5 Ways to Make Money Online as a Beginner in Nigeria 2020
Digital Marketing
Getting more clients
LinkedIn
How To Get More Clients Using LinkedIn
June 21, 2020 | by Admin
So you have a LinkedIn profile, everything is set up, yet you’re having trouble getting
clients.
Take a look at your connections and ask yourself, how many
of these professionals have I actually interacted with after connecting with
them? Many believe LinkedIn is all about pressing the connect
button, but this is only part of the process, the key is to actively connect with other LinkedIn members.
of these professionals have I actually interacted with after connecting with
them? Many believe LinkedIn is all about pressing the connect
button, but this is only part of the process, the key is to actively connect with other LinkedIn members.
You might be wondering how to actively connect with Linkedin
members. In this post, we’ll cover what this process looks like while
answering the following questions:
members. In this post, we’ll cover what this process looks like while
answering the following questions:
- How can I make my LinkedIn profile look professional?
- Are there other ways to engage with LinkedIn members without
cold pitching? - How do I get more involved in the LinkedIn community?
- How do I actively connect with LinkedIn professionals?
First, understand the difference between a LinkedIn profile
and an optimized LinkedIn profile.
and an optimized LinkedIn profile.
A LinkedIn profile means your page is filled out like a
resume. You list your experience and contact info in a passive voice, and your
brand isn’t incorporated into your profile.
resume. You list your experience and contact info in a passive voice, and your
brand isn’t incorporated into your profile.
An optimized LinkedIn profile is set up for your future
clients. Your brand is implemented throughout the page and your copy tells
clients what you can do for them and how they can contact you. Once you’ve optimized your page, what’s next? Boost your social activity and increase your social proof.
clients. Your brand is implemented throughout the page and your copy tells
clients what you can do for them and how they can contact you. Once you’ve optimized your page, what’s next? Boost your social activity and increase your social proof.
Social proof is a form of trust – if clients see others
recommending your services and engaging with your content, they’ll be inclined
to reach out. Building your social proof means posting content, engaging with
other professionals, and sharing your knowledge about your business niche.
recommending your services and engaging with your content, they’ll be inclined
to reach out. Building your social proof means posting content, engaging with
other professionals, and sharing your knowledge about your business niche.
Now, let’s take a look at how to optimize your LinkedIn
profile and how to kickstart the networking process.
profile and how to kickstart the networking process.
Step 1: Optimize your LinkedIn profile (above the fold)
There are 2 factors to consider when you optimize your
LinkedIn page. First, tailor your profile to your ideal client. The point of
LinkedIn is to market yourself as a quality employee. Create a “client persona”
and answer the following questions: What skills are important to my employer?
How much experience do they want to see? What keywords will stand out to them? Keep
these answers handy as you optimize your profile.
LinkedIn page. First, tailor your profile to your ideal client. The point of
LinkedIn is to market yourself as a quality employee. Create a “client persona”
and answer the following questions: What skills are important to my employer?
How much experience do they want to see? What keywords will stand out to them? Keep
these answers handy as you optimize your profile.
Secondly, allow your personality to shine on your LinkedIn
page. While clients look for certain criteria on your profile, they also want
to hire someone who brings something unique to the table.
page. While clients look for certain criteria on your profile, they also want
to hire someone who brings something unique to the table.
Do you have past experience that stands out from other
candidates? Does your header express yourself? How can you write a professional
profile using your own voice? Think through these answers as they will help you
accurately represent your brand on your page.
candidates? Does your header express yourself? How can you write a professional
profile using your own voice? Think through these answers as they will help you
accurately represent your brand on your page.
How can I optimize my LinkedIn profile, above the fold?
Above the fold is the first section of your profile
available to view as soon as the page loads. It’s crucial to optimize this
section and lead clients below the fold, or the section of your profile that
requires scrolling.
available to view as soon as the page loads. It’s crucial to optimize this
section and lead clients below the fold, or the section of your profile that
requires scrolling.
There are 3 important components located above the fold:
1. Your profile picture
Can your profile picture make or break your business? A
study showed that professionally-taken profile photos were 36 times more likely
to receive a message. To sum up this question, yes, a profile photo affects
your chances of being reached out to. Think of your LinkedIn photo as the first
impression with a future client. You want to look professional, confident, and
approachable.
study showed that professionally-taken profile photos were 36 times more likely
to receive a message. To sum up this question, yes, a profile photo affects
your chances of being reached out to. Think of your LinkedIn photo as the first
impression with a future client. You want to look professional, confident, and
approachable.
