If LinkedIn is a source of referrals for you, and a great place to connect with your B2B audience – or where your prospects and clients go to check you out, it’s important to have a strong and solid presence there.  Let’s face it, we’re always marketing in one way or another and LinkedIn is a top social media platform.

Here’s a LinkedIn strategy I’d like to share from David Meerman Scott’s latest book, The New Rules of Marketing & PR. David interviewed Mark Amtower, director of the government market master’s program at Capitol College in Laurel, Maryland for his top insights. I’ve paraphrased them for you below:

Your Daily 10 Minute LinkedIn Routine

1. Fine tune your profile based on ideas from OPP. (Other people’s profiles). This is just smart marketing, and you probably already do this when you see something you like.
2. Present yourself in a way that’s really who you are. And, keep in mind what your goals are. Is it to scope out prospects, write as an expert, lead groups or build a funnel? Be clear on your intentions.
3. Once a day, or at least a few days a week, check to see who’s viewed your profile. You may be surprised to see who’s looking at you. Take a few minutes to start a conversation. You never know where it may lead you.
4. Look carefully at the people who want to connect with you. Are they on solid ground with a real profile? Think twice before you add someone to your community. No one wants to be spammed. You are a credible resource, stay that way.
5. Be a giver, not a taker. If someone asks for your help, and you can, give. It may take a few minutes from your day, but it may be the best advice ever for the receiver. Give freely also, without expectation. Karma is a wonderful thing.
6. Check out what key influencers in your network are up to, but also look at the ‘people also viewed’ audience. What makes them interesting? Want to find out?
7. On your daily routine, you’ll see a ton of information, posts, videos, and articles. Take screen shots of what Amtower calls, the good, bad and the ugly. Save to a swipe file for later review.
8. Join relevant groups that interest you, where your prospects and customers are. But don’t join randomly. Look for active groups with access to the key players you’d like to meet. Test them out, to be sure there’s a fit. With over 2.5 million choices, you have quite a selection!
9. Make sure to post valuable comments in those groups at least twice a month. Engage, don’t sell. Be a valuable contributor. The opportunity to sell or rather share your services, comes with building a relationship. Don’t jump in too soon.
10. And lastly, post on LinkedIn Pulse. It’s LinkedIn’s blog. Add articles here to be noted as a thought leader. Monitor views, likes, and comments and respond accordingly.

You probably have read these tips in 100 different places, but I loved how they were presented for bite-sized action. Put the effort in to build your platform. You’ll definitely see results.