In life and business, we keep those who provide us with the most value close to us. We live in a world where we can get any information we want at any time. The internet has given us access to anything we want, when we want it. The problem with the internet is that there is an abundance of information and it is hard to decipher the good from the bad.
Many of you are on Linkedin and have struggled to get any value from it. Social Networks are full of people, most of which I believe have good intentions, but so many fail at converting social network contacts into anything more than a digital connection. Social Networks have dramatically increased the number of people trying to connect with us. This means that we have to scrutinize who we communicate with even more than we would if we were at a networking event.
The key to making the most out of Linkedin is to provide value. Just as with other social networks, there is a share button. That allows you to generate value and distribute it to a large audience for free. The problem with most of us on Linkedin is that we rarely use that button. That share button is your key to building your audience and potentially converting some of them to customers.
Here are 7 Tips for Growing Your Following on Linkedin.
1. Post Updates: This is the simplest form of communication on Linkedin. A Linkedin Update can contain text, images, links, files or links to videos. Linkedin is not Facebook; it’s best that you stay on topic. Save your cat photos and videos for Facebook. On Linkedin, you want to provide the same kind of value you would if you were meeting one-on-one with a potential client.
2. Quality Over Quantity: When you are deciding what to post to Linkedin, make sure it is unique and valuable information. Do your research. Don’t share content that made it’s rounds months ago. Your content needs to be fresh and from your own knowledge of the subject. Unique and timely content will get comments and shares.
3. Curate Content: As a professional in a certain industry, you probably come across content that is valuable to those who are your potential clients or customers. You can share this content to your Linkedin contacts through post updates. Some people get carried away with this. Make sure you are sending relevant and timely content that is enlightening.
Pro Tip: Make sure you mix in curated content with original content. You don’t want to be that person who shares often but has nothing original to say.
4. Join Groups: Linkedin Groups are actually pretty good. You can join a group on just about any topic in an industry. People are often posting questions in those groups that you may be able to answer.
Pro Tip: You can find tons of good ideas for posts or articles for your website in Linkedin Groups. If people are asking the question, you can turn it into content for your website.
5. Fill out your profile: I rarely come across a profile that has been completely filled out. Linkedin gives you plenty of room to showcase what you have experience in. Use it to your advantage. Linkedin also uses that content to rank you in Linkedin People Search. For years, I was the #1 result when you did a People Search for “website designer.” Even today, I still rank high because my profile is filled out and I use industry related terms in my profile.
6. Ask for Linkedin Recommendations: Don’t use the Linkedin method of asking for a recommendation. This method results in an impersonal email from Linkedin asking for a recommendation. You can easily send out requests to 100’s of people and get zero results. The best way to get recommendations from people is to give them a recommendation. Alternatively, you could also email them personally and ask them for the recommendation. Make sure you return the favor.
Here is a sample script you can use to personally email past clients or colleagues to ask for Linkedin Recommendations:
Hey Name, I am working on getting a few of the people I have recently worked closely with on projects to write recommendations about me on my Linkedin profile. Your voice and opinion matters to me. I would love to have your thoughts on our work together on my profile for others to see.
You can view my Linkedin profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeradhill
Thank you for considering,
Your Name
7. Watch the Updates Feed: People have a lot to say on Linkedin. This gives you an opportunity to comment or add to something somebody posted. People often ask questions and you can answer them right there. Your updates feed consists of people you are already connected to. Make it a point to add some value to the conversations they are having on Linkedin.
The bottom line is that you have to be active on Linkedin. You are not going to get anything out of Linkedin by simply having an active profile. Social Networks have become more like real life. We need real interactions to feel something. There has to be value, or we won’t waste our time. I am sure you have just as many requests for your attention as I do. We have to be smart about how we use our time. Linkedin can be a powerful tool for growing your business if you find a way to add value to the update feeds of your Linkedin contacts.
I would love to connect with you on Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/jeradhill
