Are you looking for more leads?
LinkedIn is an often-overlooked social media marketing platform, yet it’s possibly the best social platform there is for B2B marketing.
There are currently over 63 million decision-makers using LinkedIn. It’s also the only widely used platform that is laser-focused on business and professional networking.
It’s a great place to promote your content, drive traffic to your website, and connect with potential customers. Nearly 80% of B2B marketers see LinkedIn as an effective source for new leads.
Here’s how you can use LinkedIn for B2B marketing and quickly generate new leads for your business.
1. Publish Content to Build Authority in Your Niche
LinkedIn should be a key promotional channel for your content marketing.
According to the Content Marketing Institute’s B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks report, LinkedIn is rated as the most effective social media platform for content distribution.
So how can you increase the reach and engagement of your posts to generate more leads?
To increase the chances of your content gaining traction, you should write about hot topics and trends in your industry. Think about your target audience and what matters to them right now.
Once you have identified a good topic, bring your expertise and unique opinion to the article. You won’t cut through the noise if you’re just repeating what other people are saying. Offer your opinion and back up your arguments with industry reports and third-party sources.
As well as providing a unique opinion, your post should follow the best practices for B2B social media content marketing:
- Write a killer headline
- Use relevant hashtags
- Format content so it can easily be read on mobile devices
- Use images to break up blocks of text
- Include a strong CTA
- Publish your articles on Tuesdays between 10-11 am
Writing a quality article takes time and effort. You can make it worth the investment and get more views and engagement by sticking to the best practices.
Before you start promoting content, make sure your LinkedIn profile is optimized. Check out our 5 killer tips to make your profile more appealing to prospects.
2. Reach New Audiences with LinkedIn Live
With Covid-19 lockdowns restricting face-to-face events and meetings, the use of LinkedIn Live has skyrocketed. According to Microsoft’s Q3 FY20 earnings report, LinkedIn Live streams increased 158% between February and April.
Live streaming is an effective way to engage and connect with potential customers in real-time. It’s a great way to leverage LinkedIn for B2B marketing.
You can interview thought leaders in your niche, host a panel with industry experts, or launch new products and services with a live event.
Discussing industry trends with experts is a great way to boost your credibility and connect with a new audience. Your guests will likely share and promote your interview with their LinkedIn connections and followers on other social networks. LinkedIn Live streams receive 23x more comments and 6x more reactions than native video.
If you live stream the launch of a new product, you can demonstrate how the product works, get instant feedback, and answer any questions your potential customers have. Studies also show that 59% of business decision-makers would rather learn about a product through video than reading text.
3. Join Groups to Really Use LinkedIn for B2B Marketing
We’ve covered two inbound tactics, but you can also use LinkedIn for B2B marketing outreach. So where do you find potential leads?
LinkedIn Groups are a great place to connect with prospects. There are currently over 2 million groups on LinkedIn:
You’re pretty much guaranteed to find groups that are related to your industry and your target audience.
- Enter keywords relevant to your industry and you’ll find a bunch of groups that you can join. LinkedIn limits the number of groups you can join to 30, so make sure your groups are highly relevant and likely to contain potential customers.
- When it comes to the size of the group, try to avoid groups with a huge number of members, as you’ll struggle to cut through the noise and get noticed. You should also avoid groups that are too small or not very active.
- Once you’ve joined some relevant groups, maintain an active presence and engage with the community. You shouldn’t spam the group and go for a hard sell. Aim to build relationships and nurture leads.
- By posting regular helpful content and showcasing your experience and expertise, you can be the company your prospects turn to when they are ready to make a purchase.
Get B2B Results on LinkedIn
You can start generating more leads and make more sales by using LinkedIn for B2B marketing. Utilize LinkedIn Live, post consistently, and actively seek out your target audience.
It takes hard work and dedication, but LinkedIn is probably the best social media platform for building a network of potential customers and generating new leads. Don’t overlook this powerful tool like so many others have done. Dig in and start getting real results.
