I’m sure every small business owner, consultant and market savvy professional wants to get noticed as an expert or leader in their field.
It doesn’t just happen overnight, as we all know. It’s more like a “drip process.” Day by day, week by week. You post, tweet, network and do your best to show up at the right place at the right time to connect with your target audience – or a qualified lead.
That’s all fine and good, and everything listed above does work. But, I’d like to take a quantum leap with you to help promote your business and build your expert status.
Want to leap with me on LinkedIn?
9 Tried and True Ways to Build Your Expert Status on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is for the most part, tremendously underutilized for small business marketing. Rules are determined by the platform, but there’s so much wiggle room to promote your brand and stand out as an expert if you understand the ins and outs of the site and practice simple strategies.
Here are 9 Marketing Tips you can use today:
- Write your profile with heavy keywords so LinkedIn’s advanced search can pick you up, pronto.
- Vary status updates with articles, infographics, quotes, video, podcasts and your own comments by showing you’re an expert who shares valuable content. Use the 80/20 rule – and be respected as someone who is not always self-promoting.
- Link relevant articles you’ve written to targeted landing pages where potential customers can sign up for your freebies, get on your email list and hear what you’re up to, so they can buy.
- Use the publications area of your profile to promote your newsletter, blog or tips and (again) give readers a link to sign up on your landing page – where you’ll tell them exactly why they should sign up.
- Publish a longer article you’ve written at least twice a month and repost others mindfully. Use pictures and graphics to get attention and at the bottom of those articles, include links to other content you’ve written in similar categories.
- Reply to people who are checking YOU out on LinkedIn with a well-crafted note leading them to your landing page (again) to sign up. Use a macro key for easy copying.
- Include a similar message to people who want to be connected with you. Follow the same procedure.
- Join up to 40 groups on LinkedIn where you’ll find your ideal clients or professional colleagues. Be active in at least 5 groups. Comment as an expert would and be helpful. Don’t sell. The advantage with groups is that most often, you can send emails within the group and cut the red tape. Mine for gold.
- OK, Here’s one. And Shhhhhhh. Snoop anonymously by changing your privacy setting to — anonymous — and see what groups your competitors, customers and clients are in. Take your time and browse around. Just remember to change your setting back to public, Dick Tracy, when you’re done.
It goes without saying that having a professional and up to date photo is key to your personal and professional brand. Please don’t upload a photo of yourself with a cut off arm around your shoulder or a plant sticking out of your head.
Being an expert is an earned right.
Use these marketing and PR strategies to gain credibility, increase your leadership position and get noticed as an expert in your field.
And, build your email list, for free.
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