I’ll admit it. I’m a LinkedIn Evangelist.
Anyone who’s been reading my blog knows this. I don’t stop talking about LinkedIn. The reason? Because LinkedIn is where I find my high end clients. Yep those pesky elusive rascals that we all need to sustain our business. These amazing ideal clients that understand the need and pay for our best crafted work feel sometimes as elusive as a magical unicorn. But not with LinkedIn, because LinkedIn is a treasure map leading right to the pot of gold.
I love LinkedIn for this, and today I am going to take you on a journey, leading you step by step, until you love it too!
[Tweet “LinkedIn is a treasure map leading right to the pot of gold.”]
The Challenge: (should you choose to accept it) Spend 30 minutes a day on LinkedIn for the next 2 weeks.
Pick your start day (today!), mark your calendar and spend the next 2 weeks Monday through Friday, 30 minutes each day following the steps I outline below. At the end of those 2 weeks email me and tell me about your new clients. I promise you the pot of gold does exist.
The Map:
Step 1: Connect with me of course! Just click here (1 minute)
The reason? Because I have thousands of followers that will put you that much closer to a 2nd degree connection with your future ideal client.
Step 2: Make sure your profile is spruced up, cleaned up, and looking great. (30-60 minutes) Just follow the tips in my FREE LinkedIn Stars video. (Note: LinkedIn Stars is no longer available.)
Step 3: Search for and join 3 geographically local networking groups. (10 mins) Click here for an example.
Step 4: Join 5 other groups you are interested in. (20 mins)
The reason? Because that’s where you find likeminded people! With a common interest think how much easier striking up a conversation will be. You know you’ve been to a party where there are people who share your interests vs a party where there aren’t. Which one did you walk away from making more connections and friends?
Step 5: Start your LinkedIn Healthy Habits. (5 minutes) Everyday, Monday through Friday, post an update. This can be a blog post you have already written for your website, curated content you have found that you would love to share, even an inspiring quote with a comment from you will do the trick.
Step 6: Continue your LinkedIn Healthy Habits. (15 minutes) Everyday, Monday through Friday, spend 15 minutes – yes you can set a timer- commenting on other people’s posts in your chosen groups from Steps 3 & 4.
Step 7: Continue your LinkedIn Healthy Habits. (10 minutes) Everyday, Monday through Friday, comment on one of the LinkedIn updates that show up in your thread.
Step 8: Strategically connect. (20 minutes) On day 5 and day 10 of your treasure hunt reach out. In the top black bar hover over Network, click Contacts, then sort by NEW. Focus on the last few people who have connected with you. Scan their profiles and pick out a few interesting details. Then message them and say something like: “So nice to connect with you! I see you are interested in helping people cope with negative emotions through the use of essential oils. I have always been fascinated by that natural power myself,** and I do wish I knew more about it. What are your LinkedIn networking goals? I’d love to know so I can connect you with others in my circle who have the same interests as well. There’s so much power and resources in connecting. Thanks for taking the time!”
**please change to reflect their specific interest or business niche
Step 9: Strategically connect, again. (10 mins) On day 5 and day 10 take a few minutes to check out the members of your local group. Scan their profiles. Look for those who you feel might be a good client or potential business partner and check to see if they have an active Twitter presence. Then connect with them on Twitter and retweet one of their tweets.
Step 10: Check your messages. (0 – 5 mins) Everyday make sure you are taking a moment to check your LinkedIn inbox. Be sure to answer every email that comes your way, and always be looking for ways to take the conversation off the social treasure map and into the real world (ie phone call, local chat over coffee). I always like to say, you never know what can happen!
There you have it, your pot of gold awaits. I can’t wait to hear how it goes! As always connect with me and update me on your progress or ask me a question and let me help you tackle your fears!
Come on over to my LinkedIn group, Profitable Social Media Tips, and tell me how it’s going!
Karen this is really, really helpful. These steps are simple, straight forward and most importantly–doable. I can’t promise that my two weeks are going to start today, but I am certainly saving this post and am happy knowing that I now have a plan that I can follow to help me connect and gain clients via Linked In. Thanks, as always!
The plan is here when you’re ready for it!
I have to admit, I don’t spend ANY time on LinkedIn…except to accept invitations and to reciprocate endorsements. I don’t have another 30 minutes a day, but I have some people who could do it for me. I can see where it may be beneficial to put the time into this. I am going to share this with my group. There are a lot who want to expand their LinkedIn presence. I think my blogs automatically post to linkedin…where do I look to be sure?
Check your activity Cathy!
Okay! I made it through #1, 2 & 3. It’s a start. Thank you for nudging us along and always giving actionable tips for getting the most out of LinkedIn.
Great start Sue Ann!
Oh…this is a really great action list. I’ve bookmarked it. I don’t know if I can do 30 mins a day…at least not this week. Maybe once my final week of teaching is over!
Thank you, Karen! So doable! xo
Consistent action is more important than 30 minutes. I’d love to hear how it works for you!
Karen,
I love all these practical tips for LinkedIn social media marketing. I’ve had a LinkedIn profile for awhile, but right now, it’s just gathering dust. I’m so glad you’ve shone a light on how to use it to get quality clients and connect with others locally with similar interests. I’m looking forward to implementing these steps and seeing where it might take me. Thanks.
Ok, it’s time to review my LinkedIn profile and follow your advice to connect with my future clients. I even have new events I need to post. I’m in!
i’ve been putting your tips into action for awhile now, karen. and now i think it’s time to venture into “strategically connecting.” thanks for providing the sample message!
Karen, I love your passion! I am musing on whether to spend the 2 weeks doing what you say. I have lots of contacts that have never led to any business on linked in so I am just not sure.
I’m in for this challenge. I find LinkedIn a really difficult platform – it seems to have a lot of barriers built into it so I tend not to use it, but I’m sure it would be great for me if I could figure out how to use it properly.
Oh, you are such a social media rock star in my eyes. I have book marked this post… and will commit, here, with you as my witness!!!!… to beginning tomorrow morning with the first step.
I never really knew what linked in really was… or how it worked. I see, it has much value… and with fb decreasing in it’s value with it’s new algorithms, I am opening to new ways…
Thank you Karen… great steps to follow…. Book marking…. If I didn’t have to be on Skype in a few minutes… I would be into step 1~ Thanks for giving us a place to start… and move from… 🙂
LinkedIn Healthy Habits. LOVE it! Could you do this for all of the major social media sites? Fb HH, Twitter HH, etc.? Pretty please? 🙂
Hmm, okay I am going to commit to get my profile spruced up. I am looking to grow my list SO, I am ready to start…with these great tips! Thanks Karen !