3 Steps for Community-Building on LinkedIn
Generate Quality Leads Organically
The secret to business success on LinkedIn is to build a community rather than a network. Communities have bonds. They bring people together. And brands that want to stay relevant need to foster these relationships. Here are 3 steps to get you started on connecting with your community:
1. Attract people to follow your page
First and foremost, you need to develop a following. A quick an easy way to drive users to your page is to invite them to follow you. Start with your connections and then expand outward to customers and industry experts. Create content that will solidify your brand as a leader in its industry.
LinkedIn Stories are a great way to draw people in and get to know your brand on a more personal level. Brands that embody human characteristics are more successful in connecting with people. You may also utilize the LinkedIn Pulse publishing platform to share knowledge on more in-depth topics. In simple terms, make sure to have content of value.
2. Get followers to engage with you
Engagement is the key to any social media success. Ask discussion questions to get conversations going. Ask about what they value in brands and why it makes an impact. Ask about what they want to see more of; co-creation is a powerful way to get the community involved in your brand on a stakeholder level.
Encourage action and create opportunities for people to easily engage with you. Remember to follow-up with these leads. Reach out to people who may have a problem that your brand has the solution to and continue nurturing relationships this way.
3. Show up consistently
Whether you choose to post daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, the general rule is to post consistently. This keeps your brand top of mind and primes your community to knowing what to expect from you. It will help increase your credibility and sense of reliability. Mix up the types of posts you do; status updates, text updates, and photos are useful, but analysis shows that videos are often the most powerful. They tend to generate the most engagement, particularly with shares.
In many ways, LinkedIn is a perfect space for collaboration and community growth. Nowadays, being present on LinkedIn is the virtual equivalent of being present in real life. This means investing in relationships with your community and getting to know them – community is a two-sided interaction.