I continue to field questions about which of the social media platforms are best for B2B versus B2C. I got an answer this week from one of the well-respected social media voices--Hubspot--based on their latest research. Here is how things turned out. 

 

Customer Acq B2B B2C resized 600  

 

These results confirm what I have been sharing for several years based both on my gut feel and conversations I have been having: LinkedIn is the King of the Hill for B2B, but Facebook holds the top spot for B2C. This should help focus both your time and effort in this ever-changing world of social media.

 

You might want to download your own copy of the full research report "The State of Inbound Marketing 2011."  These guys are really smart.

 

Speaking of smart, I think you are going to really love this week's tips and helps that should help you get smarter in your Linkedin efforts.

 

Beginner Tip

The research I have done recently on how people are using LinkedIn has revealed some very interesting results that I will share with you in the upcoming weeks. One that really stands out is that the #1 use of LinkedIn is the Advanced People Search, which isn't really surprising. 

However, what is surprising is the large amount of people who said they don't know what saved searches are or they haven't found a use for saved searches. This rockin' tool takes a search and automates it on a going-forward basis. Using this tool is a piece of cake. So, all I can think of is that people do not know how to use it. 

Simply put, once you find a search that worked well, you click on "Save," which is up at the top of the screen next to the number of results in your search. Once you save the search, you tell the program how often you want to receive an email from LinkedIn to notify you when anyone (first, second, third degree or Groups) gets added to your network with those keywords. This can be either weekly or monthly. 

It is hard to believe it actually tells you when a new person enters your network whom you may want to know. Would you like it to make the phone call for you as well? Just kidding. Ya gotta use this! You can save three searches at any one time on the LinkedIn free account.

Advanced Strategy Help

I want to start this advanced strategy help by asking you this question:

 

Does your LinkedIn profile feel more like a resume or a business plan?

 

I would bet most of you answered "resume."  If so, I would like you to consider the next question:

 

If you had a limited amount of time, say just a couple of minutes, with a person with whom you may want to build a future business relationship, would you spend more time on your past or where you were trying to go? 

 

With these thoughts in mind, I want you to consider the following exercise:

  1. Print out your LinkedIn profile
  2. Carefully read through it one time
  3. Cut out just the following three sections and put them in front of you
    • Headline
    • Summary
    • Your most current Job Experience 
Now with these three sections in front of you, go back to my first two questions and see how you would answer them.  

Here is what I am getting at. Your resume is your resume. Your LinkedIn profile, although it has some similarities to your resume, should not be a mirror of that document but more of a forward launching, here is where I am going, I have a plan, and you can join me type of document.  

What I am proposing you do next is to consider changing some of the content in these three sections so that much of it includes concepts, words, and visions of what it is you want to get done in the future and
much less about what you have done.

Isn't this really what you want to accomplish not only with your LinkedIn profile but your entire LinkedIn experience?  

If you would excuse me, I have some pressing work to do on my profile...