Simple Principles for Using LinkedIn to Drive Sales

Posted on 31. Aug, 2011 by Matthew Toren in Business, Entrepreneurship, Internet, Social Media

Networking is relevant to all types of individuals and companies. And a perfect example of the power of networking can be found in the website LinkedIn. Over 80 million professionals currently use LinkedIn for professional networking. Regardless of your field of expertise, you likely have business questions that you would like to have answered by other professionals. Or perhaps you’re already very successful and would like to share some advice and knowledge with people who are in the startup phase. In either case, LinkedIn is a wonderful tool that can be used by business professionals around the world.

There’s more to maximizing LinkedIn for your business than just creating a profile though. Once you have a LinkedIn profile, the next step is to optimize it so that it can be used as a tool that will help increase your sales. Below are a few tips to ensure that your profile has been optimized for the best possible results.

1. You can never been too specific.

The last thing you want is for potential clients to be confused as to who you are, what types of services you offer, and what types of clients you’re looking for. The more specific you are, the less confusion there will be. LinkedIn gives you plenty of space to work with, so use it. Once you’ve described your services in detail, people reading your profile will know exactly what it is that you have to offer.

2. Creativity is your friend.

If you browse through LinkedIn for a few minutes, you’ll likely notice that the vast majority of profiles you come across will be pretty boring. By using your creativity, you’ll stand out from the other millions of profiles. While your options are somewhat limited on LinkedIn profiles, a simple feature like having a video on your page has the ability to make a significant difference. Rather than presenting only a description of your services in text, having a video that explains the services you offer will pique the interest of your visitors. As a result, they will be more likely to choose your services over those of a company with a boring profile.

3. Be the ‘Answer Guy (or Gal)’

Devote a set amount of time every day to answering questions in groups and to you directly. Doing so will not only help you to appear more professional and helpful, but your attentiveness and knowledge will impress potential clients.

4. Create Events

If you’d like to get to know more people and generate more leads, creating events through LinkedIn is a terrific way to achieve this. By partnering with other businesses in your particular field and pulling together to host an event in the community, you’ll be able to connect with more people much more easily.

5. Remember the power of reciprocation.

The more assistance you’re able to give, the more you will receive. This will not only apply to meeting new business contacts, but can also apply to positive reviews and feedback. By connecting and assisting other people as often as possible, you’ll also be helping yourself and your business.

One of the wonderful aspects of using LinkedIn is the fact that regardless of what your business has to offer, by using the website as a networking tool, you’ve got the ability to increase business with very little effort. Have you had success networking on LinkedIn? Share your experience in the comments.

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Tags: Business, entrepreneur, Internet Marketing, linkedin, networking, Sales, Social Media

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