On all social media platforms content is KING! Here we’ve compiled our top tips on writing content for LinkedIn that will not only inspire your following but also allow you to become an authority figure on the most popular professional platform around.
Understanding how to create content when utilising social media platforms is important. LinkedIn is no different. Content should be entertaining, interesting, informative and a mix of different mediums – think text, videos, and images. It’s all about grabbing your follower’s attention and providing information in a fun yet educational way. Like other social media platforms, competition is rife. Standing out from the crowd is important, but the great news is it just takes a little creative energy and thinking ‘outside-the-box’ to create engaging content that is sure to get you plenty of likes and following from your intended audience.
Get Planning
It is a good idea to plan ahead when it comes to your LinkedIn content. Coming up with a strong content strategy outline that contains a good mixture of substance is a great place to start. The key is to make it visual so you can see what you need to create, research and investigate easily. There are plenty of online tools you can utilise, or using a pinboard can work perfectly, too. Get creative, inspired, and organised!
It’s important to remember that not all your followers will like all the same content. It’s about spreading the net as far as possible and considering different needs and visual components. Having a good mix of long and short videos alongside images and subject matters will keep you interesting and pleasing to different demographics and personal preferences for gaining information.
Use you analytics to help understand what’s working and what’s not. Analytics are a wonderful tool to help with your next content strategy round, as you’ll have a much better understanding of what your audience is engaging with. When considering content, it needs to be relevant to your product/services/industry. Find your niche, and consider what types of emotional, problem solving, interesting material you can build around this. LinkedIn users love to learn, be inspired, and be educated!
It’s also recommended that you do your research before you start developing your content schedule. It is easy to gauge what people want to know and what types of information and topics are currently trending around the globe. This will allow you to better understand what your audience wants to read or learn about. Consider developing content that is in high demand but isn’t flooded on the platform. Find those topics that people want to know about, but the information is in short demand. This is sure to have you seeing immediate results.
Also, plan the times you wish to post. This can be early morning, lunchtime, or early evenings (think about the times that businesspeople tend to take a break). There is also an additional popular time between 10 am and 11 am on Tuesdays. However, like with all business – what fits one will not fit all. Test and analyse when you get the best results. This will allow you to determine when the perfect time to post is, regarding your own content results.
Consistency is also key. It’s important to stay relevant and post at least three times per week if you can. This will keep your content consecutively being shown to those that matter the most. Some LinkedIn experts suggest posting once per weekday; however, it is proven that at least three times per week is a good rule to play by.
Get Engaging!
LinkedIn is not just about creating wonderful content that people want to look at. Engagement is also high on the priority list. It’s imperative that you engage and respond to all comments, questions, and messages in a timely fashion.
This is also true with those you follow. It’s all about the A-WORD – Algorithms! LinkedIn loves their community to be active, so like developing good content and getting others to engage with that content, the platform also expects you to return the favour. It rewards activity so do not be afraid to engage on other posts.
PLUS: it allows your connections to know you are there for more than just being nosey. Adding your thoughts in comments gives you the edge and allows your network to know you appreciate their hard work for their content. It will also help with personal engagement options, as they will know who you are. Social media is just that – being social. With LinkedIn, it’s being social in a professional atmosphere with those businesses who are aligned with your network.
BE PASSIONATE!
Don’t be fooled – LinkedIn may be professional but it also about inspiring people, generating conversations, and showcasing your passion. Ensure the things you share and create are focused on your enthusiasm – that will in turn evoke passion in others.
Headlines & Subtitles
Remember that up to 90% of users will be watching video content with the sound off. Your LinkedIn viewers need to know what the person is saying without the audio. Most users will click off if there are no subtitles. Also, consider your headline. Let’s face it the first few words will either grab your audience into wanting to know more, or they’ll just keep scrolling. It’s important to introduce your topic and make sure you’re grabbing your audience’s attention immediately.
With all content for LinkedIn, it’s important to be yourself and authentic. The more you can showcase who ‘you’ are, your likes, your passion the more likely people will be to interact and connect with you. Negative impressions are easily given when you try and be false or misleading. So be yourself.
With the right planning, understanding, and interaction you can create the perfect LinkedIn content strategy that will have you gaining more connections and engaging with those who inspire you the most.
