Yes, you are on Facebook – just like the rest of the world (or at least it feels that way). But what about LinkedIn? Chances are you have a profile, but when was the last time you:
- Updated your photo?
- Created a post for the LinkedIn Pulse feed?
- Checked to make sure all your contact information, including your website, was included in your profile?
- Asked for, or gave, a Recommendation on LinkedIn? (This is different from Endorsements.)
- Searched for people you wanted to connect with and asked a common connection for an introduction?
- Updated your company LinkedIn page? (Do you even have one?)
Over the past year, I have conducted LinkedIn training as one-on-one coaching for business owners and executives and presented lunch and learns for employee groups. I’ve helped them to make better use of, and maximize, their presence on LinkedIn. Many of them say they don’t know what to do on LinkedIn, or they don’t have time or see the point in it or they’re afraid to connect with the “wrong” people.
Well, there are some good reasons to pay attention to LinkedIn for you and your business. Here’s why:
- Growing daily as the #1 site for sales leads
- 100 million LinkedIn regular users in U.S. / 400 million globally / 3 billion people have profiles
- 187 million unique visitors to LinkedIn monthly
- 40% of users check LinkedIn daily
- Average user spends 17 minutes/month on LinkedIn
Facebook is being used mainly for personal connections. (Although there are businesses on Facebook who have pages and are using it to build their brands and business. And if your business should be on Facebook, then set up a page and start paying for boosts and ads.) Your mom, your cousin, your grandmother – they all probably have Facebook pages!
LinkedIn, on the other hand, is a professional network populated by professional and business people. It may be the place you connect with your next strategic partner, customer or even employee. I recently managed a job posting on LinkedIn for a client and they attracted some qualified candidates that they were pretty excited about.
So what are you waiting for? Start using LinkedIn today to build your network and sales for tomorrow.
Need some help? Let me know.
–Sue Voyles
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From Quill.com
