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Using LinkedIn - 5 Easy - To - Follow Tips to Profit!

Guest post by: Gerry Black

Article Overview: Social Media Marketing. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this multi-headed mysterious monster marketing strategy doesn't seem to be going away. In fact, it's growing exponentially in popularity. Here are are 5 LinkedIn Fundamentals - from a pro - that you can use right now to start boosting your business:

Using LinkedIn - 5 Easy - To - Follow Tips to Profit!

I have been busy this week learning about Social Media Marketing.

Now I don't know about you, but I'm thinking this multi-headed mysterious monster marketing strategy doesn't seem to be going away. In fact, it's growing exponentially in popularity.

And that's exactly why you may want to stick your toe in the water and see what it's all about.

Charlie Cook has been hosting a terrific free teleseminar series on Social Media Marketing this week and today I wanted to pass along some big time tips from Linked IN expert Jan Vermeiren that can take you from newbie to not-so-newbie in a hurry.

Here are are 5 LinkedIn Fundamentals - from a pro - that you can use right now to start boosting your business:

note: the first two take place before you even go to the LinkedIN site.

1. Have the right attitude - Many people join LinkedIn thinking it's like turning on a tap and watching new business leads come out. Not so. In fact, Jan doesn't even like to describe LinkedIN as a medium for "give and take." He finds the word "take" negative. He prefers "give and receive." I'm with him.

2. People do business with people they know, like and trust - You've heard me bang this drum many times. And with good reason. It's an immutable marketing "truth". LinkedIn provides you with all kinds of opportunities to share information with others. You can do it one-on-one, join discussion groups, answer questions and on and on. LinkedIN, like much of the Social Media phenomenon, is the "new town square." And each time you share, you have an opportunity to develop your KLT factor.

3. After you sign up on LinkedIN, check out the Advanced Search Screen - This, according to Jan, is the most important screen on the site. Here's why: Let's say you your target market is marketing managers at pharmaceutical companies with sales of $50M a year. You're based in Dallas and you want to bump up your national client base. Using the advanced search, you type in all the parameters that pertain to what you want. eg. United States, Marketing Managers, pharmaceutical companies, $50M annual sales etc and watch the names that pop up on Linked IN.

4. Check who those marketing managers are connected to! You gotta love this! Once you start building your connections, you will see that your target prospects are likely connected in some way to people in YOUR network. In other words, you have an opportunity for a referral.

5. Leave LinkedIN - Huh? I'm just getting going. Why would I want to leave?? This tip is why Jan was giving the presentation and I was sitting in my chair listening to him. Once you find someone who is a potential prospect that has a connection with one of YOUR connections, you pick up the phone and ask YOUR connection to send a "Magic Email" introducing you. Now, the level of relationship you have with your connections will determine the content of the email intro. It's only intended to be a short hand off with a bit of background information which paves the way for a potential mutually beneficial discussion between you and someone in your connection's network. Is THAT cool or what??!!

That will give you some idea of the potential of LinkedIN as a business tool. Next week, I'll include some stuff about setting up your LinkedIN profile.

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Article Tags: Linked In, LinkedIn fundamentals, social media marketing



Related Forum Posts
Business Tips - How about: Tips for managers to handle employees more effectively? Tips on how to deal with difficult customers? Tips on how to deal more effectively with suppliers? The only three I have in mind right now, but will try to come up with something else. Chris
Re: On Which Social Media Sites Are You Most Active? - I'd be curious to hear how you guys use LinkedIn. I have close to 3,000 connections and never use it. I've been told the secret is to use groups (which I don't) so I'd love to hear how you guys are benefiting from LinkedIn.
Re: Twiiter an sales - [quote="soldlab":1ycb8vnm]I guess though LinkedIn is better for actual leag generation and personal contacts. What do you think?[/quote:1ycb8vnm] I've had a lot more success (thus far) with Twitter than LinkedIn or Facebook.
Re: What are your January Goals? - Here's a quick update on mine: Goal #1: Hire New Writer = done - Post job description on oDesk - Set up trial job - Pick top candidate Goal #2: Follow up with Clients = done - Create and send quarterly report - Touch base with last year's clients - Follow up with 4 connectors Goal #3: PERSONAL = about 70% done on the month - Do something nice for my wife each week - Exercise 4 times per week - Daily stretch - want to touch my toes
Re: Social Media Effectively? - Personally, I use social media to build my company brand in order to get awareness of the various franchises I work with. I am active on LinkedIn and Twitter (@DougSchadle), always posting information about the franchise opportunities I work with. I have started discussions and basically just try to get the word out there. Also, I turned one of my clients to social media as well. I work with Doctors Express, the first national urgent care franchise, expanding their franchise base. They are quickly spreading throughout the country and I told the founder to jump on to Twitter and LinkedIn as well. He just started a few weeks ago (Twitter handle @Doctors_Express) and tells me he is loving it. He is posting different medical issues he sees and is tweeting about Doctors Express. He is joining medical groups on LinkedIn and trying to connect to other doctors. So in short, I do think franchises can be very successful with social media, they just have to put in the time to do it.


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