Now more than ever, people are attracted to people (and businesses) who speak their language, get their sense of humour, or share the same point of view.
Make no mistakes, LinkedIn is one of the best resources out there for businesses and business professionals. It is a hub for attracting new clients, expanding your network and establishing your brand as a professional and leading authority in your niche.
Here are some interesting facts about who is using LinkedIn and for what purpose:
LinkedIn users are mainly aged between 30-49
Over 39 million students and recent graduates use the platform
Users come from over 200 countries – around 70% from outside the US
Over 40k job application posted every single day44 percent of users make over $75k per year50 percent of users are college graduates
#1. Personal branding
When a user accepts an invitation from another user, they have a first-level connection; the user is indirectly connected to the other user's connections with what LinkedIn terms second-level and third-level connections.
LinkedIn is particularly well-suited for personal branding which, according to Sandra Long, entails "actively managing one's image and unique value" to position oneself for career opportunities.
Share your triumph, tragic, tense and transitional stories but have in mind the context in which you communicate. Linkedin is not suitable for your personal or private triumph, tragic, tense or transitional stories.
However, if you master the art of creative business storytelling you will be able to use any story either personal or not in your advance.
Story is the content, storytelling is how you tell this content and where you tell it.
#2. Share your story daily
You can create a diary of your daily professional struggles.
Why struggles?
There is misconception that great story is metaphor for journey. In fact every human story is a struggle remembered like a journey.
So don't be afraid to add in your stories the crisis, conflicts and dramas of your daily business activities, all of those are obstacles preventing you from achieving your goals and desires.
This is where the secret is hidden.
Share your problems and how you deal with it, because only through actions the real character is revealed with his/her true values and strengths.
#3. Wrap Your Knowledge in Story Package
Post Engaging Content: this is the number one way you are going to get people interested in you.
Use the power of creative storytelling to convey your knowledge, information and experience about your products and services but in an engaging and interesting way.
There is no better way to create belief, shift false belief or suspend a disbelief than story and purposeful business storytelling.
Wrap your bid data, facts and numbers in storified images, videos and articles.
Use active and simple language, be authentic and honest, there is no perfect people, brands or businesses. We all have flaws and this makes us human.
Use your flaws for your advantage.
Be vulnerable and transparent in your communication, because every story is just that:
An exposition of our flaws and fears, but most of all it reveals our dreams and obsessions towards a transformation for a better self.
Conclusion
Research has consistently shown that LinkedIn is one of the best social networks for businesses and for those looking to increase their professional network. It is also a great place to find new customers and clients, especially for B2B brands.
But if you don't hook their attention and interest in your personal brand, business' product or services you will miss a great opportunity to provide value to them.
Here is a great resource how to grow your followers in LinkedIn.
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