5 Top LinkedIn Tips for Networking

This article looks at our 5 top LinkedIn tips for networking to help you get the most out of the social media tool for your business.  

Who’s not on LinkedIn these days?

If you answered no, if you will do one thing today that will make a positive move forward for your business or career path, I would strongly advise you to set up an account now!  

Of course you can read this article first to understand why!

3 Quick Reasons to Start Using LinkedIn:

If you are on LinkedIn already but don’t use it that often, let us tell you 3 reasons why we use the tool that will make you want to start using it right now.

1. In the last month Over 80% of our new clients have been found through networking on LinkedIn
2. LinkedIn allows you to export our new connections data giving us access to emails which are invaluable when it comes our email marketing campaigns for new business.
3. From our LinkedIn email campaigns, we have had over a 60% response rate each time. 

Our email marketing campaigns that have come from using this tool have been very successful, not only for us, but when we rolled out the marketing model to our clients campaigns, it was highly successful for them too.

For more information about email marketing to your LinkedIn connections please contact Harriet – harriet@harrietbishop.com

Our Top 5 LinkedIn Tips for Networking

1. Use a professional profile headshot

People like to buy from people, not logos or businesses.  Think of LinkedIn as a way of selling yourself, your skills and your business.

We highly recommend getting a professional headshot taken if you don’t have one already. This will really help to boost confidence in your capability as well as act as a ‘social proof’ (you are who you say you are).

Tips: Make sure it is recent, keep it clean and simple with a white background if possible.

2. Keep your profile up to date

If your profile is out of date, people won’t bother with you.

Make sure your skills, experience, headline and summary etc. are all up to date.

Tips: Check your profile through thoroughly once a month and make changes whenever needed

3. Business Owners need a Business Page

On LinkedIn you can have 2 types of pages:

1. Your personal profile – all about you!
2. Your business profile – all about your business, it products, history etc.

If you are a business owner, it is highly important that you create a business profile.

A company page allows to to attract followers, engage with a larger audience other than your connections and improve your search engine ranking too!  

Research shows over 50% of LinkedIn members are more likely to purchase from a company whom they engage with on LinkedIn (more info here).

Seems a shame to miss out really!

Tips: Make sure you use your company logo where applicable, choose an eye catching banner image that is relevant to your brand, and finally take advantage of the products and services tab.

4. Connecting on LinkedIn

The main reason for joining LinkedIn is for the ability to network and connect with people all over the work.

However, LinkedIn stops spam or spoof connections by limiting the way in which people connect.  People can only connect with you if they have:

• Gone to the same school
• Worked with the same company
• Joined the same group 
• Done business with you previously
• Through referall from another connection who knows you
• or know your email

When someone try to connect with you they will have to provide you with one of these reasons.

There are 3 levels of connections,

1. The 1st where they are directly connect with you and are on your contacts list
2. Where they are connected directly at 1st level with one of your other connections
3. 3rd where there are a few other people between you and their connections who could link/refer you. (everyone else)

Tips: Our recommendation for networking is to search for relevant people, in relevant roles and industries whom you can invite to connect with.

As you build a larger list of connections your network reach will become larger and larger!

5. Email your LinkedIn connections to ignite conversation

Email marketing is a powerful tool when planned and carried out correctly.

We love to email our new connections thanking them for connecting and giving the a short overview of what we do and an opportunity to meet or call to talk further.

Our email campaigns have had over a 60% response rate each time not only for us, but when we used the marketing model with our clients, they had a huge success rate too.

Tips: Keep it personal when emailing new connections!

Need Help with Your LinkedIn Strategy?

Our team of experts are here on standby to help you with your LinkedIn Marketing Strategy, from setting up profiles and business pages through to email marketing campaigns for new connections.

Contact our team today for more information or to arrange your free consultation.

T: 01344 206 205

E: harriet@harrietbishop.com