We’re at our last week of a deep dive into LinkedIn, and by now,
you should feel more comfortable with using the platform to drum up new business.
Here’s the thing about LinkedIn though…getting the biggest benefit from it is an ongoing process.
Here’s a good example.
Last week, a supplement company called me to ask if I could start blogging for them (we’re having our ramp-up call tomorrow.) They didn’t do that because I’ve been particularly active (I haven’t). They did it because I
have a presence that I’ve built over months and years to work for me when I’m not around.
This week we’re going to cover five activities you should be taking part in on a regular basis to get LinkedIn to work for you even when you’re not working.
Engaging for the Future of Your Business
The last thing you want to do is end up running yourself ragged to post, comment, reply, and
engage.
That’s why I use automation (I’ll give examples of this in a second) and set aside just a few minutes each week to engage on the platform.
- Groups: Join these. Not only do they make your profile look good and keep you up-to-date on what’s going on in your niche, they also give you the opportunity to contact anyone in your group for free, without InMail.
(Have updates sent to your email address to automate some of the work.)
- Research: Pop in occasionally to look at what companies on your prospect list and in your niche in general are doing. You’ll find out about conferences, product
releases, and company news that you can leverage to inform your freelance business. (I’m a fan of checking out job postings, since it reveals company’s most urgent needs.)
- Comments: I have a reminder set up to comment on someone in my niche’s post
once a week. People out there are itching to have conversations, and conversations lead to clients.
- Posts: Use…LinkedIn…Posts. I don’t care if you copy blog posts or create brand new content, click “Write an Article” and get your ideas out there — Answer questions about your services. Explain why they benefit your clients. Comment on niche news. You don’t have to do it forever, or even frequently,
just let people know you’re engaged.
- Updates: I haven’t seen huge benefit from these, but if you automate using a social media scheduler like Hootsuite or Buffer, it takes up almost no time.
Pick one of those or
all five…the point is to simply engage regularly, and build the image of someone who is confident in their services and willing to get them out there to the world. Have a great week!
Megan