With so many platforms to choose from you might be wondering, should you include LinkedIn in your marketing strategy?
With a whopping 774 million users, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. LinkedIn gives you access to a vast audience of professionals, entrepreneurs, and potential clients.
You can spruce up your profile, proudly showcase your side hustle, and engage with like-minded communities and groups. Its content-sharing features are perfect for demonstrating your expertise, sharing valuable insights, and building a dedicated following.
Plus, with LinkedIn’s nifty search and targeted advertising options, you can precisely target your ideal audience.
By leveraging LinkedIn effectively, you can establish yourself as a thought leader, build meaningful relationships, and unlock exciting business opportunities for your side hustle.
So with all that said, in this week’s newsletter, we’ll be diving into LinkedIn and providing you with some strategies to turbocharge the growth of your side hustle. So let’s get to it!
This week’s newsletter brings you:
- Trends – This week we unpack the essential demographics of LinkedIn users.
- Strategies – How do you make your profile stand out from the rest? What’s the best way to grow a large network on LinkedIn? We cover it all in this week’s strategies!
- Tool of the Week – This week we bring you a tool that will allow you to easily analyze the analytics of your LinkedIn profile!
Trends
To begin, let’s take a quick look at the essential demographics of LinkedIn users. This info will help you to determine whether or not your target market is likely to be hanging out on LinkedIn.
Countries with the most LinkedIn users
Based on the advertising audience reach numbers published in LinkedIn’s self-service tools in April 2023, the latest data show that: the United States of America has by far the most registered LinkedIn members, with at least 200.0 million. That is followed by India with at least 100.0 million LinkedIn registered members.
So if you’re targeting an American or Indian market, LinkedIn could be the platform for you!
LinkedIn’s advertising reach
Side hustlers could reach 922.3 million users with LinkedIn ads in April 2023, making it one of the world’s largest social media platforms.
The total number of members you can reach with LinkedIn ads increased by roughly 22 million (+2.5%) in the three months leading up to April 2023. These latest figures indicate that roughly 11.5% of all the people on Earth have a LinkedIn account today! That’s a lot of eyeballs on your products or services!
LinkedIn’s users (by age and gender)
Based on the latest available data, members aged 25 to 34 account for the largest share of LinkedIn’s advertising audience. So if you’re targeting a market in this age bracket, chances are you’ll find them on LinkedIn!
Strategies
With the facts and figures out of the way, it’s time to jump into strategies! But before we do, let’s answer an essential question first: Is LinkedIn the right platform for marketing your side hustle?
Is LinkedIn the right platform for marketing your side hustle?
LinkedIn is a social media platform primarily focused on professional networking and career development. It caters to a business-oriented audience, making it an ideal platform for certain kinds of side hustles. Here are some side hustles that can particularly benefit from marketing on LinkedIn:
- Freelancing: LinkedIn is a great platform for freelancers to showcase their skills and expertise.
- Consulting and Coaching: If you offer consulting services or coaching in a specific field, LinkedIn can be a valuable platform for building your personal brand and attracting clients.
- Online Courses and Training: With LinkedIn Learning, you can host your courses directly on the platform. By leveraging LinkedIn’s professional network, you can target individuals seeking to upskill or advance their careers.
- E-commerce and Dropshipping: If you have an e-commerce business or operate in the dropshipping space, LinkedIn can help you connect with potential business partners, suppliers, or even customers.
- Professional Services: You can establish yourself as a thought leader by sharing valuable insights, participating in relevant conversations, and leveraging your network.
- Content Creation and Influencer Marketing: If you’re a content creator, blogger, or influencer, LinkedIn can serve as an additional platform to share your content and grow your audience.
Remember, regardless of the side hustle, it’s essential to create a strong and professional LinkedIn profile, engage with relevant communities, share valuable content, and network strategically to maximize the benefits of marketing on the platform.
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is key to making a great first impression. But how do you do it? Firstly, choose a professional profile picture that shows you in a positive and approachable light. This helps create a friendly and welcoming impression for visitors to your profile.
