Structure provides strength.
9 Tips to Writing
Posts That Get Read on the LinkedIn Publishing Platform
One week ago I gave you advice on why you should use the LinkedIn publishing platform
once you get access to it, and you will get
access to it in the not so distant future
if you don't have access to it today. Whether you're a
content creator, a business, or a professional,
the LinkedIn publishing
platform provides a compelling way for you to get found in, engage with,
and derive business value from LinkedIn. So, now that
you're ready to start blogging on LinkedIn,
here's my recommendation for
writing posts that will get read in the news feeds of your followers.
Note that
this platform was only recently launched, so my advice might change in the
future,
but based on what I see and understand now, these are my
recommendations:
1. Blog for the LinkedIn Demographic
I wrote about this in How to Use the New LinkedIn Publishing Platform, but this will
be the most challenging concept for businesses to understand. I believe that
your content should be unique to LinkedIn and geared towards the LinkedIn
demographic. If you just want to copy and paste your blog post, I don't think
you're going to be as effective on LinkedIn as you could be - and I think at
some point you might get hurt by Google's and/or LinkedIn's algorithm(s).
Companies that excel at social media marketing target their content and voice
towards each unique community in social media.
You should as well. Look at it
another way:
For most professionals who don't have a personal website,
LinkedIn
IS their website and the new publishing platform WILL become their blog.
You will have to compete with them for readership in the
not-too-distant future.
2. Watch Your Frequency
Every social network plays around with their news feed or
timeline and thus have an algorithm similar to Facebook Edgerank. LinkedIn is no different. LinkedIn has to
decide what posts to display
on who's network updates, and I would tend to
believe that if you publish too frequently,
that might be hurting your chances for maximum
impressions for each post.
Just look at the LinkedIn Influencers: They're not
publishing on a daily basis, are they?
With that in mind, I myself only plan to start publishing
on a weekly basis,
and I would recommend that you keep that to your
approximate maximum as well. As I said
3. Don't Underestimate the Power of the Visual
Visuals show up prominently in the LinkedIn newsfeed as
they do everywhere else.
Make sure that you use a visual at the top of your blog
post that resonates
with the professional demographic that make up LinkedIn.
4. Headlines are Critical
Time is short, and while your content might go out into
the LinkedIn network updates,
that's only half off the battle: Your headline must be
short, concise, and give professionals
a reason to click through. A look at the most popular
headlines of Influencer posts
will give you and idea of some great headlines that you can try to
emulate for success.
5. Keep Your Post Short
My posts are on the long side (this one is around 1,050
words), but your posts don't need to be.
My rule of thumb would be to make your post at least 300
words,
but there is no reason why you have to blog longer than 1,000 words here
on LinkedIn.
Once again, I believe that for professionals where time
is money, many simply don't have the time
to read through a longer post. Keep it short and simple
when possible.
6. Link with Love
Just as you should update your LinkedIn profile with
visual elements to showcase your work
and content across the web, you should also do so here
when you blog on LinkedIn.
I wouldn't overdo it, and I would definitely make it look
natural and organic,
but linking to provide a greater resource is an absolute
best practice in blogging anywhere.
"Link with Love" is also about recognizing
other authors of content that you can link to
if they influenced you, or marketing partners if you did
something with them that is relevant
to your post (see 9. below).
7. Share Your Post Inside AND Outside LinkedIn
If you want to get your content read on LinkedIn, don't
just share it on LinkedIn:
Share it everywhere you can! Other social networking
sites and your email newsletter
are a great start. And, while I don't recommend you
creating a blog post and summarizing it
on the LinkedIn publishing platform, I do recommend
creating a LinkedIn publisher post
and then summarizing it on your blog to a link back to
LinkedIn!
8. Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile
Needless to say, every post that you publish might lead people
back to your profile.
If you want to be considered an authority on the subject,
you'd better have an optimized LinkedIn profile!
Here are my most recent collection of LinkedIn profile tips for you to follow.
9. Embed
Right now LinkedIn only provides you the option of
embedding YouTube videos and Slideshare presentations, but if you have one that
is relevant to your post, that can only help in better
engaging with your
audience - and building greater loyalty for your future posts.
While the below YouTube video is not just about the new
LinkedIn publishing platform,
I was on a Google Hangout with Eric Enge from
the leading digital marketing agency today
where I discussed the future of social media in 2014
and why the new LinkedIn Publishing platform changes
everything.
Note: The above was embedded using a custom 600 x 338
size.
Finally, while there might be some things that you can't
embed, I did want to give you a catch
to listen to my latest podcast where
I talk further about understanding the compelling power
of the new LinkedIn publishing platform. You can also
"embed" other things into your posts
in the same way with a link until LinkedIn gives us the
ability to embed more sources of media.
Now it's your turn: What other advice would you give to
write posts that get read on LinkedIn?
And while we're at it, what else would you like to see me
blog about here on LinkedIn?
Finally, make sure you don't miss my future posts
and please follow me here on LinkedIn
even if we're already connected. Thank you!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140313210407-235001-9-tips-to-writing-posts-that-get-read-on-the-linkedin-publishing-platform
Introduction
to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
Emotions
when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube
Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?
Perhaps you’d
like to check out my sister blogs:
www.innermindworking.blogspot.com
gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life
www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com which takes
advantage of the experience and expertise of others.
www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com just for fun.
To quote the
Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that
you learn; the more places you'll go.”
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Your opinions, experience and questions are welcome. M'reen