We recently reviewed why LinkedIn is going to be an important platform for you in building your brand as a subject matter expert. So, how to increase engagement? Growing your followers is one thing, and keeping them engaged is another. You will need to focus on BOTH in order to be successful. No worries, we have a no-frills guide and some pretty exact recommendations for you!
Start with the LinkedIn basics
When it comes to social media, what can seem like a crazy “how in the world are they doing this” world is actually quite predictable. In fact, it is known that once you reach a certain number of followers, and for LinkedIn that magic number seems to be 150, you will see exponential growth. Why? Because the more followers who engage with your content the more potential followers SEE what you are posting.
Here are some basic ways you can start to grow your LinkedIn following today:
- Post the LinkedIn “Follow” button to your company’s website
- Provide a link to your company’s LinkedIn page in all of your marketing materials
- Start posting content daily or create a monthly content calendar that you schedule ahead of time
- Reshare any @mentions you receive to promote credibility
- Join industry groups and start commenting, discussing and becoming an active community member
- Find other companies or people and start following them or engaging with their content
Then engage the followers you have
Engagement is the key to having a successful LinkedIn page. After all, it is called “social” media because it is where people love to connect, discuss, learn and network. Once you start posting engaging content, your followers will become more active with your brand and your page. Then, you will have what is the most sacred thing of all in the social media sphere: attention.
We already stated above that posting daily is important. That content must be engaging to keep your followers attention. Here are some ideas:
Use custom videos and graphics to grab attention
One of the things we love to offer our clients is creativity. Custom graphics are a huge point in determining whether someone finds your page attractive. If they have seen a graphic a million times somewhere else (and believe us, there are so many copycats out there) they will most likely disengage from your content. Whether you call P&A for graphic design or do your own thing, just make sure you are bringing something unique to the table.
Use the 3-2-1 model
This is an easy formula when you are trying to post engaging content for your followers. Every week, try to post 3 pieces of industry-related content, 2 pieces of content that makes your employees and community feel good, and just 1 piece related to your products and services. If you have any mentions or reshares, make sure to give them a shout out. You can also use hashtags and tag other members for even more engagement.
Spark conversations
Pose a question to your community. Engage them with a discussion. Host a raffle. Whatever floats your boat, come up with something that will have your followers doing more than clicking “like.” When you take the time to create thoughtful and meaningful dialogue in your online community, you are more likely to get thoughtful responses from your followers.
LinkedIn is more than just a social media platform. It is a chance to connect deeply with other professionals and people within the community who want to engage with your product or service. Contact us if you need help getting started!