Do I need LinkedIn? Small business owners – Part 2

Your system for tracking contacts?

Do I need LinkedIn? Small business owners – Part 1

How to grow your LinkedIn profile

Having a profile is just the first step, and as with any other networking system, it only works if you use it. There are a number of things you can do within LinkedIn to expand your network, and some will work better than others for you.

• Connections – start acquiring connections as soon as you can. Some people connect with anyone who asks, others prefer a more discerning approach. Do be careful when requesting connections. If more than five people refuse because they don’t know you then LinkedIn does have the power to kill your account.
• Recommendations – the best way to get recommendations is to offer recommendations to others, and to simply ask for them. If you have done a great job for a client, then it is not unreasonable (if they are on LinkedIn) to ask for a recommendation. The same is true of ex-employers.
• LinkedIn Answers – this is where you can start to engage with other people within LinkedIn. Start by asking some questions, and keep an eye out for questions that your expertise will allow you to answer. This is a great way to make connections.
• LinkedIn Groups – another good way to connect – there are literally thousands of groups on LinkedIn and you are sure to find at least a few I your industry.

Once you have a personal profile it would be foolish not to add a company profile

Creating a LinkedIn Company Page

Again, let’s start with the email address. Your email address must belong to your company domain, and it must already be associated with a LinkedIn profile.

What happens next?

• Company Name – this must match the name used in your profile.
• Admins – choose who you want to be able to administer this account – again it can only be people with a LinkedIn profile and a company email address.
• Company information – include a logo if you can, and make sure your company description include the things that will make it attractive to potential customers and clients. Include specialties – keywords are fine here. You also have the option to include a news module, but again, only set it up if you intend to use it. All the other information is self-explanatory but please include as much of it as possible.
• Include your Twitter feed and your blog posts if you have them.
• Products and Services –  Complete this section too – it will make a difference
• Analytics should not be ignored. Once you‘ve started using your company page the information in the analytics tab is very useful to help you develop your company page
• The last step is to include a follow button to your website inviting visitors to your website to follow your LinkedIn page.

It is entirely up to you how much information and effort you include in your LinkedIn company page, but it does offer a free opportunity to promote your business!

So, to go back to the original question – “Do I need LinkedIn?” Yes, I think if you are in business then you need LinkedIn, but bear in mind it won’t work if you don’t use it!

What does it mean for Small Businesses?

Get a LinkedIn account!

What do you think? Post your comments and own experiences below . . . . .

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