How successful is LinkedIn Marketing?

LinkedIn has been around since 2003 and has grown into one of the most popular networks with over 400 million users worldwide. The network boasts an impressive collection of features that make it easy to engage with potential customers or clients. But what exactly does this mean when compared to other platforms like Facebook and Twitter? What are some effective ways to use LinkedIn to market your company's products or services?

The answer lies within its extensive networking capabilities. You can easily connect with people who have similar interests, backgrounds, or expertise. And if you're looking for new prospects, they will likely be searching online for information about your industry -- which makes it easier than ever to reach them! This article discusses some methods to leverage LinkedIn as part of your overall marketing plan.

What percentage of B2B leads come from LinkedIn?

When using LinkedIn as a way to attract new prospects, many marketers rely on the "search engine" aspect of the site. They post updates, articles, blog posts, job listings, etc., hoping their content will appear high up in search results. For those without access to SEO specialists, however, this may not always work out well.

According to Statista, only 10% of all website visitors actually go directly to websites via searches (as opposed to clicking links). So even though you could technically get someone to visit your page by linking to it through another source, there are still plenty of opportunities to get more clicks.

To encourage engagement among your followers, you should also consider posting interesting updates regularly so your audience doesn't forget about you. These might include videos, infographics, images, or anything else that would catch a reader's attention. You never know where that person will end up next!

How can you build a B2B strategy on LinkedIn?

As mentioned above, LinkedIn offers several different types of connections to choose from. One of the best options for reaching professionals is called Sponsored Updates. When you create this type of connection between two accounts, both parties can send each other messages. Some companies prefer to use this option instead of sending emails because they don't want to spam anyone. Plus, you can schedule the message to be sent at any time, making it less intrusive.

Additionally, you'll see a link under your profile that allows you to receive updates from others. If someone is interested in learning more about your company, they can click this button to request additional details. This feature works great for creating relationships with prospective partners, but you can also use it to share newsworthy events such as product launches or promotions.

Another important tool for building a solid relationship with your target audience is InMail. After you've connected with someone on LinkedIn, you can write them a personalized email asking for feedback. It's a good idea to ask specific questions that pertain to their role or area of interest, rather than just throwing random requests at them. By doing so, you show that you value their opinion enough to take the extra step to contact them personally.

If you'd like to learn more about using LinkedIn for B2B marketing, read our full guide here.

Is LinkedIn a growing platform?

Although LinkedIn isn't quite as big as Google+, YouTube, or Instagram, it is definitely gaining traction among businesses. According to Business Insider, LinkedIn had 2.5 billion monthly active users in 2016. That number was expected to increase to 3.1 billion by 2020. While this growth rate seems slow, remember that LinkedIn started back in 2006, meaning it took almost 15 years before it reached this level of usage.

In addition to user numbers, LinkedIn is also becoming increasingly valuable as an advertising medium. Companies like Salesforce, Microsoft, eBay, and Deloitte spend millions every year on sponsored ads. A few years ago, these campaigns were primarily focused on attracting consumers. However, now brands are taking advantage of LinkedIn to recruit employees and find new talent.

With this increased demand, LinkedIn is expanding beyond its original purpose. Nowadays, you won't necessarily need to sign-up to view profiles or upload pictures anymore. Instead, you can simply browse through categories based on location, education, skills, employment history, and more.

This means that no matter what position you hold in your organization, you can discover relevant contacts on LinkedIn. As long as you stay current, you'll continue to stand apart from competitors and keep your name top of mind for potential employers.

Is LinkedIn growing in popularity?

It appears that LinkedIn is continuing to rise in prominence. With hundreds of thousands of people signing up each day, the chances of finding someone who knows what you do seem higher than ever before. Even if you aren't actively seeking to hire somebody right away, having a strong presence on LinkedIn provides a lot of benefits.

For instance, if you're trying to expand your career outside of your home country, connecting with local experts gives you an opportunity to meet face-to-face and form real-life professional bonds. Many people feel uncomfortable talking to strangers online, especially if they haven't met them yet. But once you've established a rapport with someone, you can start exchanging ideas about future projects and brainstorming solutions together.

Even if you already have a team working on a project, LinkedIn provides a convenient place to communicate with colleagues. Since everyone's names are displayed prominently, you can quickly identify who is responsible for handling certain tasks. Additionally, you can ask questions regarding progress, deadlines, budgets, and much more. This helps ensure that everybody stays informed and keeps things moving forward smoothly.

While we certainly wouldn't recommend relying solely on LinkedIn to accomplish everything, it can serve as an excellent supplement to traditional forms of communication. No matter how busy life gets, it's usually possible to squeeze in a quick chat with a colleague during lunch break or while waiting for a meeting to begin. Being able to speak freely and openly with coworkers is crucial for developing trust among team members.

