Using LinkedIn as Part of Your Marketing Plan - Small Tips for Big impacts

Some social media platforms are just for fun, while others are strictly business. LinkedIn, the social media home of business owners and job seekers, falls squarely into the latter category. If you are looking for a job, you probably already have your resume and relevant information on the site, but LinkedIn can be just as valuable for small business owners.

If you are not using LinkedIn as part of your small business marketing strategy, you could be missing out on a valuable branding opportunity. A well designed and properly used LinkedIn profile can get the attention of would-be customers, attract qualified job applicants and help you build your brand. Here are some tips you can use to turn LinkedIn to your advantage.  

Consider Sponsored Updates

Creating content on LinkedIn is one of the best ways to establish your credibility and expertise, but it is not always easy to get the articles, tips and updates you create in front of the right people. That is where sponsored updates come in.  

LinkedIn sponsored updates give you a simple and effective way to get your content in front of the key decision makers in your industry. That in turn can help you build credibility in your niche and get the attention of others in the industry. This kind of targeted marketing is one of the smartest ways to use LinkedIn.

Go Visual

Creating a compelling LinkedIn profile is not always easy. The site provides a standard format individuals and business owners can use, but that generic profile is not exactly exciting.

You can spruce up your LinkedIn profile and make it more interesting by adding visual elements. LinkedIn allows users to add a variety of visual elements to their profiles - including photographs, screenshots and videos. You can even add your own SlideShare presentations or link to articles with the images intact.

If you have not yet taken your LinkedIn profile visual, now is the perfect time to do it. Just look for your favorite slide shows and share them, or add some photos of your key staff members. The visual content will get the attention of visitors and help your profile attract more followers.

Source: Misha Collins

Don't Neglect Your Personal Profile

If you are building your LinkedIn profile for business, it is easy to focus all your attention on that project. Building your business profile is an important part of marketing, but that does not mean you should abandon your personal profile or leave it incomplete.

You can use your personal profile to enhance your business and enhance your brand building strategy. Joining group discussions on subjects you are passionate about and linking content back to your business profile is one of the best ways to optimize your LinkedIn presence.

Tag Your Connections When Creating Content

Posting new content on LinkedIn is a great way to establish your expertise and build your brand. No matter what niche your business operates in, customers will be looking for experts in the field. Whether they want to learn how to fix a sink or build a deck, the expertise they find on your site will build their confidence and help you establish yourself as an expert in the field.

You can make those how-to articles and other pieces of content even more useful by tagging your connections as you post. Tagging is a great way to ensure that those in your LinkedIn network will see your posts and respond accordingly. Tagging is easy - just type "@" and then the name of the contact.

When used properly, LinkedIn can be a real boom to your business. Taking the time to optimize your LinkedIn profile can help you build your brand, establish your expertise and connect with decision makers in your industry. Furthermore, your LinkedIn profile can help qualified employees find you - reducing advertising costs and making it easier to fill open positions. No matter what the nature of your business, LinkedIn can be a powerful asset.

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