LinkedIn For Small Businesses
As a small business you may have a website and social media profiles such as Facebook and Instagram but what about the rest of the internet? You need to be on all platforms including LinkedIn if you want to reach potential customers or clients. If you are not using it then you’re missing out! Having a LinkedIn marketing strategy may seem a bit heavy if you’re a small business, but a strategy doesn’t need to take loads of time or be thought out by a marketing agency, it could just be the case of planning to build a following or create your LinkedIn profile and company page.
Using LinkedIn To Promote Your Company
If you own a company and haven’t yet created a professional profile on LinkedIn then you’re leaving money on the table. When you create a profile you become much more than just another face in the crowd. Businesses want to work with those who represent themselves well, LinkedIn profiles can be about building brand awareness, creating lead generation or just reaching your target audience on another social media platform to gain trust.
If you are a small business owner there are a few tips and tricks for using LinkedIn. The easiest thing to do is simply upload your business logo along with a short bio about the business, in this section you can choose to share as much information regarding your company as you like. You may also choose to link to your employees if they have a personal profile, linking to your employees or team can gain some traffic to your LinkedIn platform, as you may begin appearing for other LinkedIn users who aren’t yet familiar with your business. Once you’ve done that you can begin adding connections. Start off slowly and gradually expand your circle over time. Don’t worry too much about getting accepted immediately. Just focus on growing your network organically.
Another great tip is to include links to your website, blog, Twitter account, etc.
What benefits could I gain from being on LinkedIn?
There are several reasons why you should consider creating a LinkedIn. Here are some examples:
1) Build Relationships – By connecting with professionals in your field you can start building relationships whether this be from your company profile or as part as of a LinkedIn group. As mentioned before, once you’ve been added to someone’s contact list you can message them privately without having to ask permission. This means you don’t have to wait until they reply to your request.
2) Generate Leads – Another reason to be on LinkedIn is to generate new leads. Companies often advertise open positions online and recruiters will check LinkedIn to find candidates. So if you aren’t already listed on LinkedIn you won’t show up in searches. LinkedIn works really well for companies in search of professional contacts.
3) Increase Exposure – Being visible on LinkedIn gives you increased visibility across the web. Your profile shows up in Google searches and when users type keywords into the search bar. That means anyone doing a search for “accountant” or “lawyer” will come across your page. Meaning if you are being searched for using LinkedIn you may appear for your services not just your profile.
4) Networking – Finally networking is one of the main purposes of LinkedIn. Professionals use it to stay updated on current trends and news. Plus, since most people only update their status every few days, you never know who you might meet while browsing through updates. LinkedIn is arguably the best platform for b2b marketing, in this case businesses interact with each other using a social media platform. You can use LinkedIn advertising to increase your reach but typically if you interact with a business through LinkedIn you will likely form a connection and interact online. Another useful tool you may appreciate is LinkedIn premium, with added benefits LinkedIn premium means you can see who has viewed your profile at any given time, meaning you have a complete pool of untapped customers or leads that you should be able to connect with using your LinkedIn company page.
How does LinkedIn work?
Much like other social media platforms for small businesses LinkedIn comes with pros & cons, different abilities, functionalities and potentials. In order to understand how LinkedIn works, you’ll need to understand the various aspects and what they allow the user to do, and how combined this allows for a great digital marketing tool.
Some use LinkedIn for opportunities, for some business professionals you can find jobs by searching through companies’ pages or specific positions within those companies. This will give you a list of relevant jobs based on where you live, skills required etc. As a small business on LinkedIn, posting job opportunities is a great way to increase exposure and credibility on a reputable platform. And using the job search function provides an opportunity to see what you’re competitors are up to.
– Connections
This feature allows you to add contacts from email addresses, phone numbers, websites and more. Once connected you can send messages directly to them via LinkedIn. The LinkedIn algorithm will also suggest users and companies it thinks you would like to connect with based on your activity on the platform. This a great way to generate new leads and build connections with other businesses, a great marketing tool to form online engagement in a professional manner, this may not be entirely suited to your business, but think… does it fit your clients or customers? if yes! then it’s time to get LinkedIn, your customers would be able to tag and mention you in their posts, meaning more exposure for yourselves to similar companies.
– Groups
Groups allow members to share ideas, discuss topics and collaborate together. There are over 1 million groups available so there should be something for everyone. This is a great way to network with companies and individuals in your industry. As a small business it can be hard to build connections with other businesses, especially if you are in a competitive market, LinkedIn groups give you an opportunity to be a part of a market specific community where you can be supported and support others.
– Events
Events are similar to group discussions except they happen at certain times and locations. These events usually revolve around industry related topics, so they are another great way to build relationships and network with those in your industry.
– Recommendations
Recommendations are basically endorsements given by others. People recommend you because they like you or think you would make a good employee/client/customer. The best part is that these recommendations appear right next to your name making them easy to see.
You can request recommendations from anyone including clients, employees, customers and even potential employers. If you have been recommended enough then you may receive a badge indicating that fact. So don’t forget to ask!
Is LinkedIn Better Than Facebook For Promoting a Small Business?
In 2021, a study by Growth Gorilla found that 59% of B2B marketers say LinkedIn generates more than double the leads that Facebook generates for them. Businesses on LinkedIn also said that LinkedIn users are 4x more likely to visit your website than Facebook users. If you’re looking to promote and sustain your business, LinkedIn is a trustworthy source that you can use to promote and post professional content.
Some people argue that Facebook has more monthly users compared to LinkedIn. While these stats are true, LinkedIn has a different demographic of users. Most of whom are professionals, senior level influencers or people in decision-making positions. Meaning that if you are looking to generate leads and learn from the success of other businesses, LinkedIn is the most reliable platform for your small business. If you are lost with social media and unsure on what is required, get in touch with us at Sgor, we’re here to offer free and helpful advice for all small businesses, regarding digital marketing, web design & Social media.
