Techblog
Top tips to create a great LinkedIn reputation
By the myBusiness techblog team
As we know, satisfied customers are the best source of new customers. Their word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations can create a solid reputation for your business. And one way to generate word-of-mouth is to harness LinkedIn, a professional networking site that has more than 150 million members in over 200 countries and territories.
LinkedIn is simple to adopt, but to make it work for you, a little bit of effort and strategy is needed. Find out how you can create and maintain a respected LinkedIn reputation with the following tips:
1. Get your Profile into shape
You want your business to appear as one that has adequate authority on the Internet. Inform your contacts which websites your business is a part of; and where they can find your business’ portfolio for future reference. Make full use of your LinkedIn Profile and fill in the three slots available for websites. Choose them wisely to ensure that they will showcase the strength of your expertise.
2. More than just “Intro please”
You’ve just accepted some invitations to be part of your contacts’ network. What’s next? What can you do to follow up and inform them that they have indeed made the right choice in adding you to their network? Write a personalised message, including quick points on your products and services, as well as how they can contact you, including emails, blogs and forums that you own. This will help let them view you as an authority figure on the Internet, increasing future business opportunities.
3. There’s no such thing as too little publicity
If you talk about your experience using the site, you’ll stand a better chance to be recognised as a reputable LinkedIn user. Be generous, and share tips that will benefit new users and veterans alike. This will reinforce your standing as a reputed user / business. Start a blog on your LinkedIn networking experiences or include posts on the “how’s and why’s” of LinkedIn professional networking in your blog. Remember to get your own LinkedIn vanity URL and include the link wherever you can.
4. You need to hang with the right crowd
Remember that you’ll need to give in order to receive. By joining Groups relevant to your area of expertise, you can help shed light on your capabilities and learn from others who are adept in your industry. This will reaffirm your status as a reputable thought leader in your field. Examine the Groups Directory, browse relevant categories and select the best Groups that apply to you. You’ll want to focus on quality over quantity.
5. Be the life of the party
You can host events in order to increase your presence and build your reputation. These events will allow you to showcase your unique skills to bolster your presence and establish you or your business as experts in your field. People are also usually drawn to events, as they can obtain useful information.
6. A dash of keywords goes a long way
Make searching for your profile easier by adding keywords related to your business. A great place to start is in the Summary section within your Profile. Find and insert keywords that would make it easier for others to search and find you.
Even though LinkedIn may not be known as the de-facto social media platform, it can still provide beneficial tools that can benefit your business. Are you using LinkedIn as part of your social media strategy yet?