LinkedIn: Utilizing Tools to Get Business

As a follow up to our LinkedIn: Optimizing Your Profile post, we wanted to give you some tips on using LinkedIn to create new opportunities and drive results for your business. Below we’ve outlined some of the top tools available to you on LinkedIn and provided a few helpful action items to help you get started.

Groups
Groups give you an easy way to connect with others in specified industries to find people you can do business with in the future.

• Start conversations and discussions within groups
• Don’t send out spam or mass business offers but real and thoughtful questions that will make people think
• Join groups where clients and potential clients are active
• Listen to what is important to group members and participate in discussions to position yourself and your company as a leading authority on those important issues

Company pages
Many companies have their own pages on LinkedIn and this resource can be used to find decision makers you may be connected to on a first-, second- or third-degree level.

• If there is a company you think would be a good fit to do business with, look at their page and find employees or former employees that might be able to help you get your foot in the door
• Engage those people and build a relationship with them so that they will be more willing to point you in the direction of the person who may give you business.

Connections
You can look at the connections of the people with whom you are connected. This is a great way to find people you could develop mutually beneficial relationships. The nice thing is you already have an acquaintance through whom to connect.

Answers
People pose a wide variety of questions that they are looking for answers to.  Answering those questions allows you to show people outside of your connections what you can offer them.

• Browse for questions using keywords that are relevant to your industry and expertise
• Answer questions within your area of expertise to position yourself and your company as a leading authority on the subject matter
• When proposing questions, propose things that are relevant to your business and not spam.  For instance, don’t ask, “Who is looking for my services?”

Make the most of the networking opportunities afforded to you on LinkedIn. By using all the tools LinkedIn provides, you can establish industry expertise, expand your professional reputation and create new leads for your business. Who knows, your next big client might just be a LinkedIn connection away.

Learn more about how you can use social media to drive new business – Contact MONSTERS Unlimited at  (877) 401-4949