You’re afraid to be authentic on LinkedIn because the number of CEOs and marketers who show up with glowing success tales intimidates you. You’ve concluded that LinkedIn is a place for business networking where people dress well and speak flawless English.
False. Since LinkedIn is a human platform, people who use it authentically will succeed, much like on any other social network. They regularly offer insightful guidance that readers may put into practice right away. Let’s be precise. An effective LinkedIn marketing approach does not include a checklist or magic trick. However, no social media network pays content producers as much as LinkedIn does in terms of leads and conversions.
How to Develop a Successful Marketing Plan for LinkedIn
- Recognize your audience
- When formulating your LinkedIn marketing plan, the following should be your initial considerations.
- Who would be the perfect client for me?
- Who do I need to get in touch with on LinkedIn to get leads and conversions?
What kind of content will draw in the intended viewership?
This is a crucial phase, so give it some thought as to who your target market is. I was interacting with everyone on LinkedIn when I first joined. The CEO of the Alabama-based furniture firm. the proprietor of a modest funeral home in Oklahoma. Even the New York interior designer. Because I hadn’t specified what I performed and for whom, I wasn’t sure who my target audience was. I changed the messaging on my LinkedIn profile to better represent my target user after I had clarity on it.
Heads of SEO departments of SaaS and tech firms, as well as content marketers, are my target audience as an SEO content writer and strategist. I also focus on US clients because they have the financial wherewithal to pay my fees and a strong understanding of SEO.
Examine Influencers & Successful Businesses on LinkedIn
I looked at the kinds of content that well-known individuals on LinkedIn produced for three months. It seemed to me that LinkedIn may be divided into two user groups:
LinkedIn users who publish insightful material establish themselves as subject matter experts. Ross Simmonds, who has made a name for himself as a leading specialist in the content distribution sector, is one example. Individuals on LinkedIn with more than 10,000 followers who share personal anecdotes without providing any insight into their areas of expertise. Many interactions but not many leads.
Enhance the Image of Your LinkedIn Profile
Never undervalue the impact that a photograph can make. A picture is worth a thousand words (or even a thousand leads), despite the cliche’s weariness. LinkedIn claims that including photographs in a post doubles the amount of comments it receives. Personal brand photos increase exposure and foster a relationship with your target market. Images can captivate, convince, and sell.
Headline/Title
For LinkedIn headlines, I use this easy formula: What you do + Who you do it for. Troy’s Sandidge profile, for instance, has the following: “Marketing Strategist + B2B.” Your understanding of your target audience informs your LinkedIn title. If not, you’ll be drawing in low-quality leads and employing the incorrect keywords.
Bio
Writing your LinkedIn bio is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks. It bears the responsibility of explaining to your prospective clients what you do, why they should collaborate with you, and how to get in touch with you.
Consider how you could express value in only two sentences. I start with this line because my target audience prefers information that ranks.
Make a Connection with Those You Wish to Impress
Once more, to connect with the proper people, you must understand your target audience. For instance, I take into account more than just possible clients when I connect with someone on LinkedIn. Peers who might benefit from my content also cross my mind. I work as a freelance strategist and content writer. Thus, I am in contact with:
Heads of marketing, SEO, and content departments are potential clients.
Peers include freelancers, in-house SEOs, copywriters, and marketers. When I write about SEO and content marketing, these are the two audiences who are most likely to grasp what I’ve written. This denotes high-caliber interaction that generates fresh connections and possible recommendations in the future.
Establish Connections
Making comments on people you wish to impress’s posts on LinkedIn is the easiest approach to cultivating relationships. I leave a remark on any post that interests or is useful. I also make an effort to reply to posts made by contacts and industry insiders who are in my target market.
Establish a Business Page on LinkedIn
People are social creatures, which is why we have been discussing creating a personal LinkedIn profile. But I don’t believe brand accounts receive the same amount of interaction as personal ones. Therefore, before creating your brand profile, you must improve your profile.
LinkedIn Pages give you the ability to attract staff, engage with your target market, and get the most out of your LinkedIn lead generation efforts.
Display Your Knowledge
The thing about knowledge sharing is this. You can see it clearly, but others might not. Spread the word! To be an expert, it is unnecessary to have in-depth knowledge of a subject. I advise on keyword research, topic cluster creation, SEO content optimization, and other SEO-related subjects. Refrain from sharing pointless tales that stir up feelings but don’t prompt inquiries regarding your offerings. It’s possible to receive a ton of engagement but no leads.
Final Thought
On LinkedIn, those who are most successful give more than they take. I want you to provide content that is so valuable that readers eagerly await it.
How do you advertise on LinkedIn, then?
Make the most of your LinkedIn profile to draw in the proper kind of people. Request referrals from contented clients. Give useful guidance to establish credibility. Tell stories to engage your audience and demonstrate your humanity. Last but not least, keep in mind that LinkedIn is a human-first platform, so don’t be afraid to be genuine.