Why you should be on LinkedIn (and using it). Period.

You need to be present in the places people will look for you

People will check you out

You may think LinkedIn isn't where you can find your target market.

You may think it's too professional.

You may think it's just for recruitment.

Or for keeping in touch with former corporate colleagues.

Surely if someone is going to check you out they'll Google you

All of the above are reasons you MUST be on LinkedIn

Google

However you meet someone in business, they will check you out.

Yes, they will Google you.

But guess what is most likely to be in the top three results….

Your LinkedIn profile.

If it isn't, they will think "why aren't they on LinkedIn?"

Market not there

With over 700 million users worldwide, your market probably is there.

It may not be the place where they would buy from you.

But it is where they will check you out.

LinkedIn is the most trusted social media platform for business.

So it is a key component in building that know-like-TRUST cycle.

Too professional

LinkedIn isn't Facebook or Instagram and long may that continue.

But a key part of building the know-like-trust cycle is being authentic.

Sharing a bit about you and your story.

It's called social selling and is a key part of making LinkedIn work for small businesses.

So don't be put off.

Recruitment

Yes - recruiters use LinkedIn extensively.

So do job hunters.

LinkedIn even encourages you to create your profile like an online cv.

That's not what your profile, as a business owner, should look like - but that's for another time)

But cv's are stuffed full of keywords.

That's great for finding exactly who you want to sell to.

Keeping in touch

LinkedIn is a huge networking tool.

Many c employees use it to keep in touch with people they worked with when they move on.

So if you connect with your clients,,,,,

The chances are they will be connected to people in similar roles.

They could be your next great client.

Great first impression

So, if people are going to check you out on LinkedIn, you need to create a great first impression.

That's why my 45 minute First Impression Profile Reviews are so popular.

And LinkedIn provides:

• A great structure to that first impression
• A trusted source of information
• A huge amount of traffic
• A great opportunity to tell your story

A good first impression is the bare minimum on LinkedIn.

Staying Front of Mind

It's not your customer's job to remember to buy from you.

It's your job to frequently remind them.

95% of people seeing your marketing are not ready to buy.

So you have to keep drip-dripping messages to catch them when they are.

LinkedIn is the perfect platform for this, especially if you are connected to your target audience

Recommendations

Google, TrustPilot, Checkatarde etc.

There are lots of sites to gather recommendations.

But it's hard to check out the person giving the recommendation.

Most never do.

But on LinkedIn, you can click on the profile of the person giving the recommendation.

If the profile looks thin or wishy-washy, don’t trust it or the business.

Fake profiles and recommendations are easy to spot.

That's why LinkedIn recommendations are so powerful.

It's networking 24/7

Word of mouth is a key source of new clients for many businesses.

That's why networking really works if done properly.

As many have found during the pandemic, LinkedIn is networking, 24/7.

You can reach further and wider than any other form of networking.

All you need to get started is:

• That great first impression
• To be present
• To show up consistently
• And above all, be YOU

The world is your oyster

Once you get started in the right way, things will begin to happen.

Not immediately.

LinkedIn is not a silver bullet.

It's not a get-rich-quick scheme.

It requires patience, consistency, and hard work.

But once the penny drops, there is so much more you can do to amplify your presence.

Then the world really is your market.

Time for action

When was the last time you gave your profile some TLC (tender loving care)?

Schedule some time to do it within the next week.

Connect or follow me for tips on using LinkedIn.

Follow my Company Page Linked Business - Leveraging LinkedIn for your Businesss for more ideas

?Or maybe book a 45 Minute Profile improver session.

?Most businesses still ignore LinkedIn.

Be different and stand out

?#marketing?#smallbusinessmarketing #marketingclarity #MondayMarketing #linkedinmarketing