5 Tips for a Successful Linkedin Company Page

In the past few years, Linkedin Company Pages have become quite popular. They are intended to showcase your company’s products and services, job opportunities, and overall culture. They are similar to your professional profile but with a more distinct focus. It is important to have a Linkedin Company Page especially for “onsite” visitors.

 If people visit your profile and happen to want to click the link for more company information, (provided your company has a Linkedin Company Page) they will be directed to it without leaving the website. This is important as they may not want to click away from the main website. These pages are easy to create and can be instrumental in gathering leads and stimulating engagement. Below are some tips to make sure your bases are covered with regards to your own company’s page.

Create a Custom URL
Every company page receives unique numeric code within its URL when it is created. In promoting your page, you can of course use this URL as a link for others to visit. However, it is possible to create a more brandable URL; like your company name if it's not already taken. Creating your unique URL can be done by opening Linkedin settings and clicking on "Public Profile".

Create a Distinguishable Banner Image
When visitors see your company page, your cover image is the first thing they see. Here, you have an opportunity to place a value proposition, engaging statement, or simply display your company banner in HD. The choice you make of course should be consistent with any other marketing you are doing and should complement your branding.

Insert the Right Keywords
Just as with any webpage that you would like to rank high in the top search engines, you should be SEO savvy in using keywords in you company page's description. Doing so will help your page to be found in Linkedin's search engine as well as other offsite search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. It is of course important to you that your company get as high in the results as possible. That said, keep the proper keywords and keyword phrases in your description but keep in mind not to over use them to the point in which your description doesn't "read" naturally.

Create and Add a YouTube Video
You should keep in mind the fact that online videos are a favorite type of content to website visitors. When you can display a video that communicates the same thing as a few paragraphs of marketing copy, you have scored high in efficiency. Not to mention, your visitors may be averse to reading long paragraphs.

Your video, which at the very least, should summarize what your company does and describe your unique value proposition. You can accomplish this with a simple but professional 30 seconds to 1.5 minute video. If you include a good call to action at the end of the video, you could see a surprising increase in sales or engagement conversions. Remember to keep the video relevant to the content on your company page.

Keep Your Page Up to Date
Your Linkedin Company Page is similar to your professional profile in that you can post updates. If people visit your page and there are updates that are weeks to months old, it can make a statement about your company. Your company may be progressing very well but if you have chosen to use the Company Page as an outlet for branding or even exposure, it should reflect the strides you are making. Remember that more than one person can be involved in posting updates. It is wise to allow other members/employees of your team to post. It's a good measure to get co-workers engaged in the company buzz and share positive and interesting news regarding your company.

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How Can We Outsource Our Online Netwoking?

I often condone networking face-to-face opposed to online but networking online is very effective when included with in person interactions. Nowadays, business people meet online and merge into live meetings, which make the combination of the two Ideal. In addition, excelling and succeeding in a career is a non-stop grind to which all options should be considered.

The beauty of the computer/IT age, is that some automation is possible for a great many applications. We can never substitute or automate our in person meetings quite like we can manipulate technology. Until they perfect cloning, it's just impossible.

Therefore, we can continue to network online but only be present for only about 60% of the time. As long as you have clear objectives, so much as possible. Below, is a simple method to assist you in being in several places at once through outsourcing;

1. Decide your online social networking business goals.

As stated above, knowing your objectives and goals is a key factor as you get started. Online social networking is unique in many different ways but it is best utilized if you know where you want to go.

For example; it can be used to attract a particular profile of individuals. If you have a good idea of your target, then you already know what you would say if you were introducing yourself. Furthermore, you already have an idea of where you would like the conversation to lead.

2. Create several messages for different occasions.

Since you know how to introduce yourself, you only need to create a few introductory statements. Act as if you are only speaking to one person. Remember, the same message can be used several times for several different people.

If you are looking to get a certain response, you should know the type of introduction and questions you should ask in your messages. I suggest making several, so that you can find what gets the best results.

3. Test your messages through time.

Remember, you're setting yourself up for automation. So, you have to do some work up front. You should log onto your favorite business online social network or where ever your target exists and send 25 to 50 messages. Check which messages get the best responses and continue to use those.

4. Hire a professional to distribute your messages intermittently.

This is where the outsourcing comes in. Find a freelance website and hire a professional to send dozens if not thousands of your introductory messages to your target market.

Until it becomes too much to handle, you should answer your own initial first responders. Build relationships with your responders and in no time you will have credible online contacts.

5. Check your results and continue.

As time continues, you must keep track of your results. Are you ready to automate your networking?

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Can Smalltalk Equal Big Dividends in Business Networking?

Whoever said that "Talk is cheap" didn't factor in how imperative talking was to the development large industry. Don't most business deals, whether mega or minor, begin with simple talking? Okay, in today's digital age, maybe a lot begin with e-mail, but isn't e-mail a form of talking?

