Let’s look at the numbers. LinkedIn has more than 332 million members that span over 200 countries around the globe. Add this to the statistic that LinkedIn is adding two members every second of every day. Astonishing numbers like these make it is easy to understand why businesses see opportunity in LinkedIn.
When we take a step back and look at the components of a B2B marketer’s arsenal, social networks and a social media strategy are no longer optional. LinkedIn is one of the most important B2B social channels, especially for small businesses, because it allows you to provide authenticity and credibility around your business. LinkedIn users inherently have a professional mindset or they wouldn’t have joined in the first place. Don’t be shy. Go ahead and market yourself and your business – impress your fellow businessmen and women and harness the power of LinkedIn.
Five Reasons for Investing Time and Money in LinkedIn
1. Branding and Visibility
With the proliferation of social media and the ease of access via mobile devices, it is not uncommon for someone to visit a social profile of a business before viewing their actual website. A LinkedIn business page allows you to be found and provides a stage for you to showcase everything you have to offer. Adding media like videos, presentations, and white papers can enhance your credibility and promote your business. Every time you post a status update, your business gains additional exposure.
2. Thought Leadership
LinkedIn groups are one of the most powerful ways to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Consider engaging existing industry groups on LinkedIn. You can do this by offering relevant commentary within existing discussions. You can also add value by providing compelling content to groups. Another option would be to establish your own group and work to grow that group and its members. Instead of making the group all about you, make it useful by focusing the group on industry news, best practices, innovative ideas, pain points, and other topics of interest.
3. Awareness & SEO
Establishing a LinkedIn business page, when done correctly, can drive traffic to your business website. Taking the time to properly build out your LinkedIn company page will ensure that you are not missing the opportunity to connect with potential customers and increase awareness. For example, LinkedIn best practices suggest that using keywords and phrases within the copy of your business page can help increase brand awareness by boosting your presence in search engine results. Be sure you know which keywords and phrases you want to rank for and be sure to include them on your page.
4. Hiring
If you are in the market for potential candidates, the first place the smart ones will be looking is LinkedIn. According to LinkedIn, 1.5 million users look for jobs on the website every day using their mobile devices. Keep in mind that the number only includes mobile devices. Factor in non-mobile devices and the number increases significantly. In order to attract top talent, make sure your LinkedIn company page is complete. Providing candidates a full picture of your company builds interest and increases visibility.
If you are actively hiring, you can easily publish your job postings and use LinkedIn’s search features to find potential candidates. Proactively searching for candidates will give you the ability to search based on hiring needs, directly connect with them, and drive them to your job posting.
5. Promotion
You have invested the time and effort to create your LinkedIn business page so don’t forget to promote it. Add the LinkedIn social icon to your website, emails and newsletters along with the other social media channels you participate in. You can also add the icon to your email signature to encourage people to follow your business. Consider offering a valuable incentive, like an eBook or white paper, to people if they follow your page.
Promote your business page by using your own personal LinkedIn profile page. Post an update to your profile when exciting things happen. Perhaps you are launching a new product or your business just won an award. Remember, people will always respond better to valuable information and content than to an endless stream of shameless advertising. Spamming your network of professional contacts can do more harm than good so be considerate and make your interactions count.
Need help with your social media presence and strategy? Contact Launch Marketing today! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest B2B marketing tips and trends.
Sources: http://www.statista.com/statistics/274050/quarterly-numbers-of-linkedin-members/http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/08/linkedin-is-gaining-one-new-member-every-second-every-day-9-other-crazy-stats/
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