinkedIn Marketing and Ads consultancy that specializes in creating and executing LinkedIn strategies for smart B2B companies. Our mission is to develop customized solutions that deliver the highest quality leads at the lowest cost.

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