I have also heard many successful businessmen say "I don't do small talk" but isn't Smalltalk at the base of many significant events in human history? Wasn't it small talk that began hundreds of years ago back in England about a new world that was awaiting development overseas? Wasn't it small talk that began as a little buzz which grew to a huge overflow of support for President Obama's historic victory?

Some people who attend business networking events or business functions in general, think that Smalltalk is unprofessional and they must focus completely on really important and elaborate "Business Speak". They almost feel as though speaking about anything besides that would brand them as an individual who is amateurish and not serious about business.

Could anything be more further from the truth? When you're dealing with business people, it's smart to remember that you are dealing with "people". This means that while they have on a suit and tie, what's underneath is still a bonafide human being. And this "human being" is susceptible and open to Smalltalk.

Smalltalk like; what they engage in outside of the office, current events that have nothing to do with business, college stories that are really laughable, and so on. These little conversations can make a person feel comfortable and can be a warm-up to more important business talks.

Learning to communicate initially with Smalltalk is a skill but it's one of the skills that require little work to develop. Just think about the last casual conversation you had about current events with a close friend. How much skill did that require?

If you can relate to people on a warm-personal level, you will have succeeded in securing stable new relationships. These relationships can lead to major things throughout your life. They can lead to new jobs or careers and even large-scale business partnerships. Whatever the results may be, remember that it all began from small talk.

So, the next time you feel as though you are wasting your breath on trivial topics, consider the fact that Smalltalk can lead to greater things. Smalltalk is a part of good business networking just as much as professional conduct.

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How to Set Networking Goals - "Want, Have, Do"

As learned in the past, we know that setting goals for any measure of achievement is of severe importance. It is safe to say then, that setting Networking Goals is vital if you intend on using networking as a means of advancement in your business.
The following is what I call the Want, Have, Do approach to clarifying the details within your business goals. This is a great assessment tool as it keeps things reasonably simple but uncovers unseen particulars.

Depending on the nature and success factors of your business, you should know what has to occur in order for you to plant a flag and conclude your mission is accomplished. For example, if your goal is to achieve 10 sales in 1 month, this is known as the "Want". You may also add details such as 10 $5,000 sales with executives or CEO's making over $250,000 per year.

Now that the "Want" is clearly defined, what do you "Have" within your reach that could assist you in attainment of the prize? Take an analysis of your friends, contacts, connections, native abilities, etc. Use your experiences and imagination and connect the hypothetical dots. In doing this exercise, you may find a plethora of networking opportunities to strengthen and or create relationships leading to triumph.

As you take a clear look into your resources, you may make associations between people and institutions not previously imagined. This happens simply by knowing vividly, your desired result and applying practical possibilities to your vision.

If you meet with difficulty during the "Have" phase, and it's because of a lack of perceived resources, I suggest taking a keen look at what is easily available and cultivating growth and improvement. This will also answer the question, "Are the people and associations I'm attached to congruent with my career destination?" This is not to suggest eliminating loved ones or friendships. It merely denotes a sure necessity to align with favorable outlets. If aligning with favorable outlets is absolutely necessary in order to begin, you have just landed on the first step of your action plan or the "Do".

The "Do" is the bridge that physically separates you from the promise land. In the above example, 10 sales within a certain criteria of people is the goal. Any action plan has steps. The steps may be using your current network of people constructively to put you in contact with your chosen targets, or getting out and meeting them first hand.

In either case, you can never have too big of a network and should keep encounters with new people, the right people, in your plans. Today is a great day to attend a networking event.

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3 Tips on How to Network Smartly on LinkedIn

There are many things worth doing in this world and folks searching for worthwhile undertakings have got a whole lot to choose from. For whichever reasons, some people want to network smartly on LinkedIn. It's a fairly frequent choice. On the favorable side of things, should you select this goal, it's is not at all difficult to attain, if you know what you're really doing.

 The intention of this article is to really make it simple for you to succeed and triumph at network smartly on LinkedIn. To learn the best way to and attain this objective in three simple steps, read on...

 The 1st step is to make a short list of the most important types of people that you think you need to associate yourself with in order to succeed in your business. You will want to do this since you can network and meet dozens of people but if they aren't connected in the right ways it may not be useful to your business goals.

 Concurrently, you will want to stay away from putting too many types of individuals on your short list and just focus on the most important for now. It will likely be really important to get this 1st step done right and well. In the event you fail in that, then you are not prioritizing and targeting in an intelligent manner.

 The 2nd step is to visit groups on LinkedIn that the clients of your targeted people are likely to be a part of. Here you will need to avoid focusing on groups that are based on an industry where your targeted people are mainly exchanging info because you could find yourself competing with others in your field and it's better to stand out than just be another person seemingly prospecting.

