Quick Wins = Engagement

What’s inside this issue: Quick Wins: How to increase your chances of landing a new client, fast | What you can and can’t control in your business | What is “Engagement” exactly | How to get started connecting and commenting on LinkedIn

You can’t control whether or not you land a new client this month… but you can control how often you engage. Here’s why that matters...

What would be a great “quick win” for you this month? When I asked in a recent Office Hours session for my Simplest Marketing Plan , the number one response was: A new client. Of course that’s what most people want…?

But there’s a delicate balance between what we can and can’t control in our businesses. You can’t control when a potential client is going to be in their “time of need” and ready to hire you.

What you can control is how much marketing you do.

And the number one thing you can do to get more clients, quicker… Is to engage on a regular basis.The more you engage - whether in-person or here on LinkedIn - the higher your chances of a prospect remembering you in their time of need.

But… what is engagement, exactly??

First, let’s go over what engagement isn’t:?

? It’s not fiddling with your LinkedIn profile and updating your portfolio.

? It’s not even posting on LinkedIn. (That’s content marketing and content marketing is the long game.)

? Engaging is connecting, in real time, with real people. And you can do it in just a few minutes a day, right here on LinkedIn.

Simply put, engaging is literally getting into conversations with people.

In other words, being willing to jump in and start interacting, putting yourself out there and being eager to see what happens.?

Engagement doesn’t wait for perfection.

Whatever you have in place will have to be good enough to get you started.?

Don’t forget, your business is a laboratory for your personal growth. It’s best to keep the stakes very low and approach everything with this attitude: “I’m just going to try this and see what happens.”

So if you’re not feeling ready or you are at all nervous about “putting yourself out there,” try this attitude on:?

Think of everyone you engage with this month as “practice” clients and prospects. You’ll learn what you need to on them, which will give you the confidence to move on to better ones later in the year.?

With that mindset, try the tips below…

Like marketing, engaging works when you do it. And all it takes is a few minutes a day to do it well.?

Here are three types of people to start connecting with…

1. Start with people you already know. That could be people you know in “real life” or folks you’ve met here on LinkedIn or in groups like the SMP. By “know” I simply mean you already have a rapport with them and they know who you are. Friends and colleagues are perfect.
2. Start with people whose contact info is easy to access or find. On LinkedIn, that’s easy. You can start by commenting on people’s posts, replying to comments on yours, and sending messages through the LinkedIn platform.
3. Start with markets where you have experience, contacts, or samples. Engaging with people within a market or field where you already have experience is a major shortcut. You want to be able to say “yes” when they ask whether you have experience in their industry. Plus, starting with what you know helps you approach with confidence. And you’ll be more prepared to land a client when they’re in their time of need.

Here’s a simple strategy to start conversations with real people on LinkedIn:

1. Remember that no single comment is all that important. It’s about continuing to connect and engage over time. Don’t worry about getting it “just right.” Just start.
2. Find a post that already has comments in the feed on the LinkedIn homepage.

1. Read what others have commented.

1. Take a moment to make a meaningful comment that adds to the conversation. What do you think about the post? About the comments? Do you agree or disagree, and why?
2. Invite the other commenters to connect by sending them a message and referencing the conversation.

There are so many benefits to engaging regularly here on LinkedIn.?

• It expands your network, and opens possibilities.
• It gives you a community of fellow creatives.
• And the LinkedIn algorithm rewards connection and conversation, too. The more you reply to comments on your post, the more it gets seen.

So, start small. Give it just a few minutes a day. And go make some conversation!

Quick Wins & Shortcuts:?

Here’s a video with 3 shortcuts to getting more quick wins from your engagements on LinkedIn.

The Difference Between Engaging and Posting on LinkedIn Watch this video to hear me further explain the difference between posting and engaging on LinkedIn.

10 Minutes a Day on LinkedIn - Yes, you can connect with people on LinkedIn in just 10 minutes a day! Listen to this episode of the Marketing Mentor Podcast with special guest Melanie the Marketer to hear her simple, 10-minute LinkedIn Strategy. Listen here .

Want More or Better Clients This Year? Grab The Simplest Marketing Plan for 2024 at a Discount !

Until Next Month ...

What’s another way you can engage with real people here on LinkedIn? Share your thoughts below!

Ilise Benun, Your Marketing Mentor – Marketing-mentor.com

Subscribe to my Quick Tips newsletter to be inspired with ideas beyond LinkedIn to market your creative business.

And catch up on any QLTs you missed here:

• Posting vs. Commenting on LinkedIn
• How to Build Momentum on LinkedIn
• Fight “Postcrastination” Do This Instead
• 3 C’s: Essential Elements for LinkedIn Success
• Could You…Should You Start a LinkedIn Newsletter?
• Is Your LinkedIn Outreach Timid or Targeted?
• I Found My Focus for Using LinkedIn – What’s Yours?