You may be hearing a lot of talk about LinkedIn lately, and chances are, you have probably received quite a few requests to connect with others on the platform. As the world’s largest professional community with over 756 million members, LinkedIn is the top and most trusted place for career development and networking. If you aren’t on LinkedIn yet, sign up now! If you’re already there, let’s talk about why you need to have a LinkedIn strategy in order to establish yourself as a brand authority and industry expert — and how to do it.
To learn how to develop your LinkedIn Strategy, follow these 5 steps.
- Determine Your Goals And Objectives
- Zero In On Your Target Audience
- Build Your Brand Persona
- Develop Your Content Pillars
- Create Your Posting Schedule
Step 1: Determine Your Goals And Objectives
What are your overall goals and objectives on LinkedIn? For most professionals, the opportunity to connect with key decision makers is a huge draw and top objective on the platform. Building brand awareness is also vital and a huge component of any digital marketing strategy. Not only does it attract more leads and prospects, but having a recognizable brand identity also helps you stand out in a crowded online marketplace. It allows you to reach your target audience and provides an outlet for customers to get to know, like, and trust you. This is an important goal to strive for, because it sets you up as an authority in your field and a subject matter expert — and thought leadership is a key to success.
Step 2: Zero In On Your Target Audience
Who are you targeting? Now that you have determined your goals and objectives on LinkedIn, ask yourself a few more questions to zero in on your audience:
- Who is your ideal client?
- What business or industry are they in?
- What pain points or challenges are they having?
- How can you help them?
Knowing this information will help you to create specific digital marketing messages aimed squarely at the people you want to reach.
Step 3: Build Your Brand Persona
How do you want to be seen online, and what types of content do you want to share or be known for? To answer these questions, think about your vision. Next, find your niche, and develop your story with that vision in mind. Social media storytelling helps to solidify your online persona, and sharing on LinkedIn highlights your skills, experience, achievements, and unique personality unlike any other platform. Remember, the goal is to become a brand authority and trusted thought leader in your industry!
Step 4: Develop Your Content Pillars
Ask yourself, what do you want to post? How do you want to help your audience? What pain points or challenges does your audience have that your content will solve? These questions will provide valuable insight when developing and establishing content pillars to stay organized and consistently on track. Ideas for quality, engaging content include educational posts, how-to’s, thought leadership articles, and video tutorials that reflect your persona and brand identity.
Step 5: Create Your Posting Schedule
When and how often should you post? Depending on your business, posting two to five times a week is recommended, Tuesday through Thursday, between the hours of 7AM to 2PM. This is generally the ideal posting schedule on LinkedIn, but determine what works best for you. Then, create a regular posting schedule and try to stick to it. Online platforms like Later allow you to create a drag and drop content calendar for LinkedIn scheduling. Simply select the date and time you wish to publish and posts will automatically go to your profile.
Hopefully by now, you have a better understanding of why you need to have a LinkedIn strategy and how to get started. As always, the team at Aliya Hammond Consulting is here to help with all your digital marketing needs, from social media management, to training and coaching sessions.
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
