Linda Simon's WordPress.com Blog
Advancing Entrepreneurs, Small Business and SolopreneursArchive for June, 2010
“Preneur” LINKEDIN (6 of 12-Part Series)
Welcome to the “Preneur” 12-Part Marketing Series. This is the 6th post out of 12 in this series.
LinkedIn Screen for Linda Simon
LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site with 66 million people on it. The average income of users is $109,000 and the average age of users is 37. Current stats provided by social rabbit.
This site is for the professional who wants to network and/or look for employment opportunities. It is a virtual and interactive group of business cards and meshed with your online resume. It also is similar to getting published in a newspaper or newsletter daily but better because you have total control about what you put out on it and who is in your network. Another nice thing is that it is free.
Important things to implement to get yourself fully LinkedIn:
- Set up your account at www.linkedin.com.
- Put in a photo – people like to see who you are plus, some people know you by name and others by face.
- Be creative about your profile. Use your VOICE in your profile with specific adjectives and colorful verbs.
- Customize your public profile vanity URL – http://www.linkedin.com/in/lindasimonvb. To do this, go to edit your profile.
- Get 100% completion on your profile for SEO results. Use keywords, metatags, etc. Fill in the current job, past jobs, etc.
- Join groups that interest you and participate with them.
- Link to your website and actually type in your web address on the profile (instead of My website – select OTHER category and customize it with your name).
- Link to your blog and name it (instead of My blog). It will automatically appear each time you post your blog.
- Give back, offer to write recommendations for others you are familiar with. This helps you get higher up in LinkedIn’s SEO.
- Build your connections by adding people and import your address book to join you.
- On a regular basis, update your status message. This shows people what you are doing or you can share information with people and become the expert.
- Add your reading list by Amazon.
If you are a professional looking to connect with other professionals this is the network for you, use it to grow your business, increase brand awareness (for you and/or your business) and position yourself as an expert. It is extremely important to engage, comment and expanding a colleague’s content.
Next is Part 7 about FACEBOOK.
“Preneur” SOCIAL MEDIA (5 of 12-Part Series)
Welcome to the “Preneur” 12-Part Marketing Series. This is the 5th post out of 12.
Social Media success comes from:
- Self-Publishing,
- Introducing and Promoting Others,
- Being the Voice and Face of your Company (Branding or Brandindividual),
- Connecting
- Engaging /Participating,
- Building relations
- Harnessing word-of-mouse marketing
“Viral Marketing Advice” from Steve Chazin, author of Marketing Apple recommends “Making Your Message Memorable”. Simply put, you have little chance that something will go viral unless, like a disease, it could be spread easily mouth-to-mouth. For that to happen, your message has to be super tight as easy to transmit in as few words as possible “1,000 songs in your pocket” is the answer to “What is an iPod?” Before that, the Macintosh was introduced as “The computer for the rest of us.” If you can boil your message down to just its syrupy goodness, you can achieve lift – the irresistible force of millions of customers selling your product for you.
There are so many ways to create viral marketing buzz through social media:
- Facebook Business Page (aka Fan)
- Blog
- YouTube
- E-Book
- Smart Phone
How to move forward with an enhanced way of doing business through social media:
- Determine your message and make it as clear as possible.
- Get educated as much as you can on the subject and method.
- Get started – domain names, open up your free on-line accounts, get account names, etc.
- Work with the programs that speak your language.
- Watch, Listen, and learn.
- Participate – get your feet wet.
- Review your results and discuss.
Next is Part 6 about LINKEDIN.
