Grow your small business with LinkedIn by using these seven proven tactics. There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, but only half of them will make it past five years. To ensure your small business is in the successful half, we encourage you to capitalize on the various ways LinkedIn can evolve your business. With LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, you can generate leads, produce sales, and hire top professionals to fuel your growth. Here are seven ways to grow your business using LinkedIn: 1. Create a LinkedIn Company Page We’ve found that LinkedIn members are 50% more likely to buy once they’ve engaged with your business on LinkedIn. But they can’t connect with you if you don’t have a LinkedIn Company Page. According to Forbes, only 57% of companies have pages. The remaining 43% are missing out on a free opportunity to generate leads, talent, and, ultimately, revenue. If you don’t already have one, create a LinkedIn Company Page. Personal profiles don’t have the same marketing, advertising, and recruiting features as Company Pages, making them less effective at promoting your business. As you create your page, think about the kind of impression you want to create among potential customers and employees. This will help you select the right photos and messages to use on your page. For a step-by-step guide on how to create an above and beyond Company Page, view our LinkedIn Company Page Best Practices. 2. Promote Your Company Page Once you have a Company Page, announce it to your clients, employees, and personal network. This will help you gain your first followers, who in turn will help to promote your Company Page on the content you post to it. Promoting your page on other platforms or via email is also a great way to grow your audience. Here are some simple ways to get the word out: ● Announce the launch of the Company Page on your personal LinkedIn profile ● Encourage employees to follow the Company Page by making it a part of your onboarding process—Social Media Today reports that content shared by employees receives eight times the engagement as brand shared content ● Link to your Company Page in the footer of your marketing emails or newsletters ● Embed a Company Follow button onto your website so visitors can easily follow your LinkedIn Company Page 3. Share Content Regularly The more you post, the more people you can potentially reach and convert. Best-in-class LinkedIn Company Pages are consistently updated to ensure that visitors have plenty of new content to consume and share. To get started, try posting at least once per week. It’s not uncommon for companies to post three or more times per day. Post whenever you have something worth saying. Posting consistently shows Company Page visitors that your company is active on LinkedIn. Use LinkedIn’s Company Page analytics to see your top performing updates, your best times to post, and which members of your audience are the most engaged. With this information, it’s easy to make data-driven decisions to optimize your Company Page content. In addition to posting often, here are a few more stats to help you boost engagement: ● Posts with links receive up to 45% more engagement ● Images see an incredible 98% increase in engagement ● Posts that have relevant “best-of” lists get almost 40% more amplification When a post gets good engagement, consider promoting it to a wider audience with LinkedIn Sponsored Content. Take the Sponsored Content Tour and discover how Sponsored Content amplifies your best content. 4. Showcase Thought Leadership Seventy nine percent of buyers say thought leadership is critical for determining which companies they want to learn more about. To get started with thought leadership content, try to provide a unique perspective on your industry, product, or organization. Sharing your opinion on the future of your industry or creating a definitive guide on your product are just two ways to demonstrate your expertise and position your company as a credible partner. For more ideas and advice on expanding your brand’s authority, download our Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide to Thought Leadership to learn more. 5. Target Sales Prospects LinkedIn has over 500 million users to date. That may seem like a lot to sort through, but LinkedIn also provides you with tools to identify and target your ideal audience. LinkedIn members are more likely than other social media users to keep their profiles up-to-date, making it easier for you to find the right people. Use LinkedIn profile data to search for LinkedIn members based on geographic location, education, experience, and even connections. Once you’ve found prospects using the search feature, visit their profiles. Their endorsements or recent profile views might surface additional qualified prospects, too. For more ways to reach your ideal audience, learn how to advertise on LinkedIn. 6. Build an All-Star Team LinkedIn has helped 75% of job switchers make informed career decisions, making LinkedIn a top recruiting network. What are candidates looking for when making those decisions? Our research shows that 66% of candidates want to see company culture over everything else. To take advantage of this preference, consider enhancing your Company Page with a LinkedIn Career Page. Career Pages allow you to target audiences with a personalized look into your company, culture, and jobs. They give you dedicated Life and Jobs Tabs on your Company Page that attract and engage relevant professionals. In addition to creating Career Pages, encourage employees to share job postings and “day in the life” content as well. This gives visitors a genuine idea of what it’s like to work for you and adds to your authenticity. If you have a few employees who lead the pack in sharing content, consider linking them to your Company Page’s Life Tab. Their shared articles and recent updates will automatically populate, providing visitors with up-to-date information. Watch our video below on how to use the Life Tab to attract the right talent for your company. 7. Hire Freelancers
You’ve probably had an employee who took on a task outside of their domain. You might have even done it yourself a few times. While the effort is commendable, learning on the fly can also be detrimental. Fortunately, finding the right talent for the task at hand isn’t as tricky as it once was, even if you can’t afford the salary of a full time employee. LinkedIn ProFinder enables you to post your projects, receive free proposals, and hire trustworthy professionals all in one place. ProFinder will even pair you with local professionals to ensure you have the best freelance experience possible. With 172 professional services available on ProFinder, it’s easy to find the perfect professional for any task. LinkedIn vets all the professionals on the platform to ensure they are qualified and leverages your network to find freelancers your connections have used, so you’re never in the dark about who you’re hiring. By using freelancers, you’ll get access to outside perspectives & broad experience of professionals of all kinds, from creating websites and designing logos to managing your books or crafting your marketing strategy. Plus, with none of the management overhead of a full-time employee, you can focus solely on the job at hand.
