Social Media Marketing Mavens is one of my favorite LinkedIn groups because the discussion topics always seem to provide opportunities for me to learn new tactics, tools, and techniques for Social Media Marketing.
. . . just one more reason why LinkedIn is such a phenomenal place to “live” and learn. So when I read Victoria Ipri’s advice on helping LinkedIn members maximize their participation and increase their bottom lines, I knew I needed to share her suggestions with my readers.
Confident Copywriter Victoria Ipri “is the epitome of the type of professional you hope to connect with on LinkedIn and in all of your business dealings. She is generous, helpful, and a dynamic writer. She gives freely of her time and expertise and asks little in return.” — from her first LinkedIn recommendation
No Business from LinkedIn? Here’s What May Be Wrong
by Victoria Ipri
So you’ve been on LI for months and you haven’t gotten one shred of business…except maybe a few inquiries here and there that didn’t pan out; a couple nibbles from companies that were wrong for you; and those endless MLM offers you won’t even consider.
That leaves you wondering what all the fuss is about. Who are all these people who claim they have gotten new, profitable business on LinkedIn?
Bad news: It’s not LinkedIn. It’s you.
To drive business on LinkedIn, you need an action plan and a system, just like any other business strategy. You’re only going to get back what you put in. Without a plan, you’ll waste a lot of time being sociable, with no real business to show for it.
This is the biggest complaint I hear about social media marketing…it takes a lot of time and results never seem to materialize.
I agree, it is time-consuming. But when done correctly (which means planning SMM into your day, maximizing that time, and maintaining a narrow focus), the results can be astounding.
It’s kind of like cleaning your house. You start out enthusiastically enough. Two hours later, though, you haven’t moved from the bedroom. You end up sidetracked, going through closets and drawers and…“ooohhh! What’s this? My high school love letters!”
Before you know it, you’ve walked so far down Memory Lane you’ll need to catch the bus back to the corner of Main & Reality.
8 Steps to Optimizing Your LI Connections
1. See the future: How much new business can you comfortably handle? Be realistic. One new client a month is 12 for the year. Not bad.
2. Choose a target market and do not stray from this focus.
3. Join groups for those markets and actively participate in a meaningful way.
4. Educate yourself on effective LI search…there are ways to search and find specific information about specific people.
5. Stand out: Be active! Be proactive! Be visible! Get out there and get involved. Create a highly compelling profile; not a resume rehash.
6. Answer questions to highlight your subject expertise.
7. Accept connections and request connections. People want to connect with you!
8. Talk to people. I mean, really talk. Show an interest, look for ways to help each other…seeking connections isn’t only about having lots of connections!
Remember…this is social media marketing. You wouldn’t walk into your neighbor’s BBQ, announce your arrival, then sit in your neighbor’s favorite chair and start dominating the conversation, would you? The beauty of social media marketing is the opportunity to use natural, social strategies of communicating, connecting and collaborating to build your online visibility and attract the attention of companies you really want to work with.
What LI strategies have worked well for you?
Check out my article on Tweaking Your LinkedIn Profile for Maximum ROI
I think for someone that initiated to connect to you on LinkedIn, this would be appropriate. They should be interested in your work and company if they initiated the connection.
I wouldn’t do so if you initiated the connection though.
The negative is it can be looked at as SPAM in a way. I hate when I get automated Direct messages in Twitter “Read my E-book” if I follow someone. You don’t want to get that image, so only do so if they initiate the connection in my opinion.
Anthony Russo
Global Conferencing Consultant
Infinity Conference Call
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso
Question: If someone reaches out to me requesting to
join my linkedin network and I accept, does it feel okay to send the
following note in response?
Sincerely,
Howard
Thanks for reaching out to connect with me. I’m director of
Breakthrough Coaching, breakthroughcoaching.cc. We have two specialty
areas.
Career Crafting—a comprehensive program for employed professionals who
are unhappy and seeking change. Our Linkedin group is at http://bit.ly/cdUqQQ
.
The No Convincing Zone—A sales coaching program which dramatically
increases results using a relationship model. Our Linkedin group is at http://bit.ly/awNnIU
I would appreciate your support in growing the membership of our
groups and connections to other sources that would provide access to
these populations.
Great post. I manage Linkedin accounts on my clients behalf and though I’ve managed to generate interest and inquiries they hadn’t yet converted. I’m going to take all the points onboard and see how much of difference it makes to the outcome – thank for a great post.
