Have you taken advantage of the new LinkedIn Open for Business feature yet? They say that this feature allows small and medium business owners and professionals to network and connect with others who are looking for the services that you might offer. Here’s a short video to explain in more detail.
So, what does this really mean for you? When a LinkedIn member searches for a service provider with your area of expertise, your profile will appear in that search. It is then up to your potential clients to get in touch if they are interested in your services. However, you must remember to tick the box that allows LinkedIn members whom you’re not connected with to message you for free!
💡 If you haven’t downloaded the LinkedIn app, you’re missing a trick. The app is free and connects you effortlessly to your account from your phone. I think it is very easy to use, with features constantly being updated. It lets you check your enquiries and messages, invite people to connect, and review updates.
Of course, if you haven’t updated your profile in a while then I recommend you do the following; Choose a profile picture of yourself, not your company logo, add your work experience, include relevant work experience, add a summary – use this space to explain things such as why you started your business or role, experience and more. For more information about updating your profile click here.
Summary
Your LinkedIn connections are one of the best ways to help source experts who you trust, as well as building relationships with those key prospects. By opting in to Open for Business, (which is free of charge), you will show up on any relevant search results (see video link above).
Help encourage new prospects to come to you, give Open for Business a try!
My LinkedIn in-house workshops are tailored specifically to your company’s aims and objectives, offering real, practical, intensive and hands-on training that works.
Whether you’re looking for a one to one or group workshop I can help. Prior to your workshop, we’ll discuss your objectives and your workshop will be tailored accordingly. All workshops include 8 weeks’ follow-up, mentoring and support to ensure you succeed as a result.
Get in touch with me at info@bizwizuk.co.uk or call me on 07752 539719 or via our contact page.
By Ann Davies, Director
Photo credit: LinkedIn.com
As we’ve entered last part of the year, and busy it will be too, it might also be a good time for an autumn review. Look over your social media platforms, profiles and website, to ensure everything is up to date and accurate. Here’s some simple ideas to ensure you tick off any outstanding points on your social media “review” list:
Review your page and profile details
Scan your social media bios and see if they need updating, you might be surprised to see that they are out of date. What about your individual LinkedIn profiles, have you looked to see if they have your correct contact information, company website links, does the headline need reviewing? Would your LinkedIn profile benefit from any other aesthetic changes? Watch out for any old or outdated banner images. You may have had a rebrand but haven’t changed your social media logos and images? Look to see if anything is off brand, this needs to be reviewed and changed accordingly.
Secure your accounts
Did you know that you can apply two-factor authentication to further secure your accounts and it is time to review your passwords? Don’t forget to check your LinkedIn company page admins; do you have ex-members of staff on your LinkedIn company page as admins, this will need addressing ASAP!
Revive old LinkedIn conversations
Have you forgotten to reply to LinkedIn messages or conversations from the past? It’s not too late, have a look at your LinkedIn inbox and check. You just never know; it could be the difference between landing a business deal!
Review your website
Evaluate and update your content, is your services and blog out of date? Do you need to add more client testimonials and/or case studies and do you need more call to actions? Here, you’ll find some ideas to improve your website here.
Review your overall plan
Have a look at what is working and what isn’t and look at new ideas. Would it help to incorporate a mix of media, encourage your whole team to engage in your posts?
BizWizUK can take your business to the next level by supporting your social media marketing plans. If you don’t have the in-house resource or expertise, we provide an outsourced tailored solution. Get in touch with me at info@bizwizuk.co.uk or call on 0161 826 7181 or via our contact page.
By Ann Davies, Director
Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most visible sections of your LinkedIn profile.
Is it boring or does it tell your audience who you help, and what you can do for them? Think about it in the concept of your elevator pitch; describe what you do and how you help others in the shortest time as possible.
What is a LinkedIn headline?
A LinkedIn headline is the section at the top of your profile where you can describe what you do in 120 characters or less. This appears next to your name in search results. LinkedIn will automatically choose your headline but if you customise yours, you’ll instantly differentiate yourself, giving prospects an interest in your products and services.
