LinkedIn?

by 40 replies
47
So back when LinkedIn first started I created a profile to see what all the excitement was about...never really touched the thing since...

Decided to login today and I see had a couple dozen "connection requests" or whatever, and see a couple of prospective clients that I talked with in the past in the list etc.

I think I might actually have to do some research and learn how to use this platform better, since it just recently crossed over the 100 million user mark...it's obviously got the potential to generate leads...

...but with that being said. Is there anyone currently finding successful results from LinkedIn? (i.e. referrals, new clients, great contacts etc.)

The one thing about LinkedIn that I don't quite get, is if I should be treating it like a virtual rolodex and just inviting / requesting connections with everyone on my list?

Some people on my list I barely know / spoke to once -- do you still add these people for the networking aspect of things?

Or is it more like FaceBook where some people only create connections with those they have met personally / have an existing introduction to already?

~Dexx
#offline marketing #linkedin

  • You'd be surprised by how many people choose to add complete strangers. Sad but true lol..

    You'v also got me interested in Linkedin now and got me interested in going and making a profile.

    Thanks Dexx... Another distraction, JUST what I needed :p
  • I just found a great video that kind of explains the LinkedIn advantage vs ranking in Google etc.

    YouTube - What is LinkedIn?
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks Dexx, for sharing the video
  • I heard that the golden rule for the social media campaign is that you shouldn't start unless you are absolutely sure and ready. My thoughts are that, unless your business is in retail or dealing with the public, or if you are a celebrity and have stuff to tweet, you need to first decide the direction in social media optimization. Like, I don't want to tweet or re-tweet on the boring subject. I want to hear about hot mess from celebrities or something like that.
  • There's a gentleman by the name of Larry Beacham that has put together a nice LinkedIn Marketing course. Link with him on LinkedIn and I'm sure you can find his material.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I'll go check him out, thanks!

  • Hi Dexx

    I have developed a strategy for using LinkedIn.

    Build Connections
    Over the past 3 years I have built about 700 connections on linkedIn. Not a huge amount, but I tried to connect to people i'd either met in one way or another or new someone I knew.

    Build Profile
    Then I tried to build myself a solid profile explaining how my business fixes the issues that other companies may have. I also asked a load of people that we had worked with to give us testimonials.

    Getting them into my system
    One of our strategies for getting offline clients is to get them to a seminar and explain about online marketing, then pitch our services at the end. I use LinkedIn to get people to the seminar by adding it as a LinkedIn event and blasting out a message to get the ones that live close enough to come along.

    Nurture
    Then they are in my email system and I can nurture the leads beyond the seminar, send them more great information and wait till they are ready to take action.


    Hope that's useful (I think there's a product in there somewhere )
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    • So did you add / send a request to pretty much every person on your contact list then? (since they would know people you know)

      Or did you pick and choose select individuals?

      From my understanding of LinkedIn, it seems almost like a popularity contest, and the more "connections" you have (no matter how well you know them) the higher the chance of someone in THEIR networks doing a search for a service and finding you...

      ...is that a correct assumption?

      ~Dexx
  • LinkedIn recommendation is NOT to connect to people you do not know, and I keep it that way. I see it as business Facebook, or Dexx said it even better, virtual rolodex, with the exception that you can see who are connections of your connection and use your connection to connect to their connections, which is not possible any other way.
    So I would say it is good for networking and finding prospects
  • I can easily attribute an extra 5-figures on new business directly from my LinkedIn account ( See here - Adam Maywald | LinkedIn )

    Not only do potential clients get to see "where" I've been, but they get validation from the recommendations on the page. Just a couple of weeks ago, my sales manager told me that someone called him up because of one of the recommendations on the profile - he knew the guy who gave the recommendation. This guy has a social media company and needed an SEO company; so far, we've sent over 2 contracts both equaling $6500/mo.

    Just like with Facebook, I don't add people I don't know. But that's just me.

    Here's a company that "mines" Facebook data for you to use as a sales tool - they hit me up last week to use there software: eGrabber - Prospects lists lead generation software | business lead generation program | address | list | email processing
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  • Awesome feedback, thanks!

    PS - For those that do have LinkedIn feel free to connect with me:

    • [1] reply
    • there is also a method to optimise linkedin to gain contacts and clients
  • I know a lot of people will direct potential clients to their LinkedIn page. I've seen it work for other people I know as far as getting clients. You don't have to have a ton of 'connections' for your LinkedIn to be convincing. If you have a compelling work history, then it's worth looking into. If you flipped burgers before going into marketing, then maybe keep your profile to yourself
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    • lol, well played!
  • What of if you worked professionally in an unrelated field to marketing? IS it still worth having a Linked in connection.

    I have one right now..but it's more for my current day job
    • [1] reply
    • Just because you were not marketing before, how is what you did related to marketing NOW?

      Customer relations, organizational skills, networking, HTML, just about anything can be used in marketing (even made up words) and your life experiences are worth more than you know.

      I am in an invite-only group for high level people in the gaming industry, yet I am NOT a game-related CEO, like 90% of those group members. I am in this group because I am a game player, not a CEO.

      I remarked, in-group, that I may be the least important person in this group, to which the founder of the group (publicly) stated that I am among the most important members, as I am the end consumer of the product.

      Let that sink in....
  • Ignore the power of LinkedIn at your peril. It is social media, but not as most people know it.

    Social media is where money is made, but LinkedIn is where Empires are built!

    These are business people looking to do business, not for your CPA offer. They know what they want, but not necessarily how to do it online, which is where you position yourself as an expert on (not internet marketing) but exposing the power of the internet for the gain of these business people.