In other words, avoid casual selfies and opt for a
professionally-taken photo instead.
professionally-taken photo instead.
3 things you should consider when taking a photo are:
1. High-resolution
Use a photo with good lighting and avoid blurry uploads. A
400 x 400-pixel photo is the sweet spot.
400 x 400-pixel photo is the sweet spot.
2. A simple background
The point of your profile picture is to focus on your face.
Take your photo in front of a solid background and upload a photo that only
shows your face and shoulders.
Take your photo in front of a solid background and upload a photo that only
shows your face and shoulders.
3. Your facial expression
Choose a photo where you are genuinely smiling to look more
approachable. Something else to consider when you choose a profile photo
is your brand. Showing Your Personality In Your Profile Picture, don’t be afraid to express yourself as long as it meshes
well with your brand and audience.
approachable. Something else to consider when you choose a profile photo
is your brand. Showing Your Personality In Your Profile Picture, don’t be afraid to express yourself as long as it meshes
well with your brand and audience.
2. Your headline
The headline of your profile is located under your name and
tells clients what you do.
tells clients what you do.
Make sure your headline is:
1. Direct
Avoid “fluff” and state your services clearly.
2. Concise
Write your headline in a sentence or less.
3. Keyword-friendly
Implement keywords tailored to your client. If you own a
travel blog, use keywords such as “writer for hire” and add a link to your
site.
travel blog, use keywords such as “writer for hire” and add a link to your
site.
3. Your header
Your Linkedin header is a secret weapon when it comes to
optimization. It’s a perfect spot to display key info about your business and
show off your brand.
optimization. It’s a perfect spot to display key info about your business and
show off your brand.
3 Important Parts of a LinkedIn header Are As Follows:
1. Your logo or photo
Implement your brand and place your logo or photo of
yourself in the header. This will help viewers connect your services with your
brand.
yourself in the header. This will help viewers connect your services with your
brand.
2. A call-to-action
Direct your client to your services with a short CTA. This
can be an eye-catching phrase or question.
can be an eye-catching phrase or question.
3. Brand colors
Deepen your brand with colors you use for your website,
logo, and other social channels.
logo, and other social channels.
Using Brand Colors In Your Profile Picture. Start building
your header with a free graphic design platform such as Canva.
your header with a free graphic design platform such as Canva.
Step 2: Get social on LinkedIn
Once your LinkedIn profile is optimized, you’ll be ready to
show off your page and start networking.
show off your page and start networking.
There are 2 tactics to keep in mind as you socialize with
professionals.
professionals.
First, share your knowledge about your niche. Write
statuses, share articles, and keep your profile up-to-date.
statuses, share articles, and keep your profile up-to-date.
Second, expand your professional bubble. If you stick to one
type of client, you’ll miss out on other opportunities. With that in mind, take
initiative and follow well-known influencers, fellow professionals, and other
business owners you can work with.
type of client, you’ll miss out on other opportunities. With that in mind, take
initiative and follow well-known influencers, fellow professionals, and other
business owners you can work with.
Here are three ways to share your knowledge and expand your
professional bubble:
Warm pitch
You may have heard of a cold-pitch, but what about a
warm-pitch? Unlike cold-pitching, where you reach out to strangers,
warm-pitching is establishing a relationship before you reach out. You can
warm-pitch on LinkedIn by:
warm-pitch? Unlike cold-pitching, where you reach out to strangers,
warm-pitching is establishing a relationship before you reach out. You can
warm-pitch on LinkedIn by:
1. Following company pages
Show your interest and follow their company page. Keep tabs
on the posts they create and share as well as other employees listed on their
page.
on the posts they create and share as well as other employees listed on their
page.
2. Interacting with their content
Did your client post something note-worthy? Leave a comment
and let them know. Do you think your followers would find value in their posts?
Share it with your feed.
and let them know. Do you think your followers would find value in their posts?
Share it with your feed.
These interactions open the door to a relationship with your
client. They’ll notice your interest and may take note of your business. The
next steps are as follows:
client. They’ll notice your interest and may take note of your business. The
next steps are as follows:
3. Connect with their profile
You’ve shared their content and left comments and likes –
take the initiative and connect with them. This way, they can see the content
you post and how you relate to their niche.
take the initiative and connect with them. This way, they can see the content
you post and how you relate to their niche.
4. Send a pitch
Now that you’ve built a relationship, send them your best
pitch and win over a new client!
pitch and win over a new client!
Why is warm pitching beneficial on LinkedIn? Most employers
receive a ton of messages and don’t have the time to sift through them all.
Warm-pitching gives you the opportunity to show your clients interest without
filling up their inbox.
receive a ton of messages and don’t have the time to sift through them all.
