The Super Quick Guide to Linkedin for small businesses

Why should your business use LinkedIn?

– Builds company brand
– Drives traffic to website
– Drives traffic to other social media
– Establish company as experts in the field
– Monitor industry competition

You’ve created a company profile. You’ve added your company details. You’re looking good… but now what do you do? Linkedin Groups and LinkedIn Answers is the next level.

LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn has the power to connect you with people and companies in your industry. To really get the most of of the LinkedIn network you need to be active. LinkedIn groups are a great place to start, by joining a community you are exposing yourself to new potential customers, learning more about your industry and learning about your competition.

– Create a group relevant to your niche.
– Find/Join groups in your niche.
– Start Discussions on relevant topics within the groups.
– Participate in discussions the group is having.
– Establish yourself as an expert in the area by making insightful comments, answering questions, linking to relevant material examples (websites, articles, videos)
– Occasionally link to your content (Don’t spam offers and deals through across LinkedIn. You will lose credibility and lose potential business.

LinkedIn Answers

After you have got involved in LinkedIn groups move on to LinkedIn Answers. This is a section where people are ask questions and experts answer the questions. Your answer is then rated. If you answer is chosen as the best you will get an expert point in that category.

– Find questions in your niche (eg. Crisis Management, Climate Change, Sydney PR, Australia PR)
– Answer questions. Aim to get rated as the best answer.
– Establish yourself as an expert in the area by making insightful comments, answering questions, linking to relevant material examples (websites, articles, videos)
– Answering questions builds and adds to your LinkedIn profile and you will appear higher in the experts list.
– Build your expert status and you will generate new business.

Once you have become familiar with the LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn Answers login often to take care of your network!