5 LinkedIn Tips to Get Responses, Leads and Clients

Are you having a tough time getting responses on LinkedIn…let alone generating leads and finding clients?

Do you want to meaningfully reach out to your ideal clients and fill your pipeline without a constant struggle?

Do feel like you can’t figure out where people are to have more conversations and fill your pipeline?

Using LinkedIn effectively to grow your business can be challenging for entrepreneurs and business owners of all levels. Most of us are so busy running our business that we forget to make the most of what LinkedIn has to offer–and the result is lost income and wasted time, frustration and feeling overwhelmed. Below are a few tips on how to optimally use LinkedIn like a pro.

Remember, as a business owner, your job is to market your business!

1. Hot headline and professional picture

Your headline and profile picture are often the first thing other LinkedIn members see of you…whether in messages, search results or groups.

Make sure you make a powerful first impression so you get a better response from other LinkedIn members. Use your keywords in your headline and have a call to action to drive your profile viewers to your website,  phone or email.

You’ll get more appearances in LinkedIn search results the more you effectively use your keywords in your headline as well. This means other members will find YOU more often, rather than you chasing them!

Bonus Tip: Offer a gift to make your call to action more compelling. For example, I offer free tools in my LinkedIn profile headline.

And it goes without saying that you must have a professional-looking headshot profile picture if you want to attract your ideal clients. You can have a friend take a picture or go to a studio…just be sure it reflects your brand image.

2. Unique updates

This is where you can start getting the word out about your expertise and share it with your contacts who will then share it with their networks so you can get more responses as well.

It’s key to have the right mix of quality content and promotion…and also post often enough to keep you top of mind with your network and provide value. You want to use your updates too, to differentiate yourself, standout and inspire engagement with your LinkedIn network.

Bonus Tip: I use HootSuite to pre-schedule my updates to LinkedIn in 5 minutes every morning.

3. Sizzling summary

Your summary is your opportunity to shine and generate responses as well. Think of it as a mini-sales page and an expanded version of your headline.

Your summary should talk about the problem your ideal client has, offer the solution of taking the next step with you and also include your credibility credentials. Again, see my LinkedIn profile for an example of how I’ve done it.

4. Cultivate contacts

Set the stage for a mutually beneficial relationship with another LinkedIn member before they become your contact by engaging with them via messages or group comments.

Your contacts are your biggest asset on LinkedIn and it’s imperative that you cultivate them starting with the initial interaction, through to updates and beyond.

I recommend to my clients that they message their contacts on regular basis to share value-rich content that builds the know, like, trust factor and softly but strategically promote themselves.

Bonus Tip: You can message your contacts 50 at a time via LinkedIn or all at once with email.

Done correctly, you’ll receive a deluge of responses that will give you an opportunity to further nurture your relationship with your contacts, fill your pipeline and get more clients.

5. Galvanize Groups

LinkedIn Groups are a gold mine of leads and new clients, if you know how to use them effectively. I know, because each week I talk with numerous people who tell me they found me in Groups.

For groups to start working to give you meaningful responses, you first need to join the groups where your ideal clients are. Let’s say you’re a leadership coach. You’ll want to use search to find groups where your ideal clients are…whether they are executives or small businesses owners.

Bonus Tip: Join the maximum of 50 groups and fine-tune as you go forward.

Post on a consistent basis to your groups in a compelling way that drives traffic to your website, then respond to comments and lead group members to taking the next step with you.

If you’re tired of being on LinkedIn and not getting NEW CLIENTS, let me help you.

For a limited time, I am offering the opportunity to qualify for a Complimentary LinkedIn Get More Clients Strategy Session to explore what your biggest challenge is on LinkedIn…and what you can do to have a marketing breakthrough. I have a limited number of appointments available and request that only people who are serious about dramatically increasing the number of clients they get from LinkedIn schedule a time to talk. To apply for your complimentary session, click here.

QUESTION: What do you use to get responses on LinkedIn? Please share them in the comment section below!

Image: PursueThePassion

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© 2013 ChristineHueber.com

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