Why you need to start sharing your journey on LinkedIn for your business
We often look at LinkedIn as this career-driven, corporate networking platform used to boost your profile in the corporate world. Of course, it is a networking platform, BUT it is now a platform to bring the work-life balance as we work towards this level of “flexible work-life”. As an entrepreneur, it is an incredible platform to boost your personal brand and build your business.
You need to start sharing more of your journey and story on LinkedIn to help the growth of your business. Why? Well, in the latest podcast episode, we had the amazing Ruby Lee join to explain to you HOW she built a million-dollar business using content on platforms like LinkedIn and WHY you need to start using it!!
If you find value in this blog, make sure you share it with me on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram! Even better, share it with your audience! You can also listen to the episode below!
Alright, so let’s get stuck into all things LinkedIn!!
How can LinkedIn work for my business?
LinkedIn can generate leads to your business that you probably didn’t think were possible and NO it doesn’t mean long-winded sales pitches in the DMs (YUCK).
LinkedIn can work for your business because it allows you to connect with quality leads, to people in your industry (or those who need you in your industry) to help the growth of your business.
How do you do this? Well, we will share with you the THREE reasons you can do this soon, but of course, it comes down to how you are seen on the platform. Are you creating content on LinkedIn? You know, still, not many people create consistent content on LinkedIn, which leaves you the BIGGEST window of opportunity!
You know what you have to do? Think outside the box with how you show up on the platform and you WILL be connected to thousands (even millions) of people who you can serve.
What content should I create on LinkedIn?
Alright, so you know content creation is HUGE (if you don't know, we need to chat). So what type of content should you create on LinkedIn??
Okay, let’s step away from the traditional sharing of business articles and boring reports. More than EVER we are experiencing this “work-life” merger. More people are working from home due to the global pandemic so right now, our work and our life are the SAME! But you know what? That is okay!
It is MORE than okay, it means we are now ready to OPEN up and develop deeper connections with the professional relationships we have. Now, of course, there is a level of content LinkedIn may not need, but being relatable is more important than EVER!
Think about your content, where can you start telling more stories? Ruby shares a GREAT story about how standing in dog poo in Lisbon gained her a great story on LinkedIn AND amazing feedback (I know right, listen to the pod).
If your life is your content, what stories can you pull from your everyday life and share on LinkedIn? Here are a few I’ve done:
Learning to light a fire in the new house I moved into took strategy (wood placement) and patience (something I struggled with) but that is the SAME with business
What travelling in Europe taught me, if you have a laptop (or a device) and the knowledge on how to work smart, you can generally work from anywhere
SHARE your day to day struggles, take people behind the scenes of your business and look at what you are offering during the month and draw eyes to it. If you have a freebie or a course, can you use storytelling to share that with people?
Be creative!! Of course, there are some pieces of content that Instagram love and LinkedIn don’t and that is okay, it is all about creating what feels good for you and learning from your audience!!
The three main factors for creating on LinkedIn
Alright, so what are the THREE things you need to do when using LinkedIn as a platform??
Ruby shared her three C’s and these included:
Content: creating every day, be consistent with your content creation
Commenting: Engage with people. Network with people and comment on content on the feed
Connection in the DMs: no sales pitches, just CONNECT and say hello. Learn more about your audience
Don't create content and leave! Use the platform and get to know your audience there. You do this on Instagram, so why wouldn't you on LinkedIn!
How to be consistent with LinkedIn content
Keeping consistent CAN be a challenge, but it is all about knowing what type of creator you are. Do you like being planned or are you spontaneous? Look at what works for you! But of course, if you need to set up a structure, you can click here for some inspiration.
To be consistent, you also can repurpose content you have ALREADY created! For me, my content is inspired from the back of my podcast episodes. For someone like Ruby, she holds herself accountable and then of course if she doesn't have anything on her heart that day to post, she will repurpose content she wants to bring to the surface.
Choose what works for you!! But, if you want to gain more consistency, there is also a blog listed below that may help you!
But what if I have colleagues or old business connections on LinkedIn?
Think of it like this. When at work, you would talk in the lunchroom or after-work drinks. So when you are now promoting yourself or your business, think of it like that!! But also remember, chances of them seeing ALL of your content is VERY slim.
If you are still working full-time, chat to your boss or manager, explain to them you will be posting content on LinkedIn and just roll with it. Set the intention with your audience, so they know you will be posting.
I did this before I went to Europe and to be honest, I had a really great response at work when I got back. I’d get “you are EVERYWHERE on LinkedIn”. I even got emails from people within the organisation asking me to help them be more active on LinkedIn.
Trust us, it isn’t as bad as you think, just be open and honest before you post!
The limiting beliefs around LinkedIn
Some of the common things we hear with LinkedIn include:
It is FULL of corporates
No one wants to know about my life, it is all about careers
It is a boring platform
There are SO many more. But really, LinkedIn is a SOCIAL media platform. Be social, share stories and share your journey. Of course, choose the content you feel comfortable with but honestly, people connect with the REAL LIFE stuff, not the corporate stuff you think they will.
Be confident and as Ruby says “be unapologetically you”!!
Do you need to have different content on LinkedIn?
As mentioned, of course, there are certain things you will post on Instagram but you wouldn’t share it on LinkedIn (like we probably won’t be sharing our brunch pics on LinkedIn).
However, what you need to remember is you can draw from your content buckets and add them on LinkedIn. If you love cats, make your content cat related. For me, I was going to do a lot of my videos while travelling as a digital nomad and I was going to share a lot of my lessons from amazing places around the world (stay tuned that WILL come soon).
You can repurpose content onto LinkedIn, just have a strategy and share what you think your audience will love! It takes time to know this, so just throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks.
All I would ask you is, what makes your business unique? Share that uniqueness, NOT just on social media platforms like Instagram, use LinkedIn too!!
Key tips to start on LinkedIn
So, if you are looking to get MORE active on LinkedIn (or even make a start). Here were Ruby’s TOP tips:
Make sure your profile is up to date! How do you want to be seen? This isn’t an old resume anymore
Do an intro video to set the tone, tell people what they can expect and tell YOUR story
Be consistent and then add the layer of engagement within the platform
What do you think? Are you READY to be more present on LinkedIn??