3 ways to use LinkedIn in small business marketing

LinkedIn has a lot to offer small business owners – if you know where to look. Use these ideas to make the most of your presence on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is known for its value to job seekers and HR departments, but it offers just as much benefit to entrepreneurs and small business owners. And it’s possible to save time when using social media. If you use any of the tactics below in your marketing – be sure to leave a comment letting us know your results!

Join groups We all know about LinkedIn groups, but did you know you can join up to 50? Or that you can directly message fellow group members whether you’re connected to them or not?

To amplify the impact groups can have on your business join those with high memberships, which gives you access to more like-minded people who can answer business questions. Find folks you’d like to know and check out their profiles; group members are also able to view the profiles of other members without being connected. You can also send them a message or connection request.  They’re more likely to accept since you can indicate you’re both members of the same group. We invite you to join our LinkedIn group, The Entrepreneur’s Collective, which is dedicated to the professional growth of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Maximize status updates We know: The last thing you need is another status update to keep up with. But since you can sync your LinkedIn and Twitter accounts your task load stays the same while your visibility increases!  LinkedIn has directions on linking your Twitter account, and once you do you’ll be able to add a new dimension to your professional conversations.

Personalize your URL Your LinkedIn URL isn’t set in stone, which means you’re not condemned to a boring address. To choose your own custom LinkedIn URL, go to “Edit Profile” at the top page of your profile, click on “Edit” next to your current URL, then click on “Customize your public profile URL” in the “Your public profile URL” section on the right. Go with something simple like your name, or take it a step further by using keywords relevant to your industry. Now you’ll have something that’s easier to remember and looks good on a business card.  And since Google indexes LinkedIn profiles you’ll contribute to SEO as well.