    You have no idea how much business gets done on LinkedIn...
  • LinkedIn is a huge part of my success with Offline Marketing.
    Many of my clients are on LinkedIn and I call it my online resume. I have over 1,300 connections and 40+ recommendations of my service. Sending them link to my profile pretty much closes the deal.
    James Hickey | LinkedIn
  • Good for individual connections and business-to-business, but not for much else.
  • Dexx, I was pretty much like you, but the other day I saw something in LinkedIn that grabbed my attention, it seems like they are going to start selling advertising via PPC, they are giving away 100 dollars of advertising if you qualify, not sure what is the qualifying process, but I fill up the request.

    Why I think this is important? number one it is obvious that the traffic model via PPC is working for many companies, but I think it is a great way to sell B2B, when you are advertising in other platforms is mostly B2C, but I think that the profile of the people on this network will be more towards B2B, I am waiting to be approved for my free credit (I don't see why I would not be approved) and I will let you know how that goes.

    Regards
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  • Article just came out today on Linkedin and what you should do, etc...

    LinkedIn: 5 Useful Tips to Leverage the Waking Giant - Search Engine Watch (SEW)
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    • Newbie here but have utilized websites for my own B2B businesses since 96. I had over 3000+ contacts in my CRM and Opt In Email, but only 150 LinkedIn contacts. I have made a concerted effort to grow that and now have 700 or so.

      My twitter and Constant Contact emails/events are tied into my linkedIn account. Twitter, Blog and LinkedIn are featured on my main website Bankers Advocate | Bankers Advocate, Florida Business Brokers, Exit Strategy & Merger Specialists

      My most recent step was to hire a full time VA from the Philippines to update/add/touch all these contacts.

      If you are a paid LinkedIn User you can search, reach out and touch X amount of potential clients/referral sources per month. I am going to have my VA telemarket/email them.

      PS: I have set a budget for $100/month for PPC on LinkedIn for six months now. Not one click yet. However, my target audience is very small. Another project...
      • [1] reply
  • I've been using LinkedIn for a number of years. And interestingly got a notice from them thanking me for being number 108K or so out of 1M members now. You want to be as broad as possible with LinkedIn, without spamming. Join as many groups as will let you join and then "troll" through the connections to see who you can connect with.

    Interestingly, though, many of the LinkedIn users are looking for jobs ... obviously not all, but be aware.
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  • I found this free report from Hubspot that provides excellent information about how to use Linkedin effectively as a marketing tool. Terrific resource!

    http://www.hubspot.com/Portals/53/do...he_experts.pdf
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Since this post is about LinkedIn, hope these statistics are helpful...

  • I like Linked In and use it to keep in touch with my professional contacts and see what they are up too.

    Recently I sent an email to a contact of mine who I haven't talked with in years. After reconnecting with her, she sent me a few solid referrals. I'm expecting to get at least one of them as a client. In addition to this, we're now more in-tune with what each other is doing professionally now. So one of the benefits of Linked In is reconnecting with previous business contacts.

    I also like to add people who I've met at networking events. Linked In serves as a good way to nurture relationships. As time goes on, these connections get to see what you're up to and vice versa. Linked In can take that person you met once and turn them into a stronger business contact as time goes on.
  • See LinkedInForBusiness
    This is a complete comprehensive course on linkedIn by Lewis Howes.
    I bought the product and it rocks ....
    Only 97.00
    It has lots of videos and transcripts and is broken down into sections that make everything easy to find.

    It has a bunch of stuff on how to use linkedIn for Business leads.
  • LinkedIn works

    The secret is being visible to those who are your ideal clients over and above replicating what most IMers do i.e. jing groups and 'hang out' with people just like them who are unlikely to be their clients

    BAYO
  • Just saw this thread today.

    I recently hired a Fiverr to get me connections. Added 975 total for $5.

    I then SEO'd my LinkedIn profile. If you do a search for Google Places or Local Search, I am #1.

    Received my first lead today...

    Not bad for 20 minutes of work and $5.
    • [1] reply
  • Great video and Info graphic...thanks!
  • At the very least you can create a profile and you can get backlinks to your site from your LinkedIn profile. Its quick and easy to do.
  • wow

    I made a linkedin awhile ago myself but never touched it.

    That video you posted really inspired me to log in and check it out. . . right now.

    lol
  • thanks for the video
  • There really is quite a huge amount to LinkedIn and it's growing all the time.

    I am in the throws of creating a guide to using LinkedIn and it will hopefully give you a ton of ways of building your prospect list and get you some more sales.

    It's my first product that i've created, so bear with me while I make sure it's really really good.
  • I use LinkedIn as a follow-up tool for all the networking I do to get local consulting clients, as well as a positioning tool.

    Whenever I go to networking events I collect people's cards and connect to them on LinkedIn when I get home. I send an individual message to everyone and mention something unique that I got to know about them.

    My Twitter, blog and Box.net accounts all feed into LinkedIn, so it shows that I am providing thought leadership, and keeping on top of developments in my industry.

    My connections on LinkedIn also indicate that I am a well known and well connected person and many people look up my profile when I have been referred to them.

    What I still want to explore on LinkedIn:
    * lead generation through LinkedIn ads
    * get more recommendations to my profile
    * set up company profile in LinkedIn
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  • 47

    LinkedIn?

    So back when LinkedIn first started I created a profile to see what all the excitement was about...never really touched the thing since... Decided to login today and I see had a couple dozen "connection requests" or whatever, and see a couple of prospective clients that I talked with in the past in the list etc.