You now have the ultimate tool to leverage those long-forgotten social connections via old jobs, multiple career changes, or decades-old friendships to fuel a new marketing channel within your company. LinkedIn marketing is one of the most effective ways to use social media marketing. LinkedIn is a professional social network where you should establish a commanding presence and you can accomplish that simply by tapping into resources you already have available to you.

With more than 150 million users since LinkedIn’s inception it now reaches almost every country in the world. Not only does LinkedIn allow you to leverage your extended network to meet new clients, it gives you a great tool to nurture and develop existing client relationships for long-term success.

Related: 5 Powerhouse Tips Your LinkedIn Strategy Is Probably Missing

Here are three tips to help you increase the amount of referrals you generate from LinkedIn:

  • Keep Your Posts Professional. LinkedIn is targeted towards professionals so I would advise against using it to post your weekend fishing trip pictures or a profile picture that is anything beyond a simple, professional headshot. Keep your presence on LinkedIn laid-back but professional and informative.
  • Don’t Forget About Any Connections that have drifted away into obscurity. They could easily be brought back to life with a brief message or some form of attention. We all get caught up in the hustle bustle of work and many people will mean to reach out to you but get sidetracked along the way. Redress those old connections and reach out to people you may have forgotten about that show up in your radius.
  • Add Video To Your LinkedIn Profile. Adding video to your LinkedIn profile is an incredible way to give people a powerful introduction to you through a medium that has been consistently proven to be more effective in marketing. When a prospect has been referred to you and checks out your profile, there is truly no better way tell them they are in the right place than to do it with your own voice. People are more likely to do business with you when they have seen your face and heard your voice because they can more quickly establish if you are someone they believe, like and trust.

Related: 7 Secrets LinkedIn Experts Don't Want To Share

LinkedIn Marketing is all about utilizing resources you already have but forgot about. How many people have you met through out your professional life that you could be connecting with on LinkedIn?

Grab a Free Downloadable Checklist: 21 Steps To Have a Killer LinkedIn Profile

Author's Bio: 

MelonieDodaro, of Top Dog Social Media, is passionate about social media and helps business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals to use social media marketing to boost their visibility, attract new customers and increase their revenue. Dubbed by the media as Canada’s #1 LinkedIn expert and social media strategist, she’s also a regular contributor to several social media and business magazines and is a highly sought after speaker and trainer. To learn more about Melonie visit her web site at http://TopDogSocialMedia.com