When Microsoft bought LinkedIn, it’s safe to say that nobody really knew what their game plan was, or what changes they might be making to the professional social media platform. These days, the veil has lifted and it’s become a lot clearer: LinkedIn is no longer just a professional profile and resume jobs board and networking website – it’s also a lot more focused on content. Just like the rest of the internet, one could say ? Let’s face it, these days content marketing is pretty much one of the things we all have to do if we’re in the internet marketing game. It’s also one of the most powerful ways to set up an inbound marketing strategy. Simply post content online, wait for people to find the content, and then be so amazed by the content that they contact you to do whatever it is they want. Sounds easy, right? Well, not quite. A lot depends on whether your content and whether it was good, and if it hit all the right pain points for your target market. In this article, I’m going to show you how you don’t need to be a big cheese with a multi-million-dollar ad agency to get content marketing to work for you on LinkedIn. These three tips will help you to maximize your eyeball count – while getting the interaction that you crave with your target market. leverage linkedin for inbound marketing

Tip 1: Position Yourself as a Leader in Your Niche

Experts – who’d have ‘em? While this breed might be facing some flak from British politicians, it’s worth remembering that experts do exist, and people do look up to them. Take doctors, for example. They specialize in helping sick people to get better – but even so, they still need to practice their profession and stay up to date with the latest research and treatments. In the world of internet marketing, it’s really not so different. With time and application, most people can develop an expertise in anything. Will it take 10,000 hours? Some experts think so, others disagree. But instead of getting bogged down in whether or not you actually are an expert, it’s worth looking at this question a little differently. Compared to some people, you are an expert. Sure, there will always be people who know more about that thing or can do it better than you – but you can help people who don’t know as much as you who want to improve. In the end, if you think you’ve got the chops, then tell people you’re an expert and go for it! People will look up to you. And yes, this is a little along the lines of “fake it until you make it” – but that’ll be our dirty little secret ? linkedin content marketing for businesses

Tip 2: Tell Everyone on LinkedIn That You’re an Expert. No, Really!

Let’s face it, nobody knows you’re an expert yet – which means it’s time to dust down that old trumpet of yours and toot away on it like there’s no tomorrow. Where better than on LinkedIn, which is a network full of professionals with a bonus blogging and content sharing system built in? Yes, you could do this on Facebook and Twitter – but consider this: those two platforms are social media, and while they’re great for B2C (Business to Customer) advertising, they’re not as great for B2B (Business to Business). LinkedIn gives you a great opportunity to show off your expert credentials to an audience of professionals – many of whom who are leaders in their own industries. Ask yourself this simple question: who you want to read your expert content: your customers, or serious people with businesses that you can do great work with – and who are more likely to purchase your services without fainting in horror at your prices! linkedin content marketing

Tip 3: Be Consistent, Rather Than Frequent (As Your Doctor Told You)

It’s important to remember that writing takes time. Even if you’re a professional writer, maintaining a consistent writing schedule while maintaining a high level of quality isn’t always easy. Let me tell you, I write a lot every single day, even on those days when it’s the last thing I want to do. If you’re not a professional writer, you probably don’t want to be chained to a keyboard 24/7 – and you have plenty of other things demanding your attention too. What’s important to remember is that the quality of your writing – and it’s consistency – is far more important than how often you can sling out articles. So if you can’t keep up a hectic publishing schedule, just relax. It’s fine! You have two choices here. You can either find a schedule that’s consistent and works for you, or you can hire a professional writer to make you sound awesome instead (hint, hint).

Conclusion: Are you Ready to Become an Expert

Being really good at what you do is something that takes a lot of time, effort, and perseverance. It’s not meant to be easy, and there are plenty of pitfalls and mishaps that can happen on the winding road to success. If you’re ready to start enjoying some of the fruit of having expertise in what you do, then LinkedIn is a great platform to start sharing that information with the world. Even if it’s just two posts a month, they can make a serious impact on your reputation – and eventually, your bottom line. Remember: if you don’t follow these time-honored tips someone else will. So why not take the glory all for yourself? Good luck out there – and remember, I’m always here to help if you need me!