How do I connect and who do I connect to? What do I do when a LinkedIn connection accepts my request? How many updates should I send in a day? Why not sit back and take a look at our LinkedIn B2B guide.
Before your business goes full pelt into the LinkedIn world, step back and take a breath. It’s vital you lay down some rules and more importantly, your business etiquette.
Your business should be sharing, liking and updating content that your LinkedIn connections want to see. Tone of voice, frequency and quality of connections are also key to a successful LinkedIn journey.
Read our 7 vital tips to build successful relationships on LinkedIn devised by our Social Media Coordinator, Dean Renshaw.
1. Always use the ‘recommended connection’ feature where possible
A warm introduction can bear a lot more fruit than a cold one. If a connection is recommended, you already gain some trust as you’ve been recommended.
How do I do this? To recommend, go to the LinkedIn connection profile and select ‘Recommend’, Simple. If you require a recommendation, send them a private message, asking for them to recommend you.
2. Send a ‘thank you for connecting’ message to EVERY new connection
After making a connection, it's definitely best practice to follow up with a message providing some type of value to your connection. Simply let them know who you are and what you do followed by a thanks. You will be surprised by the results!
How do I do this? Send them a simple one liner introducing yourself and show interest in their profile. Finish with a link to your website or brochure of your business offering.
3. Engage with connections’ shared content and milestone updates
Linkedin isn’t just a sales and recruitment platform; it’s important that you keep up-to-date with connections and build rapport day-to-day.
How do I do this? Sign in daily and check out your timeline, comment on threads and connection life events.
4. Never email or call your connections
Just because you’ve made a connection, doesn’t mean you can take their details and start contacting them via other sources. If you want to contact your LinkedIn connection outside of the platform, ask!
5. Only share content that is relevant to your connections and above all be professional
Stick to sharing posts from your business sector or Company Page. You can also share content from other pages.
How do I do this? Share little and often, don’t just share content from your website and LinkedIn Company Page, mix it up.
6. Only endorse people who you know have expertise
When you endorse, you are telling the world that you trust this connection with the skill in question. LinkedIn will email about the endorsement to connections and it also shows on their profile. For your brand and personal protection only endorse internally and if the connection has worked for you.
How do I do this? LinkedIn will always promote ‘Endorsements’ but always endorse connections who you have worked with. Endorsements are not a ‘Like’!
7. Be yourself but remember it’s not Facebook
Be natural and talk about your areas of expertise, it should be easy! Keep your friends on Facebook and Twitter – LinkedIn is business professional.
These simple steps have to be part of your day-to-day work routine. When implemented you’ll start to gain trust and credibility within your communities.
Follow our LinkedIn page for more hints and industry tips at LDF Group or why not tweet us your tips @ldfinance?
