With the dizzying number of social networking sites that have sprung up in recent years, trying to select the most worthwhile for your business can be a daunting task. However, there is one that stands out. Created in 2003, LinkedIn is the ONE social network that you, as an entrepreneur or business owner, should join. The goal for any business person joining LinkedIn is not to add friends and swap stories and pictures, but rather, to make new business connections.
These are just some of the ways your business could benefit from joining LinkedIn:
1. Generate More Business
As soon as you start networking, you increase your chances of reaching new customers. However, be prepared and be willing to work at it. If you’re not into social media and don’t want to put in the time and effort to network in several sites at the same time, this is the ONE site you should focus on. You may not see it at first, but with the combined use of several strategies and tips, you should benefit from more business.
2. Check Out the Competition
With the use of LinkedIn you can see your competitors’s teams, clients, references, plenty of information that is not readily available to you otherwise. You may also see where they’re coming from, or what they’ve been up to recently.
3. Obtain Greater Visibility
Linkedin provides options that will allow your profile to be indexed by search engines, like Google. Make use of these options and your business will achieve greater visibility on the Web.
4. Conduct Market Research
If you’re considering launching a new product, you can see what type of demand there is for this type of product. Do research on what companies are offering. Make use of the Q&A feature to post your questions.
5. Facilitate Introductions
You have the possibility to ask the people you already know to introduce you to someone you’d like to know. This gives you greater credibility and improves your chances of actually getting that meeting you want.
6. Show Recommendations
You may not only view what recommendations others have received, but essentially encourage those you’ve done business with to recommend your services or products.
So, if Facebook or MySpace are not your cup of tea, LinkedIn is the social networking site you’ll feel most comfortable with if you wish to promote your business and services and build business relationships that will prove profitable to everyone involved. All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. And the above-mentioned benefits are the reasons why.
Eager for more? Check out Zeke’s three podcasts below for more great online marketing information and tips!
- 6 Steps to Succeeding in Social Media
- Twitter for Business Explained
- Facebook’s Got Its Business Game-Face On
