This past week, I had a prominent CEO from an up and coming startup reach out to me via LinkedIn message. After a few conversations back and forth I was really able to understand what his business was trying to solve and I genuinely felt personally connected to him. I was thinking to myself, “there is no other social network that connects me to like-minded CEO’s, Entrepreneurs, Social Marketers, and potential clients like LinkedIn.” Unlike other platforms for business that struggle to connect, messages can be blocked by privacy settings, tweets go unanswered because they look like spam, and emails are full of non-personal marketing that doesn’t relate.

1. Why Is LinkedIn the Most
Powerful Business Network?

2. This past week, I had a prominent CEO from an up and coming startup reach out to me
via LinkedIn message. After a few conversations back and forth I was really able to
understand what his business was trying to solve and I genuinely felt personally
connected to him. I was thinking to myself, “there is no other social network that
connects me to like-minded CEO’s, Entrepreneurs, Social Marketers, and potential
clients like LinkedIn.” Unlike other platforms for business that struggle to connect,
messages can be blocked by privacy settings, tweets go unanswered because they look
like spam, and emails are full of non-personal marketing that doesn’t relate.
I truly believe that LinkedIn is the most
dominate force in Business networking
for these three reasons!

3. This is vital because people are searching LinkedIn for interesting content to share on
their social networks and LinkedIn feeds. Everyone has a different mind and voice, but
I truly believe in the approach of sharing relevant content. Sharing content that
people will want to share with others is an important focus for your postings. I have a
variety of content I like to post, but some of the most viral content I’ve seen is the
following.
•Business /Motivations Quotes
•Quotes from you, and your company/team
•Articles about your Industry
Content can be published to the Public
Great things in business are
never done by one person.
They’re done by a team of
people. – Steve Jobs

4. We’re all now content creators;
LinkedIn Pulse is truly a brilliant way
to trend content topically. Like I said
before most people are browsing
LinkedIn to find content that will
impact their business or looking for
content to curate and share on their
social networks. Now when you write
a blog than impacts the LinkedIn
community it will be pulsed out and
you have the chance to experience
your content going viral. Last week
my blog about “What’s Next for
Social Business in 2015” went viral,
and I’m still experience new followers
on LinkedIn as well as connections
messaging me about the article and
wanting to connect. I would focus
your LinkedIn Pulse articles to
information about your industry, and
share your opinion on topics.
People love to take sides and you will find that
folks will rally for your topic as well as against
it. It’s a great opportunity for your content to
go viral!
LinkedIn Pulse

5. Now when people ask me about testimonials, or references I will send them the link
to my LinkedIn page. I’ve found that when you can get to know a person outside of
even their current role it’s truly a better way of quickly personalizing the relationship.
When you go to my LinkedIn Page you will see the history of my career working for
Morgan Stanley, Disney, and Comcast… all which are truly incredible companies! You
will also see the stories from clients and testimonies along the way, which I absolutely
love! In business it’s important to have transparency and I love the ability to learn
about a potential client or like-minded connection in literally 3-5 minutes or less from
browsing their public LinkedIn page. Some tips to getting more
endorsement/recommendations.
LinkedIn Endorsements/Recommendations

6. Give Back every time you’re on LinkedIn
Take 1 minute to give out some endorsements to connections that you are or
want to do business with.
Share Content from Connections - Like/comment on 2-3 posts, share one
interesting post from a connection, and comment on their posts about how you
had to share!

7. I could go on and on about LinkedIn as I’m on it every day and I truly believe it’s
my most influential business network. Those that read this article and take daily
action steps will see the rewards it will bring to your business in the next year.
Take 15 minutes a day to invest into commenting on posts, sharing content, and
giving out endorsements/recommendations. Take 1 hour per week to invest in a
quality and insightful LinkedIn blog.
Image Credit: Brightbull , Crazyegg, Startup Bisnis
If you plan the time to maximize the power of
LinkedIn, you will see the rewards, and the
more time you invest the more you will get
back in return! Have a giving spirit and you will
see the gifts of LinkedIn!