LinkedIn isn’t just a platform for job seekers and professionals; it’s a goldmine for small businesses looking to grow, connect with potential clients, and establish their brand presence. In this fast-paced digital age, a well-optimised LinkedIn profile is no longer optional. It’s a necessity for small business owners looking to gain a competitive edge and capture the power of professional networking.
Since LinkedIn is essentially a search engine for professionals, LinkedIn SEO is the key to making your LinkedIn business page and posts easier to find in searches. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of optimising your LinkedIn profile and provide you with practical ways to do it. Whether you’re new to the platform or you have an existing profile in need of a revamp, these tips will help you make the most of your LinkedIn presence.
What is LinkedIn SEO?
LinkedIn SEO or search engine optimisation, is the process of optimising your LinkedIn business account to increase its visibility in search results on the platform. It involves strategically using relevant keywords in your profile, such as your tagline, about section, business profile and posted content, to improve the chances of your profile appearing when users search for specific terms. A well-optimised LinkedIn company page can enhance your chances of being discovered by potential clients and connections making it an essential element for professional branding.
What are the Benefits of SEO on LinkedIn for Small Businesses?
There are many good reasons why small businesses should optimise their LinkedIn business profiles. Here are a few of the benefits of having an optimised LinkedIn account.
Enhanced Brand Visibility
LinkedIn boasts over 950 million members in 200 countries worldwide, making it one of the most significant professional networks globally. By optimising your business page, you increase your brand’s visibility and reach a vast audience of potential customers and partners. According to LinkedIn, small businesses with complete profiles get 30% more weekly views.
Effective Networking
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking. An optimised profile enables you to connect with potential clients and top talent in your industry. Building a robust professional network can open doors to collaboration, referrals and business opportunities that you may not find elsewhere.
Gain Authority in Your Niche
Positioning yourself and your business as a thought leader in your industry can significantly boost your credibility. Sharing insightful content, engaging with discussions and demonstrating expertise through your profile can help you establish authority and trust among your connections.
LinkedIn Lead Generation
Optimising your LinkedIn profile can turn it into a lead-generation machine for your small business. It provides another platform to showcase your products or services, share client success stories and attract potential customers who are actively looking for the solutions you offer.
How do I Optimise My LinkedIn Business Page?
In just a few steps you can maximise the impact of your LinkedIn company page to attract more traffic and improve your profile’s relevancy in your specific industry.
Add a LinkedIn Profile Picture and Cover Image
Be sure to complete your LinkedIn business page in full by adding links to your website, your company details and good-quality images. Your profile picture is the first impression you make on LinkedIn. Use a professional headshot that clearly shows your face or a high-quality image of your logo. Your LinkedIn cover photo can help your profile stand out and should be a relevant image or banner that conveys your brand’s message. Ideally, your profile picture should be 400 x 400 pixels and should be in JPEG or PNG format. For optimal display, your LinkedIn cover photo size should be 1128 x 191 pixels.
Make Your LinkedIn Tagline and “About” Section Compelling
Your headline or tagline should be more than just your company’s title, it should communicate your unique value. This is also the perfect opportunity to optimise your LinkedIn profile for search by using relevant keywords in your headline and summary sections. Use the “about” section or summary section to tell the story of your small business, share your company’s mission statement, your values and explain what sets you apart.
Use Keyword Optimisation
Conduct keyword research to identify the terms your target audience uses when searching for things related to your business. As well as using keywords to optimise your tagline and profile summary, incorporate keywords naturally in your content.
Make the Most of the LinkedIn “Featured” Section
LinkedIn likes to provide high-quality, meaningful content and the “Featured” section of your LinkedIn profile allows you to showcase your best work. Make the most of this section to share articles, case studies, videos, or any content that highlights your expertise and offerings.
Create an Engaging Content Strategy
Engage your audience with valuable content. Share industry insights, updates about your business and relevant news. Be sure to utilise SEO-friendly content since articles on LinkedIn are crawled by search engines. This means that good-quality, long-form SEO-based content can show up in searches through LinkedIn. Much like other platforms, the LinkedIn algorithm likes videos and since visual content can be especially engaging, be sure to include some in this section.
Start Networking and Connecting
Actively connect with relevant people and companies in your industry. Join LinkedIn groups and participate meaningfully in discussions. Engaging with your connections and groups will increase your profile’s visibility and engagement.
Use LinkedIn Analytics to Measure Your Success
To determine the effectiveness of your LinkedIn SEO, use the built-in analytics to keep an eye on key metrics such as profile views, post engagement and information like how many connections you’ve gained and where they’re from. The insights provided by LinkedIn analytics will allow you to refine your strategy and optimise your profile further if necessary.
Need Helpful Social Media Management?
Optimising your LinkedIn profile can be a game changer for your small business that increases your brand’s visibility, makes networking easier and can even help to generate leads. If you need help making your online presence more visible, SEM Consultants are experts who can help you create a winning social media strategy. To find out more about our social media management, call us on 0121 552 6500 or contact our team of professionals online