In this day and age, keeping up with new technology, websites, and information in general is a daunting task. Maybe you’re a general contractor, a sales guy, or a small business owner – no matter what role you play, down time on your computer might not be a reality, especially when your priority is growing your business and your professional network. Social Media is trending now more than ever and when used effectively, can be a great way to generate leads and make connections with consumers.
LinkedIn in particular can be a great tool for businesses and individuals looking to reach specific industries or business demographics. This added benefit to the social media network is why we put together this quick and easy guide for using LinkedIn to promote your company and make important industry connections.
- Optimize Your Profile
Make sure to fill in all the sections on your LinkedIn profile, including the summary. What you post on LinkedIn should be a reflection of your professional history, as well as what makes you passionate about your field. LinkedIn can be a useful tool for job searching and head hunting – but it can also be so much more. Imagine a potential client or partner vendor visiting your page, how would it illustrate the benefits of working with you?
Helpful Hint: A profile picture of your latest hunting trophy or favorite sports team does personalize your profile, but it’s better suited for Facebook. Your LinkedIn profile picture should reflect the industry you are in. If you’re a lawyer, your picture should probably be more serious. If you’re a professional clown your profile picture should be fun. If you’re like us, and are often found working in the field in business casual attire, something like IDI’s Cleveland Branch Manager Greg’s profile photo might work better.
2. Grow Your Connections
Most people think of LinkedIn as a job searching site, but, as we’ve mentioned before, it can be so much more than that. Add the connections you already have in your email address book and find other professionals within your industry that you want to work with or learn from. Not only can LinkedIn act as another touchpoint for business representatives to reach potential clients, but it’s an opportunity to keep your news feed full of relevant people and information.
Helpful Hint: A great way to do this is to join targeted groups. You can search for industry related groups by using the search bar at the top of your profile. You can even create your own!
3. Be a Good Connection
In turn, you should also think about why would someone want to connect with you. If you read an interesting and informative article related to your industry – did you share it with your connections? If you work for a business, are you helping that company spread the word about what they have to offer? If you, and your LinkedIn profile, can become a resource for your connections, you’re increasing awareness and lead potential for you and your company.
As a business professional, networking and referrals are a crucial aspect of growing your company and your career. Following these simple steps can help you make the most out of LinkedIn’s powerful tools by tapping into industry specific communities and making new connections. Good luck and if you have a question, please leave a comment below!