As you probably know by now, consistency is vitally important for any marketing efforts. It is especially important for LinkedIn. How many times have you noticed that someone is regularly active, but then disappears for months at a time? Then, seemingly out of the blue, they show up again, but within a few weeks they’re inactive again. What impression does that leave you with? LinkedIn is for professionals, but that kind of on-again-off-again activity does not have a professional appearance.
The easiest way to be consistent with any social media marketing is to create a plan: a checklist, or action steps, that you can implement every day. A daily action plan will help you remember everything, but it also saves time and prevents you from staring at your computer screen without any thoughts as to what to share or how to contribute to the groups you’re in.
1. Check for new Messages or Network Invitations
You aren’t required to accept new invitations, especially from people whom you’ve never met or had any interaction with. While some business owners think LinkedIn is a numbers’ game (the more connections you have, the better), others believe the quality of your connections are more important than the volume of connections. The choice is yours.
2. Check Notifications
In the Notifications area, you’ll find birthdays, work anniversaries, or interesting content from your connections. Sending a personal note for birthdays and anniversaries is a nice touch to further build relationships, and it only takes a moment of your time.
3. Share Content
This is where a blank calendar grid or a planner comes in handy to plan your content sharing strategy. Content may include articles, blog posts, videos, infographics, product graphics (such as eBook cover, webinar announcement, etc.), and so much more.
- Aim to create your own content and supplement that with curated content you find elsewhere that speaks to your point.
- Look at the calendar and plan for any holidays or seasons that affect your business or sales and create seasonal graphics.
Creating this list of content ahead of time allows you to have the prewritten content ready to just copy and paste when you log in to LinkedIn. If possible, outsource your content creation or block off time once or twice a week to create that content.
4. Visit and participate in Groups
LinkedIn allows you to mingle within the confines of certain groups. These can be special interest groups, groups where you’ll find others in your field (aka competitors), or they will be niche-related, where you can find your target audience.
Participating in groups shows your expertise to others and puts you in a small spotlight so people get to know about your specialty and services.
- Ask questions. Be a conversation starter.
- Give advice freely; don’t give away the whole premise of your signature class but you can offer bits and pieces safely to show that you know what you’re talking about.
- Post as yourself, not as your brand.
- Participate first before posting. Show the other members that you’re interested in them as people.
Your name will stay foremost in people’s minds if you provide value in every LinkedIn post, and by staying active in your groups. Create a daily action plan that works for you and then put it into action. Engage your audience and provide value every time you post and you’ll soon see a growth in your connections and possible new sales.
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