Like any professional service executive, you’ve spent your career building a practice and expertise that serves your clients well. LinkedIn thought leadership is one of the most effective ways to share that expertise, expand your network, and connect with decision-makers in today’s digital business environment.
However, similar to our industry (integrated marketing and communications), your business is growing ever more competitive. New players are in the game and you need to expand your network to find the next set of challenges – challenges that only someone with your experience can only foresee.
While your business is still done through in-person conversations and handshakes, you only have so much time in the day. How do you develop new professional relationships at the speed of business, particularly in today’s digital society? At the same time, how do you create a pipeline of new opportunities that promotes both your brand and your organization’s brand? Equally important, how do you engage and activate decision-makers?
Here are several ways to build LinkedIn thought leadership in your industry.
Invest Time in LinkedIn
As the most powerful, professional social networking tool around, LinkedIn is where business gets done online. Build out your profile, showcase your experience and share the types of trends and insights that will be valuable to your clients.
Become Your Own Media Channel
Don’t want for the Boston Globe to call you for your opinion. Be the Boston Globe. Create your own branded content for your website and your LinkedIn profile that promotes your expertise, trends, insights and other future-looking information that will be of interest to your network.
Engage With Your Prospects
Digital tools like LinkedIn will allow you to have quick engagements with prospects via groups, shared articles and company pages. Like, comment and share content that is produced by your prospects and/or the companies they represent.
Turn Digital Connections Into Real Conversations
LinkedIn can get in the door, but it’s still important to shake hands. Leverage the social network to line up meetings, coffee introductions, phone calls and the like. The power of LinkedIn as a sales tool will present itself in the time you put into it – as well as the time you put into nurturing those online engagements into real-life engagements.
We would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about how these timely and effective tactics and strategies, as well as other ideas that can quickly move your business forward.