Linking up with LinkedIn
Now that you’ve dipped your toes into the social media pool, it’s time to really dive in and get acquainted with LinkedIn, the world’s top professional networking site.
“Social media” may not be the most accurate way to describe LinkedIn. In contrast to Facebook and MySpace, LinkedIn is used primarily for business, not pleasure. You might not automatically think of LinkedIn when you’re trying to attract new customers, but in reality, it’s a great way to increase your visibility and build a reputation in your industry. If your company is a newcomer to the scene, you’ll find the site especially helpful.
Creating a LinkedIn profile is a bit like writing a resume. Just like a resume, your profile can (and should) continually be updated as you refine your professional image. But remember to follow the first rule of cybermarketing: take advantage of the word-of-mouth possibilities, but avoid aggressively pushing your products or services!
Once you’ve established your profile on LinkedIn, the site allows you to:
- share information with others in your field on the site’s “Answers” forum. Your answers to questions are rated by other users. High ratings establish you as an “expert” – which can open many doors!
- join professional groups, keep informed about conferences and trade shows, and stay up to date on the latest developments in your industry.
- exchange referrals and recommendations.
- organize your professional references for the benefit of potential customers or clients.
- research the individuals and companies with whom you do business.
- research your competitors and learn from their marketing techniques.
- increase traffic to your website and blog.
- boost your company’s visibility on search engines.
To get an idea of how people create their professional identities, do a search for other providers in your industry. When building your own profile, don’t forget to include details about your employment history, and mention any professional awards and accolades you or your company have received. You never know when opportunity will come knocking!
For more tips on using LinkedIn to develop your business, see this article from the site’s blog. And check out our video on LinkedIn!
Social Media – Learn How to Make it Work for You!
It’s official: you can’t afford to ignore social media any longer! A recent study shows companies that make smart use of social media achieve far greater financial performance than those that don’t. Advertising alone doesn’t cut it in today’s competitive environment. As Ford Motor Co. chief marketing executive James Farley famously observed: “You can’t just say it. You have to get the people to say it to each other.”
If you’re ready to start participating in social media — and want to know how to make the most of it — then join us for our webinar, Core Social Media Strategies, on December 4, 2009, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Our discussion will include:
- The dos and don’ts of using blogging and Twitter to help build your business.
- An introduction to search engine optimization, or SEO: the art of inserting key words and phrases into your online communication to help attract traffic to your website.
- A free key phrase list designed just for you, based on a phrase you provide us that describes your business.
- A question-and-answer session to address your company’s unique concerns.
Enrollment is limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis and we still have some spots left. Reserve your space now — and find out how to take advantage of social media’s power, while avoiding its pitfalls!
For reservations, please email Jordan@tcwebsite.com.
You Can’t Afford to Ignore Facebook
Facebook may have started out as a social networking platform for college students, but it’s now a standard method to keep in touch, network, and share information – for all ages and all walks of life.
While Facebook is clearly a personal tool it can also help your business. The key is to share information, not push your product. Facebook is an exclusive social network and gives people the ability to choose their friends. Offering useful information, answering questions, and participating in general will open more channels for you. Spamming or selling will close them. If you have a business that benefits from ongoing conversations with clients Facebook is a clear asset.
Just as individuals on the site accumulate friends, businesses collect fans. When someone becomes a fan of your company, the news shows up on their friends’ pages. And so on. This creates a ripple effect similar to word-of-mouth advertising, but many times more powerful. And did we mention it was free?
Here are some ideas for getting the most out of this amazing tool.
- Even if you already have a personal Facebook profile its good to make a separate one for your business. If you’re unfamiliar with Facebook, the site offers easy instructions for creating a company profile.
- What information should go on your page? An overview of your business. Useful tips demonstrating your expertise. Testimonials from your customers. Links to your website and your blog, You can also open up a discussion by letting fans write on your Wall.
- Like any web page, your Facebook page must show activity, or it will languish. Update your page frequently so your fans have reason to keep coming back.
- For more ideas on setting up your page and which elements to include, visit other business pages (check out ours, for instance. And please feel free to fan us!) Here are some other examples of successful Facebook pages with lots of active fans.
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