Blogging has been a super powerful tool for me as part of my overall networking strategy. I do plenty of in person networking (as a board member of FDMA). But I much prefer the new fangled way. So here, take these steps. And Shhh, don’t tell anybody about this, ok?
1. Link your blog to your Linkedin (LI) profile page (very easy to do with WordPress)
2. Join as many Linkedin groups as you can (50 is max). Try to join groups that compliment your skills. For instance: I am a direct marketing consultant. I belong to many direct marketing groups. But, graphic designers can also recommend my services, so i belong to a graphic design group. Get the picture?
3. Use the LI “news” feature in groups to add your blog posts as news.
4. Use the discussions to add value to groups you belong to and always add your blog’s url.
5. When I started my blog, I used the Q&A function of (LI) to ask people to check out my blog and tell me what they thing.
6. Also in LI Q&A, answer questions that you have a good feel for (and always add your blog URL.
7. Back to your LI profile page. you have 3 links you can add. I have my blog, my Twitter feed and my Magazine column with links. 8. Regarding blog content, I write and post articles that add value to my intended audience. (people who could use my direct marketing agency/consulting services). Don’t post garbage or fluff.
8A. Make sure your blog has RSS and it is in a prominent position on all pages. People will subscribe your your blog.
9. Tweet your articles when you post them. use the Status feature of LI to update people on your articles.
9A. Send your posts out to your facebook connections. And join facebook groups and push out there too.
10. I also am a member of Plaxo (good for pushing articles to your connections), Biznik (can post articles there too, but without links back to your blog which pisses me off to no end)
11. Lastly, and someone else can address this. Use feeds to get your blog out there like Technorati, Delicious, etc.
Wow, I gave away the farm here. Final thought. Blogging and promoting your blog is a “give-to-get” thing. The more you give away your expertise, the more you get back.
Filed under: direct marketing, direct marketing consultant Tagged: | business networking, direct marketing, direct marketing consultant, Entrepreneurship, Gilbert Direct Marketing, Jim Gilbert, promoting yourself, promoting yourself on linkedin, web 2.0
Very useful tips. Using LinkedIn and Twitting is something I am not used to but I know both are very effective for your blog marketing. How about Pageranks? Great post.
Thank you for the tips, there are so many ways we can optimize our efforts with the internet. I wasn’t aware of the news feed for groups, so thank you for that and some of the other tips!
http://andreacostantine.wordpress.com
This post is very good and very true. I concur completely. Well done. Ryan http://ryansauers.blogspot.com
I also use the “status” areas on LI and Facebook to alert my connections of my recent blog post.
Terrific ideas – I’m adapting some of them for my new non-blog, but user-interactive website!
You’re right, it helps to share expertise.
Jim
Fantastic post. While I don’t share your enthusiasm about social networking vs face to face networking, I do agree with your points (spot on).
Weston Lyon
http://www.westonlyon.com
I will take your advice now…I never thought of connecting my linkedin profile with my wordpress blog. Duh!
Leilani
KCCopywriter.wordpress.com