How to Leverage the Power of LinkedIn for Your Fitness Business
How to Leverage the Power of LinkedIn for Your Fitness Business
Many fitness professionals who run their own business forget to include one powerful social media platform to their online marketing plan. I am talking about LinkedIn, the special social media network for professionals. This is where people find jobs and connect with business partners, suppliers, or clients.
So today I’ll focus on using LinkedIn marketing strategies to help your fitness business grow and find more customers. There is one thing I’d like to start with: LinkedIn is a special sort of social media. First of all, you do not look for followers, but you build connections. There are many rules of netiquette for LinkedIn: you cannot approach just anyone and send them an invite to connect or to join your LinkedIn page.
But enough with what you can’t and shouldn’t do on LinkedIn, let’s focus on what you can and should, instead. LinkedIn is the right place to be if you want to get very specific with targeting. From this point of view, LinkedIn marketing is the king of super-precise targeting. So, here’s what really works for your fitness business promotion on LinkedIn:
1. Post Carefully Curated Content
LinkedIn is not the place to throw links around indiscriminately. When people log in to their accounts, they want to see relevant and valuable content, helpful and actionable information. Keep these aspects in mind before you share a link on LinkedIn:
Is it something a time-poor person would find interesting enough to read?
Does it establish my expertise in my niche?
Does it link back to my website?
Remember that your LinkedIn reputation is more valuable than any other type of social media reputation, so don’t spam, don’t steal content, and don’t annoy people with unrelated and irrelevant links.
2. Target the Right People
Since LinkedIn is a network for professionals, its targeting filters are set accordingly. You can search for people based on the industry they work in, their position in the company, or their interests. For example, if your fitness business targets specifically busy CEOs who want to embrace a healthier lifestyle, you can use both the company position and the interests filter to find potential connections.
3. Build Your Profile Carefully
LinkedIn marketing strategies start with you; more precisely, with your profile page. While the other social media platforms offer a little side box for your profile section, in LinkedIn you have a whole page where you have the freedom to add as much professional and educational information as you wish. One specific section in LinkedIn is dedicated to skills – and what’s even better, your connections can endorse you for them.
To earn more endorsements, start by endorsing people in your network for their skills. As a sign of courtesy, they will endorse you back. Remember this word – courtesy. It is the leading rule of netiquette in LinkedIn.
4. Join Groups and Be Active
LinkedIn groups bring together people with a common interest. From professionals to people who are interested in purchasing products or services, everyone can share useful information, find inspiration and help in LinkedIn groups.
You can also create your own group and then invite your connections to join. Being a group administrator on LinkedIn is really helpful for steering discussions according to your interests and opening up topics of conversations which help you demonstrate your expertise.
One final thought on the topic of LinkedIn marketing: beware of spamming. Posting too many promotional and sales links in groups will get you kicked out and banned from them. You must strive to maintain a good online reputation both for yourself and your fitness business, and build your professional image through helpful, original and up-to-date content.
Dave Hare