Warm-pitching gives you the opportunity to show your clients interest without
filling up their inbox.
Join LinkedIn groups
LinkedIn groups are communities of like-minded professionals
who share ideas, post questions, and ask for feedback. You’ll get the most value out of a LinkedIn Group by
learning helpful skills from other members and sharing your own insight.
who share ideas, post questions, and ask for feedback. You’ll get the most value out of a LinkedIn Group by
learning helpful skills from other members and sharing your own insight.
How do I join a LinkedIn group?
At the dropdown menu of the search bar, click on Groups, and
begin searching. Search for phrases and keywords that match your criteria.
begin searching. Search for phrases and keywords that match your criteria.
If you’re a small-business owner, type in a phrase like,
“entrepreneur small business” to find groups within that niche.
“entrepreneur small business” to find groups within that niche.
I joined a group, now what?
Once you join a LinkedIn Group, post a brief introduction
about yourself. Include your name, what you do, and why you joined the group. The point of writing an introduction is to let others know
your name, what you do, and why you joined the group. Feel free to throw in a
fun fact about yourself to show other interests you have.
about yourself. Include your name, what you do, and why you joined the group. The point of writing an introduction is to let others know
your name, what you do, and why you joined the group. Feel free to throw in a
fun fact about yourself to show other interests you have.
LinkedIn group etiquette
As you begin to join LinkedIn Groups, you’ll notice how most
emphasize the “No spamming” rule. Groups are not meant to advertise your
business. In fact, they’re made to get away from that area of business. Be mindful of this rule and get to know your fellow group
members instead.
emphasize the “No spamming” rule. Groups are not meant to advertise your
business. In fact, they’re made to get away from that area of business. Be mindful of this rule and get to know your fellow group
members instead.
Participate in discussions, share content you’ve created, and
give feedback. The goal is to expand your network by sharing information that
is useful for others.
give feedback. The goal is to expand your network by sharing information that
is useful for others.
Although advertising is a big no-no, LinkedIn Groups are
still a great way to reach out to clients by warm-pitching.
still a great way to reach out to clients by warm-pitching.
As you continue to
interact with members, you’ll most likely find a few potential clients along
the way. Get to know them, read the content they share, and take note of how
you can help their business. Once you’ve established a relationship, reach out to them
(outside of the group) and pitch your services.
interact with members, you’ll most likely find a few potential clients along
the way. Get to know them, read the content they share, and take note of how
you can help their business. Once you’ve established a relationship, reach out to them
(outside of the group) and pitch your services.
Post articles
You post content on your website, social media channels, and
blog, why not LinkedIn?
blog, why not LinkedIn?
Studies show that 70% of customers feel more connected to
companies who post custom content. This means your clients will feel more
confident in connecting with someone who readily shares content.
companies who post custom content. This means your clients will feel more
confident in connecting with someone who readily shares content.
Post articles to share your knowledge about your niche and
engage with your connections organically.
engage with your connections organically.
How can I start?
The best part about sharing content on LinkedIn is you don’t
have to create new content but instead can repurpose old content from your
blog.
have to create new content but instead can repurpose old content from your
blog.
You can repurpose your content using these 2 steps:
1. Look through your long-form content
Read through old blog posts and choose a section that’ll
reach out to your LinkedIn community.
reach out to your LinkedIn community.
Consider sections you want future clients to see. Form your
repurposed content into a thought-provoking and engaging post.
repurposed content into a thought-provoking and engaging post.
2. Add a call-to-action at the end of your post
Direct followers to your website or to your mailing list
using a CTA image or link.
using a CTA image or link.
Once your article is ready to share, utilize hashtags to
reach members outside of your network. Make sure your hashtags are relevant to
your post and targeted audience.
reach members outside of your network. Make sure your hashtags are relevant to
your post and targeted audience.
To wrap up
LinkedIn is a powerful tool that allows you to expand your
business and brand amongst other professionals. While there are many different
ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, the best thing you can do is think about
your clients as you navigate through this platform. This is a simple method on How To Get More Clients Using LinkedIn.
business and brand amongst other professionals. While there are many different
ways to improve your LinkedIn profile, the best thing you can do is think about
your clients as you navigate through this platform. This is a simple method on How To Get More Clients Using LinkedIn.
There are thousands of employers out there who are waiting
to hire someone like you. Take this opportunity and reach out to them using an
optimized LinkedIn page and social presence.
to hire someone like you. Take this opportunity and reach out to them using an
optimized LinkedIn page and social presence.
RELATED POSTS
View all