So whether you're planning to implement a whole new marketing strategy or simply tweak what you currently have going on, LinkedIn can play an integral role. Keep reading below to learn more about how to effectively utilize the social media platform.

There are four major reasons why you should join LinkedIn:

1) To Build Your Network

Whether you're starting a new venture or expanding your existing operation, LinkedIn provides a unique opportunity to connect with individuals across industries. Through this platform, you'll be able to develop meaningful relationships with people who can provide advice, support, and assistance along the way.

2) To Find New Clients

By joining LinkedIn, you can tap into a huge pool of available prospects. You'll then have greater control over how often you approach each individual and determine the best times to reach out.

3) To Establish Yourself as an Authority

If you're serious about establishing yourself as a subject expert, LinkedIn can help you spread awareness about your knowledge and experience. Not only will your peers recognize your contributions, but your connections will too.

4) To Expand Your Reach

Once you've built a robust network, you can reach out to influencers and thought leaders in your field. This opens doors to countless possibilities. They might offer referrals, endorse your products/services, introduce you to other important contacts, or even refer you to a client.

Keep reading below to learn more about how to maximize your efforts on LinkedIn.

If you're considering adding LinkedIn to your marketing mix, you probably have a ton of unanswered questions. Here are five common ones to watch out for:

Where do I set my display picture?

Do I need to fill out my entire bio?

Which groups am I allowed to participate in?

Can I update my status?

Who sees my recommendations?

Once you understand the basics behind the service, you should be ready to dive deeper. Check out our complete list of recommended resources below to explore all aspects of LinkedIn.

After completing your research, you should decide how you want to approach LinkedIn. Are you interested in promoting your own personal brand, or are you looking to establish your company as a leader in the marketplace? Either way, you'll need to put effort into crafting a cohesive plan.

Here's a look at three simple steps you can follow for getting started with LinkedIn marketing:

Step 1 - Determine Which Audience Is Right for You

Before you jump straight into writing content, you first need to figure out whom you want to reach. Do you want to focus on hiring managers, executives, salespeople, freelancers, students, etc.? Or maybe you're targeting customers who purchase goods or services on a regular basis. Once you pick your primary audiences, you can move onto Step 2.

Step 2 - Create Content Based On Their Needs

What kind of content should you produce? Should you share useful articles, educational videos, inspirational quotes, customer testimonials, press releases, etc.? Each piece of content plays an essential role throughout your entire campaign, so it pays to pay special attention to detail.

Step 3 - Measure & Optimize Results

LinkedIn has always been a popular networking site with over 500 million users worldwide. It's also widely regarded as one of the best platforms for professional networking and job hunting. But what about its potential in terms of marketing? Is it really worth using? And if you're not sure where to start, here are some helpful points that will guide you through LinkedIn marketing.

If you've never heard of this marketing tool before then don't worry! If you want to get started, there are plenty of ways to do so. You can use either paid or free methods depending on whether you have enough money to invest into advertising campaigns.

LinkedIn is an awesome place to market yourself professionally but be aware that it isn’t just another Facebook page. As such, it should only ever form part of a larger digital marketing plan and not replace other channels entirely. For instance, if you run a local shop, then make sure you advertise online too (for more information, check out our article on why businesses need to think outside-the-box).

But regardless of your current situation, we'll go step by step through everything you need to know about LinkedIn marketing because it can give your brand exposure like no other medium out there. Here's how...

Why is LinkedIn growing?

The obvious reason why people would choose to join LinkedIn is due to its popularity among professionals around the world. The company boasts over 500 million active members across 200 countries which makes up nearly 1% of total global internet population. This means that even if you live somewhere isolated, chances are someone from your target audience uses LinkedIn already.

There are many reasons as to why this could be beneficial to your business, including:

Better visibility: With all those connections, it's easier than ever for your profile to pop up in relevant searches. Plus, if your competition doesn't have a similar presence, they may struggle gaining any traction at all.

Connections: Most people use LinkedIn to keep track of their contacts, especially when looking for new employment opportunities. So, if you're trying to find a role within your industry, having access to a large network of contacts might open doors quicker than usual.

Job offers: According to LinkedIn, 65 percent of Fortune 1000 companies use it to recruit talent. They claim that "97 percent of hiring managers say that knowing who to hire comes first" - meaning that making contact with candidates via LinkedIn is often the most effective way to reach them.

It's easy to see why LinkedIn is becoming increasingly important to marketers. However, the question remains: Why does LinkedIn still remain relatively unknown? Well, let's take a look at why...

Why is LinkedIn growing so fast?

