For years we’ve talked a ton about social media, why it’s important (more than you might think), how to find content, and how to succeed with social media. But, before you create awesome content and start gaining followers it’s imperative to spend some time polishing up your social profiles. Why? It’s the first thing people look at when you post on social. Think of your social profiles as the heart of your online persona. When fans and followers find your profile, make them want to stay and connect because that’s where the opportunity for a relationship lies. What do social relationships mean to you whether a solution provider or IT vendor? MORE BUSINESS FOR YOU!
Where do you start? You start by thinking about your audience. Every social media platform is unique and was created for a different purpose. To get the traction you want create each social profile separately while keeping the best practices of that particular platform in mind. At Channel Maven we believe the most influential B2B social media platform is LinkedIn, with other platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram also high on the list, depending on how you want to amplify your brand and where your audience spends their time.
LinkedIn was created as a business-oriented social networking service. Their official statement reads: “The world's largest professional network with more than 875 million members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.” As opposed to Facebook, your Linkedin connections are likely to be current employers, colleagues, classmates, and industry peers rather than friends and family. The voice of your profile should align with your personality, voice and tone and be informative and concise. Think of it as your online brand. Are there keywords you can use to become more searchable? Is your reader stuck on one topic because you have provided too much information? Consider the ten-second rule; if you had 10 seconds to make an impression would your reader stay or would they leave? Find a reason to capture their attention.
Use this best practices social marketing checklist to set up a profile that will make them want to stay.
The bottom line is to keep your overall goal in mind. Is there someone you’re trying to strike a chord with? Are you working to become a thought leader in your industry or target market? After you’ve taken these steps and built a robust profile you are ready to utilize LinkedIn for the reason it was created. Connect. Find. Be Found. Power Your Career. Learn and Share.
Today we focused on enhancing your LinkedIn profiles but that doesn’t mean you can’t apply these tips and tricks to any other social platform you want to build a presence on. All this advice is universal across every platform. If we could give one single takeaway it is to know your audience. Who do you want to find you? What do you want them to see? What lasting impression will you leave…Give your online presence the time it deserves for the traction you’re looking for. Why?
More traction= More connections.
More connections=More relationships
More relationships= More opportunity for Business
Go Get ‘Em
Photo Credit: sironaconsulting
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