LinkedIn is the most highly respected and widely used business networking site on the Internet. People use it to reach out to others to do business, get jobs, share information, etc. It’s also a great place to do low cost, low risk business development. LinkedIn works as a business development tool because it creates what we call a “coffee shop” atmosphere where informal interaction can be a great way to foster relationships that lead to sales.
How LinkedIn Paves the Way to Do Business
People use social networking sites like LinkedIn to share and receive information, to troubleshoot issues they are working on, talk about business victories and find potential clients among other reasons. In many cases, their need to find answers or post information you might not otherwise see can provide you with a great way to generate leads in your particular area of expertise.
Being active in social networking accomplishes many things:
1) Improves your name recognition.
2) Showcases your products or services in a non-sales environment.
3) Creates connections to potential clients that you might not have access to otherwise.
How to Get Started
Even if your company is small or has limited physical resources (i.e. enough bodies) dedicating time to social networking can be less time consuming than you may imagine. Start small by joining a few existing groups in your industry or area of expertise where your products or services can be of the most benefit. To be effective at leveraging a group on LinkedIn for business development you should be participating actively in the groups you join – so don’t get overzealous on your first run.
Ultimately, it’s all about consistent communication with your target audience. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn about a product or service that can solve the problem of a person posting, just make sure you do so in a way that is relative to the conversation.
Today’s tip to start your LinkedIn social networking/business development program: Save time by setting up an email feed of the groups you want to reach out to in order to answer questions that come up where you have something valuable to contribute to the discussion.
Today’s tip to start your LinkedIn social networking/business development program: Save time by setting up an email feed of the groups you want to reach out to in order to answer questions that come up where you have something valuable to contribute to the discussion. If you need help getting started, give us a shout.
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