Spring Entrepreneurs: Leveraging LinkedIn for B2B Social Media Marketing

Knowing what makes LinkedIn different from other B2B marketing tools

LinkedIn is the best site for businesses to connect with each other. With more than 774 million members it's like a conference hall for social media where people talk about their interests news and opportunities. People come here to learn meet new people and yes do business. Unlike sites that are full of cat videos LinkedIn is a place where businesses and people who are interested in business can connect directly.

You know how to use Facebook and Instagram. There's no doubt that they work well for B2C marketing. What about LinkedIn though? It's where you'll most likely meet people who make choices. If you want to make a deal between businesses LinkedIn is probably the best place to do it. Do you remember how the library was the place to go to see serious people in school? In the real world LinkedIn is like a library.

LinkedIn is a great place to do B2B marketing because you can reach out to certain groups of people. Not by guessing what movies they like but by knowing their job title industry and even any special skills they have. People who are interested in what your business does will talk to you on LinkedIn in a professional way.

Spring Entrepreneurs How to Use LinkedIn for B2B Social Media Marketing

The flowers are blooming and the world feels a little bit fresher in the spring which is a great time for business owners to change their marketing plans. You may have heard of LinkedIn the social media site for professionals that isn't quite Facebook but isn't just for posting your resume either. Don't worry about complicated plans let's look at how you can use LinkedIn for your B2B marketing needs.

LinkedIn is the best site for businesses to connect with each other. With more than 774 million members it's like a conference hall for social media where people talk about their interests news and opportunities. People come here to learn meet new people and yes do business. Unlike sites that are full of cat videos LinkedIn is a place where businesses and people who are interested in business can connect directly.

Making important connections quality over quantity

Now that your profile looks good it's time to start making connections. I know how hard it is to send connection requests like you're handing out candy. But this isn't about the math. You can make real connections on LinkedIn. Don't worry about how many friends you have worry about how good they are. And yes it's okay if you didn't talk to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company today.

When you get in touch make your messages personal. Don't be vague on LinkedIn just like you wouldn't be vague with someone at a party. Putting a personal touch on things can make the difference between getting accepted and being ignored. Tell them why you want to connect. You could do this by talking about something you both like or someone you both know. It makes people feel at ease right away.

You should also talk to people in your network often. You can leave comments on their posts share your thoughts or even send them a friendly message every now and then. Remember that this is a relationship not a business deal. This will help you make connections that could lead to future partnerships and collaborations.

Making and sharing content Find your voice

Making content on LinkedIn is a great way to show off your skills. You can't just post updates you have to add value. Think about what thoughts or facts you can share. Your content should show who you are and what your business stands for. You can do this by sharing industry news your own business experiences or lessons you've learned the hard way.

There are tools on LinkedIn for all kinds of content such as articles short posts slideshows and videos. Try out these different formats to find out which ones your audience likes best. You might find that your audience prefers long articles to short updates or slideshows with a lot of pictures to text.

Timing is also very important. You wouldn't post your most important update at midnight unless you were sure that everyone would be awake then. Check to see when your posts get the most views. And don't forget that no one likes spam. It's good to post often but make sure you can handle it and that your network doesn't get too busy.

How to tell if you're doing well and change your plan

Let's talk about the stats and the numbers that make them up. You might think it's a pain but the best way to find out what your audience likes and doesn't like is to look at LinkedIn analytics. You can see how well your posts are doing who is looking at your profile and get a better idea of your engagement stats with LinkedIn's analytics tools.

Don't just pay attention to shares and likes. Are people talking about your posts? If you wanted to talk to someone did your posts start new conversations or open up new opportunities? Keep a record of what you do and change your plan based on what you learn. Don't just think about how to grow your network also think about how healthy and engaged it is.

Networking and marketing are like games that keep going. As you learn more and grow your efforts look over your strategy every now and then. Like any other platform the LinkedIn landscape can change. Stay up to date on new LinkedIn features and change how you interact with your network as needed.

LinkedIn is more than just a social media site for B2B marketers it's your clubhouse. It's your chance to show off your skills make real connections and really use your professional network to help your business grow. Have fun connecting!