Next, focus on crafting a compelling headline and summary. Grab attention by highlighting your side hustle and what makes it special. Share a bit of your story and showcase your passion. Remember, you want to make people curious and eager to learn more about your side hustle.
When it comes to the experience section, make sure to highlight your side hustle prominently. Share details about what you do, your achievements, and the skills you’ve developed. This section is a great opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and the value you bring.
Don’t forget to sprinkle relevant keywords throughout your profile. These words and phrases are important because they make it easier for others to find you when they’re searching for specific skills or services. Be strategic and use keywords that are relevant to your side hustle.
By optimizing your LinkedIn profile in these ways, you’ll make it more appealing and discoverable to potential clients or customers. It’s all about creating a welcoming and engaging profile that stands out from the crowd and showcases the value of your side hustle.
Building a relevant network
Building a relevant network on LinkedIn is essential for the success of your side hustle! After all, if no one in your network is interested in your products or services, how will you grow? It’s important to focus on the following aspects when building a network:
- Identifying and connecting with potential clients or customers.
- Engaging with industry-specific groups and communities.
- Leveraging LinkedIn’s advanced search feature to find professionals in your target market.
- Building strategic relationships with influencers and thought leaders in your industry.
Let’s explore these points in a bit more detail.
When building your network, start by identifying and connecting with potential clients or customers. Search for individuals or companies in your target market and send personalized connection requests. Engage with their content, show genuine interest, and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
Next, you’ll want to actively participate in industry-specific groups and communities. Join relevant LinkedIn groups where your target audience is likely to be present. Contribute to discussions, share valuable insights, and establish yourself as a knowledgeable and helpful resource. Engaging with these communities helps you build relationships and expand your network.
Thirdly, take advantage of LinkedIn’s advanced search feature. Utilize specific filters to find professionals based on industry, job title, location, or other relevant criteria. This feature allows you to identify and connect with individuals who align with your side hustle’s target audience or who can provide valuable insights and opportunities.
Lastly, focus on building strategic relationships with influencers and thought leaders in your industry. Engage with their content, leave thoughtful comments, and share their insights. Building rapport with these key individuals can help you gain visibility, access new networks, and potentially collaborate on projects or promotions.
By actively building a relevant network on LinkedIn, you expand your reach, increase opportunities for collaboration, and establish credibility within your industry. It’s all about connecting with the right people, engaging in meaningful conversations, and nurturing relationships that can support the growth of your side hustle.
Creating engaging content
Creating engaging content is a crucial aspect of marketing your side hustle on LinkedIn!
LinkedIn is a platform where professionals come to connect, learn, and stay informed. By creating and sharing valuable content, you position yourself as an expert in your field and build credibility among your target audience.
Content marketing allows you to showcase your knowledge, establish thought leadership, and attract the attention of potential clients or customers.
By sharing valuable insights, tips, and resources related to your side hustle you’ll engage your LinkedIn audience. Consider the pain points, challenges, and questions that your target audience may have and create content that addresses those needs.
Share practical tips, industry trends, and relevant resources that provide value to your audience. This positions you as a helpful resource and builds trust, encouraging people to engage with your content and seek out your side hustle.
Here are some examples of content you might share on LinkedIn if you had a side hustle as a business consultant:
- Thought Leadership Article: Write an article sharing your expertise on a specific topic related to business consulting. For example, “The Art of Effective Business Strategy: Key Steps for Success.”
- Quick Tips and Tricks: Share bite-sized tips and tricks that entrepreneurs can implement to improve their businesses. For instance, “🚀 Quick Tip: Boost Your Sales Conversion Rate with Persuasive Copywriting Techniques.”
- Case Studies: Highlight a success story where your business consulting services made a significant impact on a client’s business. Describe the challenges they faced, the strategies implemented, and the positive outcomes achieved.
- Video Tutorials: Create short video tutorials offering practical advice or demonstrating useful business techniques. For example, “Mastering the Art of Negotiation in Business.”