Cat, yes, I’m so happy I could share Victoria’s article that I actually “found” on LinkedIn. If your clients would like to maximize their LI profiles, then check out my own article to Maximize Power of the Profile: http://sharisax.com/2010/03/14/how-to-improve-your-linked-roi-by-tweaking-your-profile/
Hi Shari,
I would love to get an interview, I am excited because I never did it but wanted to offer it to a great connection who gave me wonderful tips and support to start on Twitter. I have heard about the book 4-Hour work week but I can relate with the title if I consider that “work” is everything I HAVE TO do or SHOULD DO and Boring like paying the bills or putting gaz in my car!
What is NOT WORK is something I am passionate about and that put me in the state of “flow” such as coaching clients, learning social media, making meaningful connections, practicing daily serendipity and meditation, reading, dancing, Nordic walking, cooking healthy meals etc.
Questions in your email box. THX for connecting and engaging. Join me on Facebook, too.
🙂
Hi
Thanks for the tips,
Since I am moving every 3 years to a new country, as an expat coach, it does not matter anymore where I live. I have 95% of my clients through Linkedin: mainly international managers working and living abroad in the USA and Europe. I have been trained to coach by phone and busy managers like to get support that way. How clients find me ?it is when I answer questions or initiate discussions, then they send me first a message that they might be interested, we start an online private conversation for the client to share his/her issues. Then I offer a free coaching session for the person to give more details on their goals and experiment what coaching is and is not . If they like me then we schedule the first sessions.
Anne, you sound like a PERFECT candidate for an interview subject. Take a look at my category INTERVIEWS and let me know. If so, I’ll email you questions. THX so much for stopping by and leaving a comment!
On another sidelight, I’ve just started to read 4-Hour Work Week, and although I’m not far into the book, your “work” seems like it may follow the advice from Tim Ferriss’s well-recommended book.
“Bad news: It’s not LinkedIn. It’s you.” Perfect! I hear from so many people telling me that they use Social Media but get zero results. I stump most of them with one question: “What’s your strategy?” Your post provides a strategy for anyone to follow and get results. Thanks!!!
Every time I use LinkedIn I find even more value there. This social media platform provides the opportunity for truly mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships. Just yesterday I asked a question and within the hour received exactly the response I needed. And what’s interesting is that the more people who discover LinkedIn’s true worth, the more people will join and engage, and the more the value will grow.
Great post, Victoria and Shari. #2 and #5 are so critical to success – focusing and marketing yourself in a fresh way that’s “not a resume rehash.” Good stuff.
Back atcha’ Laurie; how have YOU re-focused yourself. Here’s an oppty for practicing your new elevator speech — and the first step to get found and get hired.
🙂
You are absolutely right. That’s why LinkedIn is considered social media. Hence the “social”. People tend to forget the meaning and purpose behind social media. Not you.
I generally have about two conversations going on each week with my connections. This includes a recent inquiry from a potential investor who asked me what I would do if he invested $50,000 in my company. Not a bad connection, huh?
As Shari taught me , I build my connections by asking questions in group discussions, and inviting the ones who respond,to connect with me.
Hey, Chuck,
Great Going!
Let us know if the investor comes through
🙂
LinkedIn is a fabulous tool to connect with other professionals worldwide, I agree!
You are absolutely right. That’s why LinkedIn is considered social media. Hence the “social”. People tend to forget the meaning and purpose behind social media. Not you.
Or you, either, Thomas.
🙂
Thanks for joining the conversation.
I personally am a big fan of number 6. I have had a lot of business come to me through answering the questions of people looking for conferencing services and assistance.
This has been from the asker themselves, and also I have come up in results from others searching on LinkedIn for conferencing and the answers even show up on Google as well.
The key point to remember is there has to be value in your answer. You cannot go answering someone’s question and just sell yourself and your business in it. You have to answer it by helping them, and offering valuable information that they can use, and others as well.
When you help someone, you earn their respect and they often follow-up to thank you for the information, and that is a great time to go into more detail about your own services or products they might be able to use.
A good point is to make sure you leave a way for yourself to be contacted in your signature of the question as well. Not everyone who finds your answer and thinks you can help them is finding you through LinkedIn.
Anthony Russo
Conferencing Specialist
Infinity Conference Call
arusso@infinityconferencecall.com
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso
Good tip Anthony. Most of the people “out there” give freely of their expertise by answering questions online and are not DIRECTLY trying to sell something. But if we do happen to offer a product or service that can solve someone’s problems, then that person needs to know how to reach us.
Shari, thank you so much for your vote of confidence!
I’ll tell you honestly, when I began the blog I never dreamed I would be writing about social media marketing, but I’ve come to realize no copywriter is complete with a basic understanding of this great tool, as well as SMO (Social Media Optimization)which has surpassed SEO in importance. I’ll be sharing more on SMO over the next few weeks.
Thanks again! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to help you be more successful.
Victoria
Victoria, you can count on it!
i.e., me calling on you again.
THX for the great post which so many people have already benefited from.
🙂