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Interested in joining the millions of entrepreneurs across the US but wary of leaving your 9-5 income behind? Well, if you’re like us, you probably need to spend days googling, making lists, and conducting research before you take that leap. Don't worry, we get it. That's why we've done some of the hard part for you! We know you'll probably still spend a few hours creating spreadsheets and filling up your planner with pros and cons lists, but we hope this list of our favorite entrepreneur blogs helps a little! |
1. Quora Quora is a Q&A site where you get to ask your most burning questions to some of the world’s top entrepreneurs like Fred Wilson and Marc Cuban. This site allows the commenters to up-vote other’s questions ensuring that the best questions get answered. 2. PandoDaily Started by Sarah Lacy, PandoDaily houses a band of bloggers who came from the TechCrunch, with well sourced posts, and exclusive interviews with some of the tech industries top entrepreneurs. 3.PenelopeTrunk’sBrazenCareerist Penelope Trunk is a three-time entrepreneur with loads of experience to share. She shares this small business advice through the telling of personal stories and anecdotes, ensuring you are getting the nitty gritty advice you crave. 4. Steve Blank Author of Four Steps to the Epiphany and Entrepreneurship Professor, Blank walks his readers in a step-by-step fashion through his all of his points. He covers topics from big business and innovation, to the role of a founding CEO. Many of his posts include graphs and useful “Lessons Learned” summing up the most important points. 5. Small Business Trends Small Business Trends, founded by Anita Campbell, is a comprehensive blog and resource for the news, research, and how-to’s of small business. Each post packs useful and current information for anyone dreaming of their own small business. 6.TheEntrepreneurial Mind Jeff Cornwall, Chair of Entrepreneurship at Belmont University offers the advice that he teaches for a living. He focuses many of his articles on entrepreneurial finance and ethics, while consulting businesses on growth and the struggles of the start-up process. 7. The Scott Adams Blog If you’re looking for advice with a bit of humor behind it, Scott Adams’ (creator of the Dilbert comic strip) personal blog is the blog for you! His posts, focused on human behavior in business, are thought-provoking, funny, and often surprising. 8. Small Business Brief Small Business Brief, founded by Robert Clough and Jennifer Laycock, was listed as a Forbes Favorite for 2010 Small Business Blogs. Its posts focus on finding the important information for small business owners and compiling it into one place. 9. Church of the Customer Looking for real life documentation of small business success and failure? Church of the Customer is for you! Authors and management consultants Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba use their blog, named a 2010 Favorite for Best of the Web Small Business Blogs by Forbes, documents these stories so you can avoid making the same mistakes. 10. WiseBread Last but not least is Wise Bread. Wise Bread is written by a collection of entrepreneurs who specialize in budgets. Each post offers tips on how to manage your finances, cutting costs, and how to do big things on a small budget. |
Well, there you have it! While you probably still have that urge to google, we hope we cut down on some of that research time for you!
Now get out there and #getworkdone
If you're still feeling the research itch, check out this site for more blogs!
It's National Small Business Week so it's time to celebrate the entrepreneurs and innovators that make your community great!
The SBA
The Small Business Administration was founded in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, to “aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns”. By 1954 the SBA had begun making business loans and guaranteeing bank loans to small businesses. In it's mission statement it states “The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.”
A Little History
In 1963 Lyndon B Johnson issued a proclamation that announced National Small Business Week, “which recognized the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners” – Stephen Morris, Online Media Coordinator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Fun Facts About Small Businesses
1. The SBA defines a small business as an enterprise having fewer than 500 employees
2. There are almost 28 million small businesses in the US and over 22 million are self employed with no additional payroll or employees
3. Over 50% of the working population works in a small business
4. Small businesses are responsible for generating over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995
2. There are almost 28 million small businesses in the US and over 22 million are self employed with no additional payroll or employees
3. Over 50% of the working population works in a small business
4. Small businesses are responsible for generating over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995
During National Small Business Week, the SBA highlights the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. “Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.”
Interested in starting your own small business?
Click here to see the 2017 state winners and for tips on getting your dream started started!
A brief Timeline
The concept behind Co-Working began in Europe in the late 1990’s but the first official United States Co-Working space didn't open its doors until 2005. This space was opened in San Francisco by Brad Neuberg. Neuberg was tired of the “unsocial” work environments in most office spaces, and suffering from a lack of productivity in home offices. By 2007 the term “coworking” could be seen trending on Google’s database. In 2009 the first book on Co-Working was published, titled “I’m Outta Here! How Co-Working is Making the Office Obsolete” by Tony Bacigalupo, Todd Sundsted, and Drew Jones. By 2013 there were over 3000 Co-Working spaces, with more than 100,000 people working. Today, Co-Working Spaces have reached 7000.
