LinkedIn Strategies to Make Yourself Recession Proof
Winter is Coming
Today’s blog post topic is for the business owners worried about the health of their brand as we come upon another recession in the United States. Inflation is hitting us at the grocery store, gas pump, and in the housing sector; and you may be hearing whispers from previous or current clients that they plan on being a bit more mindful of the budget when it comes to the services or products you provide. We already recognize social media as an important tool for networking, sales, and staying top of mind with our audiences; and LinkedIn can specifically help you to forge ahead in these areas during difficult economic times.
Build Your Network
Research shows that 70% of jobs aren’t published on websites, and that 80% of jobs are filled through personal and professional relationships. The reality, is that during uncertain times, who you know MATTERS. More importantly, who knows you and who has a personal relationship with you matters. The economy will always be up and down, but your network exists as long as you’re alive. Investing time, energy and strategy into developing a world-class network will help you weather the storm in any economy.
Do This, Not That
There are a couple things people get wrong when it comes to networking:
They make it about themselves. How many times have you deleted cold LinkedIn messages asking you for a favor or to do something? It’s okay to want folks to check out your website or have a conversation with you, but keep these three things in mind when reaching out:
Make it all about the other person. Lead with as much value as possible. Be genuinely curious about whatever the person’s up to, what projects are exciting them, and what plans they have for the next stage of their career. Really think about how you can add value to them FIRST.
Keep in touch between your “asks". Nobody likes the person who only reaches out when they need something —and it never really feels good. Instead of only reaching out to someone when you have a new service to promote or are looking for a job, make sure you keep in touch between those times as well to build a quality relationship. Wish them a happy birthday. Check in to see how they’re doing. Cheer them on in social media when they have something they’re announcing. These checkpoints can go a long way. And then when you ask for your favor, it will feel more well-intentioned and earned, because it IS more well-intentioned and earned.
Lead with emotion. In business we hear a lot about keeping emotions out of it. But people too often take a robotic approach to relationship building; and the truth is, it just doesn’t work like that. Don’t make the relationship transactional. Lead with as much love and appreciation, and communicate with them in a way that you would like to be communicated with.
They only network within their industry. Naturally when you think about networking, you may think about the mixers and conferences within your industry - i.e. a graphic designer going to a design conference. These are great ways to connect with peers and to learn more about what’s going on within your industry; however, you may be missing out on actual potential customers. Try industry adjacent networking to be in the places where you may meet the marketers, business owners, etc. who NEED your services. Get creative, and put industry adjacent networking to good use. Remember, it always comes back to being genuine in your networking efforts.
LinkedIn is the Way
Now, you can network across social media, meetup, conferences, etc. But LinkedIn is one of the most powerful networks for professional networking where you can use the above pointers to truly level up your network and gain more opportunities for yourself and brand. If you’re not sure where to start with LinkedIn or if your page has been hibernating and inactive, we encourage you to reach out for consulting that will take you step by step through developing your objectives, optimizing your profile, and connecting with others in a mutually beneficial way.