Create a professional brand on LinkedIn by creating an engaging corporate identity that isn’t shy to “put itself out there.” This is a requisite, anyhow.
We’re assuming you’re because you’ve realised LinkedIn is a hive of activity with business dealings in every corner. Now, you want in on the opportunities. We, too, appreciate the leads, networks, and advertising the social media platform offers. This is why we set aside time to really study successful businesses on LinkedIn, (politely) leeching off their strategies while adding a unique angle and bespoke designs that share messages before users scroll down.
We explored how:
Clean, simple, easily discernible images speak louder than complex branding.
But we figured out more than this.
LinkedIn offers several tools that may seem humble, but make all the difference, elevating profiles and compies to a new level of performance.
For example:
Create a Company Page
A personal profile is important, after all, it’s the human connection that “sells.” However, a company page can draw a casual chat to more serious business.
Here’s how to create a page:
- Go to your profile and click the “Work” or “For Business” icon in the top-right corner of your LinkedIn homepage.
- Scroll down in this menu and click “Create a Company Page.”
- Follow the prompts.
The idea is to populate this page with as much useful, engaging, and “fresh” content as you can, paying attention to keywords and uploading concise cover images that assure visitors they have arrived at the right page.
Tip: Use your company page as a starting point for posting, and then share to your personal profile/s and network. This way, your brand and message stretch further while keeping your company as the core of communication.
Learn How to Turn On Creator Mode (and Use It)
Creator Mode must be enabled for you to make use of tools like Newsletters and page/profile-related hashtags.
To turn it on, you must:
- Open your personal profile.
- Scroll down to “Resources.”
- Use the toggle to turn on Creator Mode.
Note you must have more than 1500 followers or connections before you can use this feature (so work hard on points we make in the next section).
We found that Newsletters are particularly useful in this mode and allow you to extend the reach of your brand identity and the services or products you offer. It also connects with “bringing your end to the table.”
Bring Your End to the Table
We tend to forget that LinkedIn is a “social” platform. It goes beyond posting and advertising. Networking and responding to others can speak louder than an attractive identity. It personalises professionalism and conveys the message, “hey, we’re a company that cares about your aspirations, too.”
To do this, you must:
- Comments on posts in and out of your network.
- Share material that pertains to your business.
- Respond to messages courteously (even the spammy ones – let them down gently if you must).
- Tag associates and key players.
- Pop in with a newsletter.
- Connect with alumni.
- Write testimonials for others (and ask if they can return the favour).