Give me the facts!
In a study done by Forbes, it is estimated that by 2020 40% of the American workforce will be freelancers, independent contractors, temps, and solopreneurs.
Co-Working gives you the feel of community, with the option to bounce your ideas off of those around you, or plug in your headphones and focus more independently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics completed a survey of those working in Co-Working spaces in which they concluded 90% felt more confident about their work while co-working, 68% felt more focused, 71 % felt more creative, 70% felt healthier, and 62% felt their standard of work improved.
Co-Working gives you the feel of community, with the option to bounce your ideas off of those around you, or plug in your headphones and focus more independently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics completed a survey of those working in Co-Working spaces in which they concluded 90% felt more confident about their work while co-working, 68% felt more focused, 71 % felt more creative, 70% felt healthier, and 62% felt their standard of work improved.
Why bring Co-Working to Eastern Washington?
It’s no secret that population in Washington is on the rise. In a 2010 census done by Washington’s Forecasting and Research Division, Washington State’s population went up 14% from 2000 to 2010. Kittitas county was ranked 5th of the state’s 39 counties in terms of population growth, with an increase of 22%! With 84% of this population growth coming from those migrating in from other counties, The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce decided it was time to keep up with the trend and join the thousands around the world who have experienced the many benefits Co-Working has to offer.
Contact us today and see how Co-Working can work for you!
Contact us today and see how Co-Working can work for you!
Have you been thinking about making the move to eastern Washington? Maybe you vacation in Ellensburg in the summer but you worry it lacks the resources you need to live here full time? Maybe you’ve toyed with the idea of leaving the city, but you’re just not sure where to look to find out how a move like this could benefit you?
Well don’t worry; we’ve done the research for you!
Well don’t worry; we’ve done the research for you!
Here are a few of the many reasons a move to Ellensburg might be right for you.
Make no mistake; living in Eastern Washington IS a change of pace from city life, however there are quite a few advantages. Located only 108 miles from Seattle Washington, via i-90 and the beautiful Snoqualmie Pass, Ellensburg is the perfect place for those looking to stay close to the city, but lose the noise and chaos that living within big city limits often brings. The cost of living is drastically lower than many west side cities, with the overall cost of living index for Ellensburg being 97, 13 % lower than the state average!
“Okay, numbers and statistics are great, but what is life in Ellensburg ACTUALLY like? Won’t I get bored?” You might be saying, but guess what: Ellensburg offers a large variety in recreation and entertainment to keep you busy year round, all with that small town charm. There’s always something to see!
“Okay, numbers and statistics are great, but what is life in Ellensburg ACTUALLY like? Won’t I get bored?” You might be saying, but guess what: Ellensburg offers a large variety in recreation and entertainment to keep you busy year round, all with that small town charm. There’s always something to see!
Visit Central Washington University’s McConnell Auditorium to see one of the many productions put on throughout the year, or stop by North Campus to hear one of the University’s award winning music ensembles in the Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music building.
Take a stroll down Main St. in Ellensburg’s historic district to shop at any of the local book stores, clothing stores, florists, gift shops, or sporting good stores. Visit the local museums and art galleries or stop by any of the local eateries or pubs to rest your feet.
Take a stroll down Main St. in Ellensburg’s historic district to shop at any of the local book stores, clothing stores, florists, gift shops, or sporting good stores. Visit the local museums and art galleries or stop by any of the local eateries or pubs to rest your feet.
Ellensburg provides the prime location for any fans of outdoor recreation. Gorgeous in any season be it summer or winter, Ellensburg is located just a few short miles away from many beautiful hiking trails and only 55 miles from Snoqualmie for anyone hoping to hit the slopes. Festivals are held year round including Ware Fair, Spirit of the West, Jazz in the Valley, The Kittitas County Fair, and the Rodeo, there’s always something going on!
Why choose Catalyst?
Located only one block away from Main Street, we provide that downtown location that is crucial to any striving entrepreneur. With a renovated facility equipped with the fastest Wi-Fi money can buy Catalyst offers you the perfect place to set up shop, get focused, and crush your goals, with free D&M Coffee to boot! Whether you work from home, or you’re trying to start your own business, Catalyst Co-Working will provide you with the tools you need to succeed.
Entrepreneurs and the Business Incubator Program
Catalyst Co-Working is a service provided to you by the Chamber of Commerce. That means that no matter what package you rent, you gain access to all of the Chamber’s Networking events. We work hand in hand with the Chamber to help get new businesses started. With the Business Incubator program, we can provide:
The Business Incubator is perfect for any entrepreneur trying to live their dream, just ask for an application!
- Reduced rent
- Business Planning and Mentorship
- Marketing Consultations
- Microloans
- Networking Opportunities
- Business Education
The Business Incubator is perfect for any entrepreneur trying to live their dream, just ask for an application!
You’ve been thinking about it, so do it already!
Make the move and see why so many others have followed their dreams and started a business in Eastern Washington!
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Catalyst Team
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