How do YOU social media? Are you a Facebooker? Do you prefer the Twitterverse? Well, let me tell you about the most powerful B2B networking social media platform out there, LinkedIn. This powerful tool for small businesses not only helps you find new customers, but it can help strengthen your relationships with existing ones. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to use LinkedIn for your own professional promotion, optimize a business profile, and helpful tips on how to get started and network! 

Let’s dive in.

Optimize your personal LinkedIn Profile to 100%

This is a crucial step to a full LinkedIn experience. LinkedIn has its own system of categorizing users which will prioritize professionals based on profile completeness. This is called the Profile Strength Meter and you should see this at 100% when you get finished with these next steps!

1. Complete all of the sections on your profile. This includes adding a photo, completing your headline and summary, and listing your skills and experience.
2. Enable search engine visibility for your profile. This will ensure that potential customers can find you when they search LinkedIn for professionals in your field. LinkedIn is indexed by search engines and you will need to make your profile visible so other professionals can find you. 
3. Use keywords in your profile. LinkedIn allows you to use up to 50 keywords to help people find you based on what you do and what you’re interested in. 
4. Customize your LinkedIn URL. This is a great way to promote your profile and make it easier for people to find you. Try to keep this short and simple, if you have social 
5. Add samples of your work. LinkedIn allows you to upload documents, images, and videos to showcase your work.
6. Add any education or certifications you have earned. Be sure to list your educational achievements and professional certifications.
7. List any volunteer experience you have. LinkedIn is also a great place to highlight your volunteer experiences and the skills you developed while doing them.

Now that your profile is complete and you are “findable” it’s time to grow that network!

You have a lot of options when it comes to finding new connections. You can choose to share your “contacts” which will then upload your existing contacts to your connections database, you can then choose to either add them, follow them or message them. LinkedIn has the ability to help you find connections from your “circle of influence” which will not only include friends, coworkers, and contacts you have saved but it can also help you find industry connections you may not know yet. If you prefer to start fresh without adding your personal contacts then you can allow LinkedIn to suggest new people and groups to be following instead of pooling from possible connections of “who you may know”. 

Posting to your LinkedIn “Community”

Your profile is complete. You have added connections and grown your network with contacts and industry professionals. Now, it is time to introduce yourself to your LinkedIn community of professionals and connect with your new “friends”. 

Start by engaging with posts and adding relevant content. With your growing connections and expanding network, you can showcase your business to a wider audience and increase exposure to those you are connected to. You can also use your expertise to engage with other professionals in your field, introduce new products or promotions, and more. With so many ways to use LinkedIn for your business, there’s no reason not to take advantage of everything this social media site has to offer.

Discover Groups

One of the great things about LinkedIn is the group’s feature. There are groups for almost every industry or topic imaginable. Joining groups related to your industry or topic can help you connect with potential customers, partners, and employees. Groups can provide a valuable community for exchanging information and networking with others in your industry. They can also be a great source of leads and potential customers. When looking for groups to join, be sure to take into account the size of the group, the level of activity, and the type of members.

The best way to make the most of LinkedIn groups is to participate actively. Share useful information, ask questions, and engage in conversation. You can also use groups to locate potential partners and customers by asking questions about your industry or business offering.

Keep in mind, if you don’t post anything at all in a group for six months, LinkedIn has an algorithm designed to remove inactive members from groups so they can maintain quality control. There is a limit of how many groups you can be in on LinkedIn. If you max this out at 100 you will need to leave a group before you can be added to another one. Pro tip: make sure you read Group’s Discussion Guidelines before sharing links.

Key takeaways:

We’ve provided a few actionable steps to help you optimize your profile and make the most of this powerful tool. Whether you are looking for new clients, job opportunities, or just want to grow your professional network in general, LinkedIn is an invaluable resource. It can be used as a launching pad for finding businesses that may need what you have to offer or it can provide exposure for when you post content on other platforms like Facebook. If there was one word we would use to describe LinkedIn, it would be “connections”- connections with people who share similar interests and goals as well as connections with potential customers all over the world!

Contact us at Empire Creative if you need help with setting up and optimizing your profile or anything else related to digital marketing – we have experts ready and waiting!