The 3rd step is to send email or introduce yourself via a good comment to a post. This will be important since you could prove your value right away and begin a dialog leading to a number of good things. Be careful to stay away from the mistake of giving a sales pitch when you have the opportunity to simply introduce yourself and create a good rapport. You can build from that point.

 Make sure to carefully stick to these 3 steps. In doing this you should, more than likely, manage to network smartly on LinkedIn without difficulties. In pursuing the steps, make certain to do them properly, for those reasons stated, avoiding the possible mistakes explained. Then celebrate! Congratulate yourself! Pat yourself on the back! Take advantage of the fruits and many advantages that come with having successfully networked smartly on LinkedIn!

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Networking Fail - 5 Traits

I notice our young folks using the word "fail" in a unique way. Simply, it just means failure. Okay, now since that is clarified, let's discuss those traits which sum up a Networking Fail.

1. Ego takes over and objectives are overlooked.

Just like any other business aspiration, networking requires goals. When one goes out to networking events and meets other professionals, egos can get in the way. The ego can present itself in so many different formats.

One successful business man/woman can be arrogant and condescending towards others. As this happens, others may become offended because they have now been insulted. On both ends, egos have now taken over and productivity is lost.

In either case, self-control is the antidote to tame the ego. One must stay focused, no matter what happens. If not, you can lose time which you will never get back. The Networking Fail comes when self-control goes out the back door.

2. Not having a good day and the attitude reflects this.

I have to ask, why do people attend business networking events if they are having a horrible day? Okay, maybe they rationalized that, if they go they will somehow cheer up. Maybe they rationalized, networking and a few drinks will save the day.

If you have ever been the recipient to the manners expressed by such an individual, you'll probably agree with me when I say, they should have stayed home. This doesn't make them a bad or evil person. It just indicates a bad judgment call on their part. Hey, everyone has a right to go where ever they wish but keeping the purpose of networking alive, relies on a good judgment call.

So, the Networking Fail is created when the person doesn't realize that they must cheer up internally, on their own and the event won't do it for them.

The Networking Fail is born when they follow through on their bad decision.

3. Does not follow up.

This has been discussed so many times that I don't even want to add comments to it. However, we all know that business networking is a waste of time unless you make use of the people you meet. You'll never find out what can happen unless you open the doors of communication.

The Networking Fail comes to life when all communications cease at the initial encounter.

4. Shows no real interest and can't hold a conversation.

It is like networking death when you don't show a genuine interest to your conversation partner. Showing interest, helps you to listen better and helps the talker feel validated. Listening well, also helps you to gather valuable information for future correspondence.

The Networking Fail, grows out of boredom or distraction. This is a self control issue.

5. Thinks that people operate like machinery.

This one is common among people who are in a rush. Relationships take time to develop. People like to take their time when making decisions, especially decision that will affect their lives. People that don't understand it will usually say that networking doesn't work. In reality, it just doesn't work for them.

The Networking Fail manifests itself once the individual expects to push a button on a person and get a desired result.

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4 Productive Networking Activities

Business networking can be an exact science depending on an individual's perspective. Because there are so many uses, one person may have their own complete sequence of procedures that is different from all others. Furthermore, no 2 people do things exactly the same.

However, to reach certain goals in business using networking, does require somewhat of a structured system. In other words, there are activities that should be viewed as productive and progressive, opposed to counterproductive or detrimental.

Your critical business goals should always be the foundation that you base your prominent networking activities upon. Therefore, when I suggest an emphasis on the below activities, it will vary due to your objectives. That being said, below are generally productive activities to help you succeed in business networking;

1. Attending Business Networking Functions

This may seem like an obvious bit of advice but you must ask yourself if you are doing this on the regular basis. There are so many events available in so many places, yet they are missed by many people who have time challenges. When you consider that we are all just one person away from a big break or positive business changing experience, attending these events becomes more relevant.

2. Visiting Your Contacts

Looking into your past successes, examine just how much good relationships had to do with them. Great business relationships are built many times in a close, personal proximity.

Any opportunity to visit a colleague or contact within your network should be honored. This positive activity could be acknowledged later in time as productive and necessary.

3. Organizing and Categorizing Your Network

A lot of networking and meeting new contacts can lead to clutter. The clutter of which I speak is piles of business cards or online social network colleagues without proper categorization.

Yes, it is great to have a large and powerful network but if you don't have a system to prioritize those who are the most important, those who are up-and-coming, and those who are undecided, you are not maximizing what you have.

4. Drafting a Virtual Future Network

As you keep your communications and ties strong, you must always be looking into the future. You should know, as you progress in your career, who are the people who could potentially help to move you further down the road? It's a good idea, quarterly at least, to envision what your future network could look like. Of course, envisioning this will help to give you a solid and trackable path for business networking.

Do you want to learn more about business networking? I have just completed my brand new guide for Professional Networking Success:

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