When it comes to social media that’s geared toward the business world, LinkedIn is a working professional’s one-stop networking shop. With business networking at its heart, it’s no wonder that an array of business professionals use LinkedIn everyday to make important connections that help their companies grow.

So, what are some ways you can use LinkedIn to help promote your company, make lifelong connections, and build your business?

Make Your Profile Count

First impressions go a long way in the business world and the same is true for the world of LinkedIn too. So, take time to create a compelling and professional profile that truly speaks to your business. Your LinkedIn profile is the first thing visitors see when they land on your page, so don’t waste a golden opportunity to impress.

In addition, LinkedIn and SEO are essentially online business partners, which makes your profile that much more important. Why? Because LinkedIn is highly search engine optimized, so every time someone searches you or your LinkedIn business page, your profile is the first thing they see in the search results.

Get Your Heading and Title Right

If you don’t represent yourself in the most straightforward way possible, your business is going to have trouble growing. LinkedIn puts a lot of emphasis on your professional heading and title, so make sure the two elements work together to represent you and your business aspirations in the most complimentary way

In other words, skip the fancy corporate jargon and let visitors know exactly what it is you do. If you’re a digital marketing consultant, that’s all you have to say in the heading. Elaboration is fine and perfectly acceptable in the title, which is where you’ll tell others you’re also a social media expert and small business marketer.

Recommendations go a Long Way

Not only do recommendations prove to others that your business is a reputable one, they also directly help your LinkedIn presence grow. And, the best way to gather a strong backing of recommendations is to simply ask for them. But, with asking comes some technique, common sense, and a little LinkedIn business etiquette.

For recommendations, make sure you tailor your recommendation request to each person specifically and don’t ask for requests from LinkedIn subscribers that can’t directly speak to your work ethic. Likewise, recommending others in return is a great way to keep the mutually beneficial business cycle that’s LinkedIn going.

Make Worthwhile Connections

Making connections for connection sake will get you nowhere fast in the LinkedIn business world, so try to make business connections that count. LinkedIn includes a “People You May Already Know” tool that’s great for making meaningful connections, but use it sparingly and do a little research on your own.

Likewise, it’s important to keep up with the LinkedIn contacts you already have by updating your contact page and consistently updating your business page as well. Once your LinkedIn connections increase, you’ll have to search for laptop deals because your business will grow so fast you’ll need computers for all your new employees.

Get Your Employees Involved

Speaking of new employees, getting your business’s employees involved with LinkedIn is an effective way for your company to grow. Not only does it show the LinkedIn business world that your company is legitimate and successful, it also increases the exposure of your business.

Just keep in mind that your employees should follow the same profile protocol as your business itself. Make sure the titles, headings, and even profile pictures of your employees speak to the caliber of your business. And, while you’re at it, encourage employees to make their own connections to better everyone’s LinkedIn presence.

Join and Create Groups

Although LinkedIn is for the business-minded world, within LinkedIn are specific business groups for certain areas of focus within the business arena. And, joining a LinkedIn group is an effective way to build your business and its authority by making relevant, thought-provoking comments on discussion postings.

Likewise, taking the time to create your own business group will skyrocket your LinkedIn presence. Not only does it give your business the opportunity to start relevant discussions on topics important to your brand, it gives other like-minded connections the opportunity to join a specific business group that might otherwise not exist.

LinkedIn is a great tool for building your personal and professional world, so follow some of the tips above, keep making connections, and watch your business grow.

Do you already use LinkedIn and have other tips? Leave a comment below.