- Infographics: Design visually appealing infographics that present key statistics, trends, or tips related to business consulting. For instance, “📊 Infographic: 5 Steps to Effective Strategic Planning for Business Growth.”
- Industry Insights: Share your insights on the latest trends, challenges, or opportunities within the business consulting industry. Offer your unique perspective on topics like digital transformation, remote work strategies, or sustainability.
- Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions: Host live or recorded sessions where you invite your LinkedIn connections to ask questions about business consulting. Answer their queries and provide valuable insights during the session.
- Recommended Resources: Share books, podcasts, online courses, or other resources that can help entrepreneurs enhance their business skills and knowledge.
- Success Stories/Testimonials: Feature testimonials or success stories from clients who have benefited from your business consulting services. Highlight the positive impact you’ve made on their businesses.
- Engage in Discussions: Participate actively in industry-specific groups or LinkedIn posts related to business consulting. Share your expertise, engage in meaningful conversations, and offer valuable insights to establish yourself as a thought leader.
See, the options are endless!
By sharing a mix of informative, engaging, and educational content, you can attract attention, build credibility, and ultimately attract potential clients to your side hustle.
Leveraging LinkedIn’s features
Here’s how you can make the most of LinkedIn’s features:
Showcasing your side hustle through LinkedIn Showcase Pages
Create a dedicated Showcase Page for your side hustle. This allows you to highlight specific products, services, or initiatives. Customize the page with compelling visuals, informative descriptions, and engaging updates to capture the attention of your target audience.
Utilizing LinkedIn’s publishing platform to reach a wider audience
Take advantage of LinkedIn’s publishing platform, also known as LinkedIn Articles. Write and publish high-quality articles that share your expertise, insights, and valuable content related to your side hustle. This helps you establish thought leadership, attract a wider audience, and drive engagement with your content.
Engaging with your network through LinkedIn Groups and Events
Join relevant LinkedIn Groups and actively participate in discussions. Share your expertise, offer valuable insights, and engage with group members. This helps you build relationships, expand your network, and showcase your side hustle to a targeted audience. Additionally, explore LinkedIn Events to discover virtual or in-person events related to your industry. Attend and network with professionals who can potentially become clients or collaborators.
Leveraging LinkedIn Ads for targeted marketing campaigns
Consider utilizing LinkedIn Ads to create targeted marketing campaigns. With LinkedIn’s comprehensive targeting options, you can reach specific industries, job titles, locations, or even retarget website visitors. Craft compelling ad content that showcases the unique value of your side hustle and drives conversions.
Tracking and measuring results
Tracking and analyzing results is crucial to gauge the effectiveness of your LinkedIn marketing efforts. Here’s how you can do it:
Using LinkedIn’s analytics tools to measure your marketing efforts: LinkedIn provides robust analytics tools that offer valuable insights into your profile’s performance. Utilize these tools to access data such as impressions, clicks, and engagement metrics.
They provide an overview of how your content and profile are performing and help you make informed decisions based on the data.
Tracking key metrics such as profile views, engagement, and lead generation: Monitor important metrics to assess the impact of your LinkedIn marketing. Keep an eye on profile views to gauge the visibility of your profile.
Track engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares to understand the level of audience interaction with your content. Additionally, measure lead generation metrics, such as inquiries or conversions originating from LinkedIn, to determine the effectiveness of your marketing in driving business opportunities.
Identifying successful strategies and making data-driven adjustments: Analyze the data and identify trends and patterns that correlate with positive outcomes. Identify content or strategies that have generated higher engagement or lead generation.
Determine what resonates best with your audience and replicate those successful approaches. On the other hand, if certain strategies or content are not yielding desired results, consider adjusting or discontinuing them based on the data insights.
Tool of the Week
Iconosquare has recently added an amazing feature: LinkedIn page analytics! Now, you can dive into the nitty-gritty details of your LinkedIn page’s performance, including reach, engagement, and impressions. It’s like having your very own data detective!
So, if you’re looking to up your LinkedIn game, Iconosquare has got your back. Dive into the data, measure your success, and make your LinkedIn presence known!
