LinkedIn is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms and a dynamic network for B2B marketing. It successfully builds a solid professional network that every business needs and is an inevitable part of digital marketing. You can generate more leads and referrals using LinkedIn, build a personal brand in your industry, and do more targeted prospecting.
However, if you have never used LinkedIn before to make sales, it may feel like an intimidating and time-consuming prospect. Here are some of the most effective ways to use LinkedIn for B2B sales generation.
1. Optimize your profile for sales
Optimizing your business page is an excellent LinkedIn B2B marketing strategy. There are three primary parts of your profile that you should improve:
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Your headline
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Project and media
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Your current job description
LinkedIn sets out your headline to your current job title by default. Change your tagline to be a value proposition. If, for instance, you sell medical equipment and health supplies, a good tagline could be, “I help healthcare facilities improve efficiency.” You have a space for 120 characters, meaning you can get as creative as possible with your headline. Remember that this is the first thing people see when scanning your profile, so make it a value proposition to grab their attention.
2. Develop a strong network for B2B sales
Once you have honed your profile, you can start connecting with prospects in your target industry and like-minded businesses and providers. Start by putting the time and effort into finding the right connections. If, for instance, you sell digital equipment for offices, you should start connecting with IT managers and decision-makers at hospitals. You can find the right connections on LinkedIn by commenting on relevant posts, searching relevant hashtags, and engaging with others’ content.
3. Leverage LinkedIn ads
LinkedIn ads provide various types of campaigns through which you can expand your reach and boost your B2B sales. It offers a wide range of opportunities for marketers. Sponsored InMail, Text Ads, and Sponsored Content are the most used ad formats.
Sponsored InMail allows you to send customized personal messages to the target audience using the private messaging platform. It allows your content to reach the audience directly. Text ads display at the top or right side of the users’ feeds. It’s a short text in a small optional image often used to drive leads and promote certain offers. Sponsored Content is LinkedIn native advertising. It’s a standard post that the publisher improves with an ad budget.
4. Create content that generates leads
Content marketing is essential for generating sales leads, which still applies to LinkedIn. You should publish content about topics that your target audience is interested in. Here are a few recommendations for quality content:
- Exciting and practical insights from your personal experience
- Valuable industry news
- Adverts
- Infographics
- Images
- Video content
Whatever you decide to share, be sure to publish a variety of content for the best results. Ensure the content is always relevant, engaging, helpful, and eye-catching to your target audience.
Endnote
LinkedIn provides many opportunities and is a perfect resource for B2B marketing. However, if you want to make the most out of this platform, you must think beyond the basics and focus on how you can turn leads into customers. Leverage all the tools LinkedIn offers, create valuable content, improve your LinkedIn profile and connect with your target audience to effectively use this platform for B2B sales leads.