4 Ways to Maximize the Marketing Potential of

LinkedIn

If you said Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you’ wouldn't be wrong, however, there’s another platform that’s often overlooked as a powerhouse selling machine: LinkedIn.

Here are four sure-fire ways to make your LinkedIn business networking account do double duty as a brand engagement channel.

When you think about brand marketing, which social platforms come to mind?

1. Listen, listen, listenNo one likes a hard sell, especially when networking with peers and colleagues. The most successful entrepreneurs on LinkedIn stand by the old adage that it’s a good idea to listen twice as much as you talk.

Join as many LinkedIn groups as you can commit to being an active part of, then sit back and watch ongoing discussions before jumping in.

“Joining and following Group discussions in your industry is an excellent way to gain customer insights about needs, interests and more,” says the LinkedIn team.

Still unsure if groups are worth it? Studies show people who get involved in LinkedIn Group discussions average four times as many profile views.

2. Spruce up your profileNow that you're drawing more people to your profile, make sure it includes up-to-the-minute information about you and your business.

Claim a LinkedIn company page and link to that along with any other social platforms customers can find you.

A professional photo of yourself is highly recommended, as is relevant content in your “summary” field.

And don’t forget to ask for endorsements and recommendations from others. Satisfied customers make the best brand ambassadors.

3. Do your homework”As any salesperson will know, change creates opportunity. People join, people leave, companies make important announcements – any change can present a good reason to get in touch and offer to help,” says Anna Bratton, a sales strategist with Salesforce.

“LinkedIn makes discovering these changes easy. You can follow any company that has a LinkedIn page. That way you’ll see anything that changes directly in your updates."

"It’s an easy way to stay up to date and spot new opportunities.”

4. Take your timeIt'll take time and patience to see the results of your efforts, but the ROI is well worth it.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a great tool to help you find and prioritize leads culled from LinkedIn’s database.

The Aberdeen Group has also outlined the below a set of social selling best practices to help you grow your business.