By using LinkedIn effectively, it is possible to open doors that otherwise would not be available and to build relationships that can lead to bigger profits. Read on to find little known tips and techniques.

By using LinkedIn effectively, an online marketer can generate many leads for the products that they sell. In this article we look at how you can use LinkedIn to build relationships and bring traffic to your website.

There are various levels of membership sign ups on LinkedIn. Each offer a number of credit for directly emailing to people that you don’t know or are not connected to. Another point of difference is that you can also elect to receive a higher level of search results.

By starting with the free membership, it is possible to build a powerful profile with a keyworded link back to your site and to network and create groups. Once you have spent time working with LinkedIn, then it might be worth your while to upgrade to benefit from the extra credits.

Profile

Complete your profile with as much information as you can. There are sections for education, previous roles as well as what you are hoping to gain from being on LinkedIn. By providing as much information as you can, you will allow people to know your history and your skill set. This will help them feel more comfortable with you as they will know your full background. Upload a professional looking photo of yourself in a head and shoulders style, as people prefer to do business with people that they have seen, even if it is only online. Use a photo that says ‘approachable and friendly’ for the best results.

Connect

The more people that you can connect with on LinkedIn – the better. If you are in position to, spend time giving recommendations and asking for recommendations from your contacts. These personal testimonials will support your credibility and sales efforts. Adding more connections, means that more people will see you.

Optimise Your Profile

By optimising your profile for the search engines, you can get onto the front page of Google for a name search. Add your profile name like this: http://uk.LinkedIn.com/in/yourname, where ‘yourname’ is in this URL should be your own name once you’ve set it up. It is changeable – so you can add your business niche instead of your name if you prefer at a later date.

Then within your profile, under the Website section – select other and add a keyword for your website. Then add the http:// url address to your website, so that it will work as another link for SEO purpose to your site. The result is a nice PR8+ backlink to your site from LinkedIn affirming the keyword for your site. You might want to add your social networking pages to the other sections.

Groups and Answers

Using the Answers and the groups sections are a great way to build your reputation on LinkedIn. You can share your knowledge, your blog posts for more traffic and generally help people out so that you can connect with more people and be seen as a valuable contributor of LinkedIn. Don’t spam and interact in a professional and positive manner for the best results. You can ask your own questions too, make these short and to the point and don’t waste time by asking for information that you can easily find with a Google search.

By using these tips and techniques, you will soon be using LinkedIn effectively to build your connection, your reputation and your profits.

Copyright (c) 2010 Andrew Holtom

Blogging is everywhere we look, from major websites to smaller, individually run blogs. Millions of businesses and individuals post blog articles on a daily business, and there are even search engines set up specifically for blog-related searches.

Since blogging is now so prevalent, it’s essential to adhere to some content marketing rules. Listed below are some top rules that every blogger should know and follow:

Know your Audience

How can you be a successful blogger if you don’t truly know your audience? With every blog post it’s essential that you talk directly to your readers, not Google. This maintains reader interest and ensures you are crafting an interesting blog that readers will return to time and time again.

Maintain a Consistent Style

Be consistent throughout your blog posts or social media posts, using the same voice and visual styling (such as bullet points, numbering and paragraphing). Don’t throw your readers with different styles per post. Although it’s good to vary your style slightly now and then, it’s better to stick to a similar formula for each post to maintain consistency. Also, research has proven that readers value consistency.

Reference

Used a quote or resource from somewhere else? Reference it! Referencing is very important as this ensures your readers are supplied with completely accurate information. All content that you create must be accurately referenced and cited, including a link within your blog post. This also gives your posts a bit of substance and shows that you’ve put in plenty of research into the piece.

Meet Deadlines

Although journalism and blogging differ, they are similar in that they both require deadlines to be met. With blogging, your devoted readers expect you to post at the same time of day or week, and if you don’t, you run the risk of losing those followers, who will head towards your competitors in a flash.

Proofread and Edit

Check, check and check again before publishing a post. Once a post goes live don’t sit back and relax; re-read it, scanning for any spelling, grammar or content mistakes.

According to online entrepreneur, Charles Duncombe, a single spelling mistake can slash online sales by 50%, so be sure to go through every single piece of content with a fine-tooth comb. Also, check your statistics to make sure they remain accurate. Statistics are always changing so perhaps you always revise them to be sure they are up to date.