Entrepreneurs usually found themselves saying that they know LinkedIn pretty well, but are they true – I feel the statement is little blurred, because if they really know, then have they ever tried to build up a brand on the site (big question). I know majority of you say that they had made a brand on Facebook, Twitter, even tried hands on Google+ also but not on LinkedIn.
THE BASICS:
Well, let’s start from the starting first what LinkedIn actually is? It is a professional social networking website. Since, it is professional; it means it is having a lot of real professional people, not the time-passer, only those from whom professional life really means professional. There are CEOs, CMOs, CFOs, executives and a lot more.
THE BIG QUESTION: WHY LINKEDIN MATTERS
The time you put on your profile, and say you are an entrepreneur, who has just started, running a whole new company, how it put up an impact on your potential customers. The profile on LinkedIn seen not only on prospective networking terms but it speaks a lot in front of your customers as your bio act as your visiting card on LinkedIn.
Customers will go through your networks, areas you’re joined, your experience as well as recommendations you are having and even a lot more. The time in which we are (at least I think) your links, your networks, your social network, your portfolio plays more important role than that of your website, which makes these website more important and requires your serious attention.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE: BUILDING BRAND ON LINKEDIN
A. BRAND YOUR PROFILE
Your profile on LinkedIn needs to be absolutely point to point i.e. it needs to be absolutely flawless so that your potential clients will able to judge you easily on the very first go and let them figured it out that are you the right person and/or company who they are looking for. From this very stage think of your profile as a valuable asset as the person who is sitting miles away from you, give you a first shot only on the basis of your LinkedIn profile (there are possibly other reasons too, but since we are discussing for LinkedIn here only).
B. YOUR NETWORK
Your contact list plays an important role while building a brand on LinkedIn. Rather than trying to have a lot more people on your list, consider limiting it to those whose presence really make sense a lot in front of your customers. Also make sure that your contact primarily belongs to your own industry, say suppose, if you are a tech entrepreneur and having an extra chemical or any other industry contacts in your network, it does also diminishes its value. Having big list is good but same industry contacts value the most. Also, the more first degree contacts you have, the more second and third you will gain.
C. POSITION YOURSELF AS LEADER
Just like the way you did selecting your contacts in your network, you do have to do the same was while selecting Groups and Associations. The better the efficient groups and associations you choose, the more it helps you positioning yourself as a leader on LinkedIn in front of your customers’ eyes. There are even other benefits also comes with this, with this you can make more new relevant contacts, even start your own group, a better and widened network opportunity comes in front of you.
D. USE LINKEDIN AS YOUR BRANDING FOCAL POINT
You have put up so far almost everything that you feel important to let you build your brand on LinkedIn but still what left – again certainly a big question, you are missing regular updating that what you are currently working on, what you are aiming for, what your team next build-up and lots more. Remember, LinkedIn is a professional social networking site, it is just like Facebook and Twitter, means you have to update from time to time but with valuable updates not the really social stuff that you add on other social networking sites.
