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You’ve probably heard about LinkedIn’s stats. At least a few of them.

  • Every day, millions of posts, videos and articles course through the LinkedIn feed, generating tens of thousands of comments every hour — and tens of millions more shares and likes.

  • Messages sent has increased 35% year over year.

  • Weekly members who engage heavily with content are 5x more likely to return daily. 

All the stats shared online, quoted in your sales and marketing meetings, and thrown around during conferences are meant to grab your attention and inspire you to action. 

But they don’t. 

Why?

What Does LinkedIn Do?

For more than nine years, I’ve been evangelizing the value of LinkedIn not because I didn’t have anything else to do; instead, I saw early on the immense opportunity of building a network, gaining access, and creating a niche business that adds insight and advantage to others.

I found that the best way to increase my business was by nurturing close and warm connections. 

Is LinkedIn Social Media?

At Intero, we’ve had the good fortune to be early adopters in “social media.” I cringe a bit as I write that because I don’t view LinkedIn as social media. To me, LinkedIn is a business tool. Our tagline is “It’s business, not social,” and it means something.

I prefer business-social media. 

There is NO better place than LinkedIn if you’re a business that does business with other companies. In other words, if you’re a person and you do business with people, LinkedIn should be of supreme interest to you.

I probably blew it the other day when I told a client that I would never hire a salesperson who had no knowledge of or interest in LinkedIn. I’m sure they were offended; it was the truth.

It’s not just salespeople.

I wouldn’t hire an HR person, recruiter, or marketing professional who didn’t have a good network, and understand how to attract candidates, know about talent branding and employee advocacy.

If everything else about them was amazing, and LinkedIn was their weakness, I would consider them based on their open-mindedness and willingness to learn LinkedIn quickly. Yes, for me it could be a deal-breaker.

LinkedIn launched in 2002 and was purchased by Microsoft in 2016 and has continued to grow steadily. Could everyone else be wrong? Could Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, not know something you do?

I want you to see the opportunity.

I really do.

The crazy part is that while I want you to see the opportunity and join in, you may be too late. 

Yep, I said it. 

Why?

It’s nosier, more saturated, and what worked last year for a newbie may not work today.

Because suddenly you care, it doesn’t mean anyone you want to connect with will care.

Oh, don’t let this post validate you not paying attention; instead, let it level set your expectations. 

The Way I See It, You Have Some LinkedIn Options.

  • Stay away, not care, and render yourself obsolete.

  • Learn on your own. 

  • Work with a team of professionals who practice what they teach and have guided their clients to increased revenue and better talent.

  • Join us this year as we launch Group Coaching through in:side. It’s our best value and allows you access to our team in a variety of ways.

  • Join in:side today and join our weekly Group Coaching

in:side Weekly LinkedIn Group Coaching

  • Week 1: Always a How-To Training | January: Mindset, Settings & Privacy and Your Home Page

  • Week 2: Q+A
  • Week 3: Strategy

  • Week 4: Accountability + Success

As an in:side member, you will receive a link to Zoom, that’s where I will lead our coaching sessions. Each session will be recorded and posted in the Group Coaching section of in:side for replay. 

What are you waiting for?

No really, stop procrastinating and learn with us.

See you on the in:side.

Source: LinkedIn stats