Even though you are in the financial services industry, you might be surprised to find that LinkedIn offers a number of important benefits. If you are not actively participating in this important platform, you could be missing a large number of prospective contacts and the opportunity to open doors and make more connections.
LinkedIn Is Not Your Kid’s Facebook
LinkedIn is actually much different than the social media platforms you’re familiar with. Unlike sites like Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn is a professional platform rather than a social platform. Consequently, it can provide financial services professionals with the chance to connect with one another as well as make and receive referrals, recommendations, and introductions. While you could certainly do that on your own without the use of a site like LinkedIn, what is truly amazing about this site is how extensive it has become. When used strategically, LinkedIn can provide financial professionals with the ability to make qualified connections.
When you are ready to engage others specifically involved in the financial services sector, LinkedIn is the best place to do so. One of the best ways to get started with LinkedIn is to begin by building a network through your existing contacts. Even if you are just getting started with LinkedIn, you might be surprised to find how many of your contacts are already actively involved on this site.
LinkedIn Groups For Financial Services Providers
By participating in the professional groups on LinkedIn, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to position yourself as a Subject Matter Expert, a Thought Leader. In the financial services industry, we all know how important it is to find potential leads. Not only do you need to find leads, but you also need to make certain that those leads are highly targeted and qualified. Participating in generic online sites is somewhat akin to shooting in the dark. You simply never know what you are going to hit.
The great thing about LinkedIn is that it allows you to specifically hone in on professional groups with a focus on the financial services industry and people who are looking for the services you provide. Only the serious come to LinkedIn. By participating in LinkedIn, you gain the confidence in knowing you will be interacting with others who are of a like mindset and who are truly interested in your services. The ability to position yourself as an expert in your particular niche within the financial services industry will also help you to gain broader exposure and thus solidify your credibility within the industry.
