When it comes to social media in business, we find that many only believe it is necessary to post and engage on their business pages, but this is simply not true. There are many reasons as to why branding oneself as a business owner is important, and we’ve compiled the top three that we believe you should not ignore.
Reputation Management
Your LinkedIn profile is your online reputation, your digital resume, and your virtual footprint. When building your profile, it is imperative that you remain honest, consistent, and strategic, utilizing industry-specific language. Highlighting experiences and accomplishments, as well as sharing informative and engaging content will also aid in managing your professional reputation.
Establish Credibility
Through skill endorsements and pulse articles, LinkedIn is an excellent way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. The idea of becoming credible works hand-in-hand with what you’ve posted and that helps to manage your reputation. For example, if you write in your LinkedIn summary that you have 15 years of experience in human resources, you have the ability to validate that statement by publishing an article on your page about talent recruiting that showcases that knowledge. Similarly, if you decide that “leadership” is one of your skills, your connections will be able to endorse that skill, allowing the element of social proof to come into play.
Networking
LinkedIn has evolved into a platform that goes far beyond “connecting with people you know,” or finding a job. LinkedIn has become a way for professionals and business owners to virtually network with anyone, from any industry, from anywhere.
LinkedIn allows you to search for professional individuals in any specific niche, and instantly send them a connection request followed up by a message, opening the door to a phone conversation which can quickly turn into a referral partnership.
Using LinkedIn as a networking tool about three times per week will not only increase your connections, but may increase your number of referral sources as well.
