Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn

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19 Oct Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn

When it comes to social media, the platforms that seem to get the most attention are Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. However, LinkedIn, known as the networking social media site for professionals, is an often overlooked and underutilized tool, especially when it comes to connecting with possible leads. According to one Hubspot study, “LinkedIn generated the highest visitor-to-lead conversion rate (2.74%) of the top social networks, almost 3 times higher than both Twitter (.69%) and Facebook (.77%).”

Chances are you’re already on LinkedIn, but here’s how you can make the most out of the platform and start generating new leads:

  • Start connecting with new prospects: LinkedIn is one big virtual networking list where you can constantly be connected with potential clients and leads. To start generating leads, Hubspot recommends you connect with at least five current or former business associates once a week. As you begin to connect with more people, you’ll start seeing more and more recommendations for people you may know – all of which could be potential leads.
  • Put your elevator pitch in writing: In the summary box, write your elevator pitch in a few concise sentences so that when people view your profile, they know exactly who you are, what you do and why they should work with you. Your profile picture, name, current title, and summary are all prime real estate above the fold to build trust and authority with potential leads, so make sure everything is professional, up-to-date, and easy to read.
  • Join a group or two or seventeen: There are hundreds to thousands of different groups on LinkedIn, which you can join, post ideas, comment on other’s posts and more. By joining a community on LinkedIn, you’ll be connecting with like-minded individuals within a specific industry who could be potential clients in the future. Hubspot recommends you join around 17 groups over the course of a month (one every other day) so that your online presence isn’t just confined to a few active people in a group or two. They also recommend you start a discussion in each group once a day for five days to increase your visibility and make new connections.
  • Do a job search: LinkedIn’s Job Search Tool isn’t just for finding jobs, but you can also search by company and find employees, their titles, work details, and sometimes even contact information. By arming yourself with information and/or specific names and contacts for a company, it makes cold calls and emails a little bit warmer.
  • See who’s checking you out: With a Premium LinkedIn account (which is a paid membership) you can have access to the names, titles, and companies of mostly everyone (some users opt to remain completely anonymous) who’s viewed your profile in the last 90 days. Even with a free membership, you can still see the general industries and locations of viewers, which will give you a better idea of who might be a good potential client.

As the “world’s largest professional network,” your LinkedIn profile can be a huge asset to building a better networking and lead development strategy. It’s time to start connecting!

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