Being active on LinkedIn can be a struggle for many. It’s hard to know what to post, when to post, or to really engage with other people, so a lot of people tend to stay away from the professional social network. However, if this is you, don’t avoid LinkedIn! If used correctly and thoughtfully, it can be a valuable tool that connects you to prospects like never before.
Recent data from LinkedIn demonstrates just how much your social media presence and LinkedIn profile matters for new prospects. Their survey showed that:
- 62% of business decision-makers look for an informative LinkedIn profile when deciding whether or not to engage with someone new, like a sales professional
- 69% of millennial buyers are far more likely to engage iwth someone new if they have a strong social media presence.
These are incredibly high figures, but if you step back and reflect, you’ll find that it this actually makes a lot of sense. Your LinkedIn activity serves as a form of social proof. It assures a new person that you’re exactly who you say you are, you’re not a scammer and that you have a true commitment to the industry.
Tips for sharing content on LinkedIn
When using LinkedIn, there is one word that should be guiding you: ‘value.’ Anything and everything you share has to serve some kind of purpose for the reader. Think of yourself as a teacher of sorts. You’re curating and creating content that will help prospects get to know you better and provide them industry insights that help with their “buying” decision. Sharing valuable, high-quality content on LinkedIn demonstrates to potential clients that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about the industry, thereby creating a good impression.
Examples of posts on LinkedIn
If you’re not sure where or how to start posting on LinkedIn, here are some examples of the types of posts you can share on LinkedIn:
- Sharing interesting industry reports and highlighting some of the key findings
- Comment on prospect’s activity and discussions using statistics and data
- When posting your own content, include a link to your professional email and/or to your social media channels
One last thing to bear in mind is the volume and frequency of posting on LinkedIn and balancing how active you need to be. It might seem like you need to be on 24/7 (for some that’s great, others hate the thought of that alone) but that doesn’t actually have to be the case. Posting high-quality content less frequently is far better than posting subpar content constantly. Start with posting a few times a week to get comfortable and see what posts users are engaging with it. You can build on that to create a content posting strategy that truly resonates with your network and engages prospects.
