Your company has a nice website, a call center that takes customer orders, a solid sales force that brings in new business and a marketing team that gets your branding message into the marketplace through direct mail, pay-per-click and banner advertising. Why should you spend any time on social media like LinkedIn?
Good question, but the answer might surprise you. If you are doing everything that I mentioned above, you are not doing everything you can to increase your sales. Many people think of LinkedIn as a glorified job board where you can post your resume and look for jobs, but it’s much more than that. I like to think of LinkedIn as your favorite coffee shop like Starbucks or your favorite watering hole. I might be dating myself a bit, but think of LinkedIn as a place like the TV show “Cheers”. It’s a place where friends gather and you can get to know people. It’s “where everyone knows your name” or that what you want it to be. It’s a place where friends gather and where you can make new friends.
OK, you are probably thinking that this guy is stuck in the 80’s and can’t get out. Stay with me on this. If LinkedIn is where you can connect with old friends, business acquaintances and make new ones, why wouldn’t this be a good place for your company to be? LinkedIn isn’t Facebook. You can see Facebook spill over on LinkedIn. No offense, but I don’t really care if your cat can play the piano or your toddler rode a Big Wheel for the first time. That’s what Facebook is for. LinkedIn is the place to go to network. Find other professionals like yourself, learn new things, find a job, and FIND NEW CUSTOMERS.
Let’s go on a little Google adventure. Check out some of the largest, most successful companies on the internet. Do they have these icons on their site?
I chose 5 big, successful companies in the Fortune 25. Here’s what I found.
- General Motors – Yep, social media icons on their home page
- Exxon Mobil – Yep, also social media icons on their home page
- General Electric – Yep, also social media icons on their home page
- McKesson – Yep, also social media icons on their home page
- IBM – Yep, on their home page…you get the idea.
These are just 5 big companies in different industries, but they all have something in common. They all are using social media including LinkedIn to connect with their customers. Customers know social media and so do their kids. It’s a new way to communicate. You need to be where your Customers are and they’re on LinkedIn.
Should your company be on LinkedIn? Absolutely. You should also be on Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Facebook and maybe some more. There are a lot of social media sites out there. Determine which ones you should be on and make it happen. Your competitors are. You need to make sure you are where every prospect and customer knows your name.
If you want to learn more about me, please visit my LinkedIn profile, my website and my blog.
gregpalmer7 