Few of us would have thought, back in 2003, that a little website called LinkedIn could change the way that professional people around the globe network, find jobs and market their businesses. Today, LinkedIn has over 131 million users ranging from students to freelance contractors to CEOs of major international companies.
Are you linked in to this massive network of professionals? If not, now is the time to do so.
Marketing was a challenge for the majority of small businesses and independent business people just five years ago. Running a startup was an expensive endeavor that few succeeded at, mainly due to a lack of the means to get word out in the marketplace and network with the people that had the power to help your business grow. While running a startup in this economy may be challenging in and of itself, most small businesses can now drop the marketing budget and utilize social media marketing for next to zero cost.
The top five benefits to utilizing the massive power of LinkedIn, in no particular order, for marketing your small business include:
- It’s free to start
- It is not as time consuming as other methods of networking
- You can join groups that target your niche market
- It’s possible to reach your target demographic, be it a local network or an international audience
- Provides a unique platform to showcase your company’s best talent
One of the only downfalls to LinkedIn is that it can be challenging to determine a strategy for marketing, as there are so many people to network with. Joining a few groups, starting a group for your company or niche and utilizing your existing contacts as a launching pad to connect to other people is often the best approach to get started.
Are you linked in to this massive network of professionals? If not, now is the time to do so!
