With 85% of the jobs found through networking, LinkedIn is at the heart of social media marketing, and LinkedIn 101 serves as a perfect guide for social media managers.
In the current business scenario, the role of marketing is redefined by the advent of social media. Marketing is no longer about just creating awareness or selling products and services, it encompasses a wide array of activities which includes building relationships, engaging with customers, and creating loyalty.
As social media use has increased exponentially in recent years, so has the need for professionals who can manage these platforms effectively.
Who are social media managers?
Social media managers are responsible for creating, managing, and executing a company's social media strategy - this involves curating content, engaging with users, and measuring the success of campaigns.
To be successful, social media managers must be able to think creatively, write compelling copy, and have a strong understanding of the latest trends in digital marketing.
Smart social media managers know how to use data to their advantage. They understand the importance of metrics and can use them to track the performance of their campaigns. They also know how to adjust their strategies based on what the data is telling them.
Ultimately, social media managers play a vital role in helping companies connect with their customers and build strong relationships.
What is LinkedIn? Why is it important?
LinkedIn is the heart of social media-driven marketing - a powerful platform that can be used to build a company's brand, engage with customers and followers, and find new employees.
LinkedIn provides a unique platform for businesses and professionals to connect with each other.
LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can be used to find jobs, connect with potential employers, and grow your career. In chapter 16 of Roger Kerin's Marketing: The Core, according to a survey of small business owners - “41% see LinkedIn as potentially beneficial to their company - more than twice that for Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.”
What is LinkedIn 101?
LinkedIn 101 is the perfect resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use LinkedIn to its fullest potential. It covers the basics of LinkedIn, including how to create a profile, connect with others, and use LinkedIn to its full potential. This guide will also show you how to take advantage of LinkedIn's features to build your personal brand and grow your professional network.
Here is a summary of LinkedIn 101 every social media manager needs to know:
1) Setting up a personal profile
- Create a compelling headline for the LinkedIn profile page: Your LinkedIn headline is your chance to tell the world why they should care about you. It influences Google, so this short sentence must paint a good picture of who you are and what makes them worth knowing for five or ten seconds before their eyes glaze over into something else more interesting.
- Upload a high-quality professional photo: What is your social media strategy without a personal touch? Join as yourself and upload an image of yourself - don't settle for anything less than maximum authenticity when creating this crucial first impression on others.
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Create a summary: With over 800 million users on LinkedIn, it's imperative to stand out from the crowd by making your profile as compelling and interesting for employers as possible.
To do this, you should focus heavily on creating an eye-catching summary that highlights all of those professional accomplishments while also telling them about who you really are at heart! This is where you tell prospective customers, clients or other connections who you are and what skills/experience makes you valuable.
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Additional information: If you have any online profiles like website(s), blogs, etc., link to them in the section “Contact & Personal Information." If you’re looking for a new career opportunity, your skills must be well-defined.
Build out experience using multimedia links along with a strong voice; don't be shy about listing awards either if they're something worth celebrating or not. The more specific and detailed you are in what sets you apart, the stronger your chance of being noticed by potential employers!
The skills section on LinkedIn allows one to add a maximum of 50 skills. These act like 50 keywords to enhance a profile. It is best to genuinely add as many skills numbering up to two digits because - simply put: the higher, the better.
2) The Network Building process
Networking on LinkedIn is a two-way street. Building networks on LinkedIn is a process rather than an immediate event - it takes time and patience to build networks and across networks. When sending out connections, always replace the default invitation with something more personalized so everyone feels appreciated while building your network presence online.
When joining new networks, always remember two things: firstly tell someone why they should connect, and secondly - do not just rely upon co-workers as potential contacts because sometimes these relationships can become stale over prolonged periods without regular contact which could lead to missed opportunities down.
Networking across LinkedIn has a lot to do with socializing and it does not stop with messages and requests. It takes proactive measures like:
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Personalizing with connections: To maintain a strong network of connections, you must take the time and make an effort with each connection. Look out for what your connections have to say and react to them appropriately.
Congratulate them on their milestones, appreciate them for the efforts they put in during their tough times, and motivate them when the going is difficult. The more you show your appreciation for others, the better.
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The Mention Tag: LinkedIn has a feature called Mentions where you can tag or mention other users and companies in your status updates, just like how it is done on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
It really helps to build relationships with key individuals that are part of our network because they will be alerted when we use their name specifically followed by @ symbol for them to check out what was said about them.
3) Creating/Joining groups
Groups are discussion forums on LinkedIn where people from across the world share some common understanding - like an Alumni network. You can search based on keywords pertaining to your industry and even start groups with others who may want similar conversations to continue.
Socializing outside of traditional work settings as well as building valuable content while targeting those most likely interested will increase awareness about what's happening at any given moment within these communities.
4) Extend further with Company Pages
Company pages are the perfect way for businesses looking to expand their reach on social media and build their brands. It showcases the company as an entity, and not just a single employee.
A LinkedIn company page provides credibility to businesses and helps them rank higher in search engines. It helps generate leads and drive traffic to the company website. It allows you to connect with other businesses and create partnerships and provide insights into your target audience.
Promoting important news and updates on the LinkedIn company page helps keep followers informed and engaged. LinkedIn company pages can be used to promote your brand and build trust with potential and current customers. By sharing interesting and informative content, they can position your business as an industry leader.
5) Aggressive marketing through LinkedIn Ads
Need an aggressive strategy to find suitable profiles? LinkedIn Ads help grow business with targeted ads. LinkedIn has three types of advertising available to its users:
Sponsored content, which includes posts that are essentially updated and appear directly in the feeds for professionals or businesses you want.
Sponsored messages allow you to reach your ideal audience through the messaging features, letting them know that they can get in touch with a personalized message straight into their inboxes.
Finally, there are display and text ads on PPC "banner" ads which appear at the side of users' main feed so it is easy for people to click through!
In sum, social media and LinkedIn offer a great opportunity for businesses to reach out to their target audiences and build relationships. However, it is important to remember that social media marketing requires time, effort, and resources. It is not a quick or easy fix. But, if done right, it can be an extremely powerful marketing tool.
Author Bio: Sophia is an online ESL/EFL instructor and a passionate educator. She found her true calling — teaching — while she was juggling writing and a 9-5 desk job. When she is not busy earning a living, she volunteers as a social worker. Her active online presence demonstrates her strong belief in the power of networking. If you want to connect, you can find her on Twitter, Medium, and her blog Essay Writing and More.