As mentioned earlier, LinkedIn is hugely popular amongst the working class. In fact, almost half of American adults aged 18–29 actively engage with the platform every month. That said, it's not just millennials that love it – according to Statista it was estimated that over 50% of UK workers regularly visited the website between 2016 and 2018.

According to Pew Research Center, 78% of Americans surveyed said they were likely to visit LinkedIn after hearing about the service from friends or family. Considering that it launched back in 2003, this shows that interest in the platform hasn't waned since day dot.

So, why exactly is LinkedIn so popular? There are several factors behind this phenomenon. Let's take a closer look…

1. How much time do I actually spend on LinkedIn?

You wouldn't believe me if I told you that you spend roughly 2 hours per week on LinkedIn. Now, I'm not saying that you spend that long browsing through profiles, uploading photos, updating statuses and writing posts. No, you probably spend far less than that each year.

However, this shouldn't come as a surprise considering that LinkedIn is a great place to stay updated with news surrounding your niche. After all, if you're reading this right now, then you must be interested in what's happening in the world of marketing. Therefore, it makes sense that you'd browse through articles related to your field.

2. What kind of content am I sharing on LinkedIn?

Another thing to consider when talking about LinkedIn is the type of content you share. While you might be tempted to upload cute pictures of your dog and write short updates about your life, doing so won't necessarily bring you success. Instead, focus on producing high quality content that provides value to readers.

For example, if you run a coaching practice, make sure your clients' testimonials feature prominently on your profile. Similarly, if you're selling products, ensure that customers can easily view reviews written by previous buyers. These types of things tend to grab attention and generate engagement.

3. Who are the people visiting my profile?

When discussing the importance of engaging with others on LinkedIn, it's crucial to understand who visits your account. To put it simply, it matters who sees your content. If nobody else views it except for your immediate circle of friends, then it's useless.

On the flip side, if you produce valuable content that appeals to everyone, you'll quickly attract followers. Of course, there's nothing wrong with targeting specific groups of users but remember that the bigger picture dictates that you aim for mass appeal.

4. Where did my competitors go?

In today's competitive landscape, it's vital to stand out from the crowd. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is by creating original content and promoting it effectively. When you create unique pieces of work, it becomes clear that you're different from your competitors.

This is particularly true for B2B brands. After all, how can you expect to compete against big corporations with giant budgets if you haven't got anything substantial to show off yet? A good way to kickstart your journey towards originality is to read articles published by influencers in your area. Then, try to emulate their style and approach.

5. Do I feel comfortable posting on LinkedIn?

One of the biggest challenges associated with building a strong community on LinkedIn is getting people to interact with your content. If you're worried about the tone of your messages, fear not - there are numerous ways to improve your communication skills.

A few simple pointers include:

Using emojis: Emoticons aren't limited to Twitter anymore. Even though they're considered old school, they can add personality to your message.

Adding hashtags: Hashtags allow you to connect with individuals based on common interests. By adding #hashtagged topics, you encourage other people to comment on your posts.

Emphasizing key words: Make sure you pay close attention to keywords whenever you're composing your messages. Using synonyms and variations to describe certain concepts increases your credibility while boosting clickthrough rates.

6. Am I ready to talk to strangers?

While the above advice will surely help boost your confidence levels, it's also essential to develop personal relationships with people. This is something that takes time and effort. Don't expect overnight success however. Remember, you're competing against thousands of other brands for attention.

7. Should I build an email list?

Although it's possible to earn revenue from email subscriptions, you should avoid generating traffic solely through this method. Email lists are usually made up of highly targeted individuals who have opted in to receive regular emails from you.

This is ideal if you own a product or service that requires repeat purchases. However, if you sell services, you should instead opt for a newsletter signup form. By doing so, you can increase your conversion rate without forcing anyone to buy anything.

8. Can I trust LinkedIn?

Finally, once you've started interacting with people on LinkedIn, it's imperative that you maintain a positive mindset. Although the platform is known for encouraging connection requests, it's not uncommon for spammers to infiltrate networks.

Therefore, it's essential to follow the below steps to spot fake accounts:

Do a quick Google search and check their history.

Take note of their location. You can tell if someone lives nearby by checking whether they've added city names to their address details.

Look at their follower count. If they have millions of connections, then chances are they're not real.

Lastly, watch out for suspicious activity. Does your inbox suddenly fill up with promotional messages? Are people constantly requesting permission to send invites? Check your spam folder for clues.

Now that we've covered the basics, I hope you have a better understanding of how LinkedIn works. If you're thinking about starting a career change, or perhaps expanding your existing one, then you definitely owe it to yourself to check out this amazing platform.

There are countless ways to utilize LinkedIn to drive sales and expand your business. Whether you decide to go full steam ahead or stick to a low-key strategy, it's safe to assume that using this platform will yield results.

