Over the past decade, many small businesses and startups have relied on LinkedIn’s groups as places where they could build community among their customers. And they were smart to do that. These groups, and the engagement they created with customers, were key to keeping and growing their customer base. These groups grew as critical venues where business owners and executives could solicit feedback from and be responsive to customers, share news and gather data important for improving products, communication and more. In fact, there are tens of thousands of these groups among LinkedIn’s 400 million users.
How many connections should you have on LinkedIn? There isn’t a magic number that works for everyone. LinkedIn isn’t a popularity contest where the person with the most connections wins. LinkedIn is about building relationships and connecting with others, which is very different than the monologue communication of something like Twitter.
When you’re building community, think about what you’re looking for in terms of numbers. Take some time to drill down into your company’s most popular search terms to figure out what people are looking for most often. That will help guide your content, and it will directly inform your content strategy, ultimately helping drive your business goals.
Build your network as soon as possible. No contacts, no network, no community — ultimately results in no funding and nothing to build upon. This is why it’s essential to lay a solid networking foundation for yourself and your idea.
Once you’ve established yourself, the challenging part is to nurture key relationships. While practically impossible to stay in touch with all of your connections, it’s important to make a conscious effort to do so. If you let your connections wither on the vine, expect your lead generation to dry up as well.
Networking can be defined as the building, maintaining and developing relationships. One of the best ways to continuously develop while working is to expand your network. It can be achieved by:
Making introductions and expanding your network which will help you to develop new ideas and ways of thinking
· Sharing experiences
· Finding sources of support
· Develop your skills and increase your awareness
A few ways that you could expand your network include:
Having an occasional meet-up by having lunch with someone outside your current network.
Work with your mentor so you can to identify connections that might be beneficial to you in the future or presently.
Identify someone that could make a positive impact in your work project and schedule time to share your project strategy with him or her.
As you get more and more comfortable with networking, your confidence will build and you’ll have a clearer understanding of how you bring value to a particular situation. You’ll also get better at zeroing in on those relevant events and make better use of your time.
In a B2B context, networking is essential. The more your potential clients see your name, the more likely it is that they’ll consider you when they’re looking for the type of services you offer. Set up a LinkedIn profile and create content that others will share on the site. Attend conferences and follow up after the event to create a lasting relationship with the people you meet.
B2B marketing has its own unique challenges, but with the right tools in place, you’ll be on your way to mastering it. As a result you’ll build lasting connections with people in industries that are vital to your own business. Over time, those connections can lead to referrals, which will help your company grow.
Whether you need a dedicated consultant to help plan and execute a full online marketing strategy, or if you just need a trusted partner with whom you can bounce off questions and ideas, B2B Global Networks can provide you the dedicated support, trusted experience, and pure passion for online marketing that your business needs to flourish.
We can teach you how to create and drive leads from groups relevant to your business vertical. Groups are a meaningful platform for engagement with prospects and customers to spark and maintain interest in your products and services. Displaying thought leadership will reinforce your position as the leader in your business segment – a helpful place to be when prospects are deciding with whom to partner.
