Using LinkedIn to support business growth

Social Media: Simon Young, Magic Word Media

Best of all, LinkedIn is free, costing only your time and creativity to think about posting and engaging with the community.

Many businesses hire agencies like mine to manage it all. Your time is money, so it’s often better to outsource LinkedIn management so you can concentrate on your day-to-day.

Tips and tricks

If you do want to develop your LinkedIn page yourself, you can still see some fabulous results, as long as you’re consistent and relevant and avoid common mistakes.

Here are some of our golden rules for LinkedIn success.

• Don’t be sell, sell, sell.
  Mix things up and keep your content engaging, letting your posts show that your business has a personality. Follow our 80/20 rule: 80% of your content should be educational, informational, and entertaining, and only 20% should be promotional
• Have fun with your content.
  People buy from people and they want to see your authentic self. When your content genuinely reflects your team’s personality and enthusiasm, you’ll attract like-minded people to your page.
• Switch between types of posts. Share still images, carousel posts, videos, and GIFs. LinkedIn is noisy and full of competitors, so you must stand out with attractive designs that reflect your brand.
• Going viral isn’t a strategy. Don’t chase likes and followers; focus on what your audience wants to see. If your post goes viral, then that’s simply a bonus.
• Narrow down your audience. When you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. Ditch the idea of a one-size-fits-all approach and get personal.
• Don’t post for the sake of it. You don’t need to post every day. Twice a week is fine, otherwise you’ll end up posting inferior content for the sake of it.
• Posting and ghosting is a big no-no. If someone comments on your post, reply to them. This is not only polite, but it helps your reach. Be sure to respond to any direct messages promptly, too.

Some quick wins

Beautify your cover image. Include a call to action and add your website, email, and contact number. Ensure the cover fits well on mobile and desktop and reflects your brand style and palette. Secondly, use the 200 free invitation credits you currently get each month to ask your connections to follow your page.

If you don’t have time to do LinkedIn justice, Magic Word Media can help. Karla Bird and Sophie Young are our in-house experts for all things social. We also have staff specialising in content writing, copywriting, and PPC, should you need additional content marketing help.