One Thing You're Probably Not Using LinkedIn For
January 6, 2012 by Kevin Michael Gray
Linkedin is a phenomenon that is here to stay. For those of you who haven't heard of Linkedin (or who set up a profile in early 2004 but haven't done anything with it since) today's featured article from businessinsider.com will offer you some helpful tips on how to leverage Linkedin's features. From networking, to references, to aggregated industry specific content, Linkedin has it all! Read more below:
What you can do as an individual LinkedIn user
Comment on status updates.
This is a good way to stay in touch with current and past clients. Just don't be too pushy by promoting your services. It's more important to let your contacts know you're around and active.
Search groups related to your field.
If you want a leg up before meeting with a potential customer or client, you can search forums related to your company. That way you'll know the kind of questions customers are asking in advance of a sales pitch. It also helps to stay active in those groups to get your name out there. (You can search for groups in the drop down menu located on LinkedIn's main search bar.)
Ask for recommendations from clients.
If you receive a complimentary note from a client, it never hurts to ask them if they would add that under your LinkedIn profile's recommendations. This will give prospective clients a good idea what it's like to work with you.
Make sure your profile is complete.
You never know if someone is searching for you. If your LinkedIn profile doesn't give visitors a full picture of your professional history, you could end up losing a new contact without even knowing it.
What your company can do
Make a company page.
If you haven't done so already, you can make a free company page on LinkedIn. Those pages can be used to share more about your company's products and services to potential customers.
Post updates to your company page.
Similar to the way brand pages work on Facebook, you can use a company page on LinkedIn to post updates and share links to those who follow.
Research other company pages.
Take a look at other company pages related to your business. It will give you an idea what prospective B2B partners are talking about. You can also get a peek at what the competition is up to.
Advertise on your company page.
Your company can work directly with LinkedIn to set up custom advertising and marketing campaigns on its page.