Ask yourself….
Top tip….
Don’t have enough character space? If you have an iPhone, edit your headline via your LinkedIn app as it gives you more character space than the normal 120 characters! As I understand it, this is not available to other android phone users.
Once you have identified the above, it’s time to put that all together to create your perfect LinkedIn headline.
Let me summarise…
Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch, whether that’s for a bespoke LinkedIn workshop for you, your team either face to face or remote-based. We also offer an outsourced social media marketing support service, helping you to get on with what you do best.
By Ann Davies, Director
1 LinkedIn Help Centre (2017)
One of the hardest parts of managing any kind of social media marketing campaign is coming up with new ideas. If you’re expected to juggle numerous social media platforms and keep them up-to-date with fresh posts then I’ve put together some fresh ideas especially for you – enjoy!
1.Run a competition or giveaway
Everyone loves a freebie, and they’re a great way to encourage engagement. However, it’s not as straightforward as you may think;
Is your giveaway going to be related to your brand? Consider free products, free membership, free guides, free videos, free advice. It’s not necessary to relate the giveaway directly to your brand but it can be useful to do so, especially if you do have branded freebies to give away.
Does your competition have terms and conditions, point of contact, contact details, etc? You must include terms and conditions if anything goes amiss, plus it shows your competition in a legitimate light.
2.Create bite-size video
Video is necessary for brands but sadly many don’t see the investment worthwhile. However, video gets loads more engagement than text alone and especially useful on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. There are some great ideas from the @KrispyKreme feed here.
3.Re-purpose your content
For every piece of content created, either written or video think about ways to promote it beyond its original format. For example, pull a client testimonial or quote and re-purpose it into an image via Canva (my team really like this platform). Likewise, re-purpose your video content into bite-size previews of your longer video from your YouTube channel.
4.Tutorials and how-to’s
Free advice, and step-by-step guides and tutorials are a great way to educate your followers. This can works especially well in the food and drink sectors for cocktail making and food recipes – think Jamie Oliver for one. Consider short, to the point videos while still giving loads of free information.
5.Go live
There’s nothing more compelling than live video to capture your audience’s attention. All social media platforms offer the opportunity to stream live. Whether you’re vlogging from your kitchen table or conducting a Q & A session, responding to your followers in real-time establishes a more personal connection. Don’t forget you can re-purpose and use again across your platforms.
6.Give your clients the spotlight
What better way to promote your brand than to ask your clients for a testimonial, here’s one that we made earlier.
Alternatively, you could show your clients how much you appreciate them by giving them a shout-out. This goes beyond tweeting those who support your business with something much more powerful and special.
7.Take advantage of trending news
The best ideas come along when you least expect them to. Trending news on Twitter and Facebook signify a way for your brand to capitalise on a window of opportunity for such content to be relevant. Use Google Alerts for hot-off-the-press news and various industry-appropriate news channels as soon as it goes live.
8.Run a social-media exclusive deal
Adding a promotional code to any offer will help you to get the insights you need to know how many are buying from you and how much they are engaging.
9.Respond to your followers
Brand should always be willing to talk to their followers. Time is precious and taking the time to respond, shows that you care. Whether you’re praising, addressing a concern or question, or just saying hello, your response can represent your brand in a whole new light. Think about combining customer service with a humorous twist, telling them how much you value your followers’ feedback.
10.Go behind the scenes
Show the people behind the brand because the core of any brand is their people. “People buy people before they buy your services.” Offer a “behind the scenes” snapshot of your people in the office, over a team lunch or team get-together. It’s important to humanise a brand!
BizWizUK can take your business to the next level by supporting your social media marketing plans. If you don’t have the in-house resource or expertise, we provide an outsourced tailored solution. Get in touch with me at info@bizwizuk.co.uk or call on 0161 826 7181 or via our contact page.
By Ann Davies, Director