Using LinkedIn Company Pages to Build a Professional Network
Social media has become an integral part of modern life and most professionals and businesspeople would be at least aware of Linkedin.com as a business resource. This social network for the professional world currently has 160 million members1, all of which would be aware of the groups and employment opportunities that make the site a practical career building tool. However, many might not be aware that Linkedin also has dedicated business pages that are similar to Facebook’s brand pages. At last count, Linkedin reported that there were 2 million business pages on its network1, a rather low engagement rate for a network that is based on profession. Companies that take advantage of this free business page service could be a step ahead of their competition in building valuable relationships in the professional world.
Unlike Facebook brand pages, which are targeted at raising brand awareness among consumers, Linkedin company pages are more focused on business users while still contributing a credible source of company information for customers. Setting up a company page is an easy process. The pages themselves are simple, business-oriented pages with only four tabs and a short newsfeed of the latest posts on linked corporate blogs, as well as business’ activities that have been posted on Linkedin. The four tabs cover the most common aspects of every business’ interaction on Linkedin with a general overview, products and services, careers and employee information2. The careers section requires a paid subscription in order to take advantage of Linkedin’s vast pool of potential employees, and the company pages come with an analytics tab that is visible only to admins of the page. These features make Linkedin company pages a low-maintenance corporate page option that can produce great results for a relatively small amount of effort.
Linkedin company pages might not have the marketing potential of a Facebook or Twitter brand page, but they can be a valuable tool for making connections within your industry or direct connections with talented professionals that you might be looking for as employees. As with all social media sites the key to success on Linkedin is to engage other users and to contribute to the conversations that take place on the site. By adding an informed opinion about issues in your industry, you will be building a professional reputation that potentially spans the entire world.
Linkedin is an efficient place to find consultants and freelancers for the tasks that you outsource in your business. Other users in your network can recommend people and companies that give good service. Finding people through referrals by trusted sources on Linkedin is a constructive way to build good relationships with the other businesses with which you interact. Visitors to your Linkedin business page can also see your current employees’ profiles, creating opportunities for personal contact that can’t be expected from other social networks.
The power of social media is indisputable now that it has become entrenched in our daily lives, so it is not surprising that it is being used as a practical professional tool. Linkedin is a leader among social networks as a reputable and useful professional forum, making a company page on their website a necessity for most businesses large or small if they wish to remain visible in cyberspace. If your business hasn’t taken advantage of Linkedin company pages yet, you can discuss the benefits with InfintechDesigns.com who will help you join the 2 million companies that are already making connections with their colleagues on the site.
References:
1. http://press.linkedin.com/about