LinkedIn is one of the most popular networking platforms in the world with over 500 million users and growing all the time. It's also becoming more widely known as an excellent place to find job opportunities or connect with professionals who can benefit from your product or service.

The best part about using LinkedIn is that it doesn't cost you anything to use their services! You don't need to pay any money just so people know what your company does and where they can get hold of you if needed. However, there are some ways to earn money through this website by promoting yourself properly.

If you're looking to increase awareness of your business on the internet then LinkedIn might be right up your street. Here we'll look at how it works (and why) and show you some simple ideas for getting started.

Is LinkedIn a good way to advertise your business?

Yes, absolutely - especially if you've got something interesting to say or sell. The site has a huge user base which means lots of potential customers to reach out to. As well as having access to thousands of other businesses, you should have no trouble finding professional contacts either. If you want to expand your network of connections quickly, then you really shouldn't pass this opportunity up.

You may not think you'd fit in with many of the "professional" profiles but anyone will likely agree that LinkedIn makes for a great online resume. People tend to post information about themselves here rather than on websites like Facebook because they feel more comfortable doing so. So if you're trying to build a profile around your career history or achievements, LinkedIn could prove very useful indeed.

Should I be advertising on LinkedIn?

It depends entirely upon what kind of products or services you offer. Some companies believe that LinkedIn provides them with better visibility when compared to Twitter, Facebook etc., while others simply see it as another social media outlet. There isn't much difference between the two though, so both options can provide you with similar results.

In fact, you might even consider making a separate account for each of your different networks. This allows you to keep track of everything separately without cluttering up your main page with too much content. After all, it would be silly to spend hours posting links to every single article you write, wouldn't it?

How do I promote my business on LinkedIn?

There are plenty of methods available to make sure that your business gets noticed on LinkedIn, including paid campaigns and organic strategies. Let's take a quick look at those first.

Paid Campaigns

These days, almost everyone uses Google AdWords to generate traffic. But did you know that you can actually run ads directly on LinkedIn itself? They're called Sponsored Updates, and you can create adverts that appear within someone else's news feed. These updates aren't seen by everyone, however. Only members of certain groups will see them.

Organic Strategies

One of the simplest and quickest ways to get more exposure on LinkedIn is to join relevant groups. You won't necessarily have to hand out promotional material or talk about your business directly, and you can still get involved without spending any cash whatsoever. Just remember that group membership comes at a price though. Your posts can only remain visible for 30 days before they disappear into oblivion forever.

Another option is to start building relationships with other users. When you add somebody new to your list of friends, they receive an email asking whether they want to follow you back. And once again, there are limits placed on this feature. You'll need to wait until you've made 10 requests before you can send emails to your followers requesting to follow you back.

Once you meet these criteria, you can continue sending messages to them. At least, that's how it works in theory anyway...

How effective is LinkedIn marketing?

On average, LinkedIn generates 3-5% of its total revenue from sponsored advertisements. That's pretty impressive considering how powerful the network is. In addition, there are now tools designed specifically for marketers that allow you to target specific audiences based on keywords and interests. For instance, you can search for people interested in topics such as "travel", "business travel", "work from home" or "social media".

However, the majority of LinkedIn users come across your advert organically via searches or recommendations. Even if you're struggling to stand out among hundreds of millions of other brands, you can always try creating unique content tailored towards your audience. Don't forget to include images and videos wherever possible.

We hope that our guide helped clear things up a little bit. If you're ready to learn more, check out our articles below:

Which type of LinkedIn Profile should I create? 

Are there any SEO benefits to adding location data to your LinkedIn profile? 

How to optimize your Linkedin Profile to improve engagement 

Do you prefer Linkedin to Twitter or Facebook? Why? 

For more advice, check out our guides on How to Create A Killer Resume Online and How To Grow Your Network On LinkedIn.

1. Create a Profile

The first step before you start promoting yourself online is creating a profile for your company, products, services or anything else that interests you.

Enter your full name and email address.

Select "Company" from the dropdown menu under "Profile Type".

Click on "Create Company Page", then select which country you are based out of.

"Business" will appear at the top of the list when selecting companies. Select it if this is what you're looking for.

If you have multiple pages (for example, if you've created another account) click on "Switch Pages" at the bottom of the screen.

Your company page now displays underneath the other accounts. Click on "Edit" next to it.

Fill in the details about your business such as its website URL, phone number etc., and add any images that may be relevant. You don't need to fill everything in here if there isn't much information available yet - just leave some fields blank initially.

Once finished, click "Save Changes" at the top right-hand corner of the page.

You'll see a message saying, "Your changes were saved." below the box where you entered your company info.

Scroll down through the tabs until you get to "Basic Information" and enter your personal details including your birthday, gender, location etc.

Don't forget to