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Why Does My Small Business Need LinkedIn?

Heather Legg

October 10, 2013

Sure, we think about getting on LinkedIn when looking for a job, but what about promoting not just yourself, but your small business as well?

LinkedIn is an integral tool to gaining connections, networking and ultimately helping your business grow. Think of it as Facebook for professionals and small business owners, use it to your advantage and your small business will reap the benefits.

Networking and Connecting

By including a great LinkedIn profile for your small business and connecting not only with your friends, but also colleagues with similar business ventures, you can create a tight network to help each other.

You can join groups with the same interest, similar markets and other connections. Not only are the groups themselves beneficial, but you can chime in on Q&A’s to help work out dilemmas or other bumps in your roads. You’ll have a network of small business owners who are possibly experiencing the same pitfalls and successes; you can share feedback and maybe resolve your issues in an easy, well- informed manner.

Sharing

LinkedIn is a great forum to toot your own horn. If you have a press release, a charity event or a new blog post – share it on LinkedIn. Whether it is about you or your business, this is the place for recognition. Not only will it be nice to share your successes with your current LinkedIn network, but this is also a way to spark interest and find new clients and customers. Current events and press releases don’t have to be the only thing you share; you can also work your expertise into a sharing capacity and gain some recognition as a leader in your field.

Updating

Whether it’s a remodel to your storefront or you’ve added a whole new store, this is a fantastic place to share what is going in your business world. You can also add industry updates or anything else that will get others to look towards your profile and your business. With so much relying on social networking these days, customers will want to see what you’re doing on business networking sites like LinkedIn. Keep your updates relevant, current and interesting.

Keywords Attract Attention

One of your goals of using LinkedIn is to attract new clientele to your small business. On your profile, be sure to use the right keywords so when customers are searching for what you offer, they’ll find you. Again, relevance comes into play here just like with your updates – the more relevant keywords you can incorporate effectively into your profile, the more likely customers will be to find you.

LinkedIn is becoming a necessary tool for everyone involved in a business venture, from looking for a job to promoting your business to finding the perfect employee. If you own a small business, you should be active on LinkedIn. Don’t just create a profile – work that profile. It won’t help you just sitting stagnant on LinkedIn; update it regularly, be involved and watch your company and your customer base grow. 

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