The do’s and don’ts for achieving success on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is often a misunderstood platform within the artist community. Many have falsely gained the opinion that it is simply a platform for corporate interaction between people of specific industries without artistic pursuits. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and those making the most of LinkedIn are greatly benefitting from it in the long run. The issue many find with LinkedIn is that it is so different when compared with other social platforms, that artists often struggle to understand how to make the best use of its features. Through not understanding how to make the most of the platform, many artists fail to see the potential of putting together an effective campaign.
The biggest difference between LinkedIn and other social platforms like Facebook Twitter or Instagram is that when using LinkedIn you must try and connect with industry contacts rather than fans. Although it is possible to target fans on the platform, there really is little to be gained from doing so. Instead, focus your efforts on valuable contacts who could help you to move your career to the next stage. This could include festival bookers, label A&Rs, or journalists. The need to target industry professionals rather than fans means that your LinkedIn strategy will differ widely from your strategy on other platforms. But what is the best method for making the most out of LinkedIn? We’ve taken a look at some of the steps you can take in order to benefit the most from being active on the platform.
Always act professionally
While it is important to stand out on LinkedIn, it is also important to remember that you must always act professionally. Be fully aware of your audience and make sure to cater your content to the industry contacts that will read your posts. While it may be tempting to address controversial topics, it is always important not to do this publicly. Even though you may feel passionate about the subject at hand, airing a divisive opinion can be extremely damaging to your brand. As an artist, you don’t want to lose the support of anyone if you can help it, and being brutal with your honest opinions is one of the quickest ways to lose support. Always remember that gaining support is a lot more difficult than losing it.
Share relevant content
In order to really feel the benefits of using LinkedIn, be sure to share plenty of relevant content. This could include achievements, campaigns or clips from live performances. Keep your LinkedIn connections up to date with where your career is heading and what your plans are for the future. It is important to know your audience and word your posts as if you are addressing colleagues at a networking event. Think about what might be interesting for them. For example, in order to pique the interest of fans, you might launch a giveaway for a meet and greet with you. In order to gain the interest of your LinkedIn connections, you might want to fill them in about an exciting campaign you are launching. With LinkedIn, you will always want to focus on the achievement side of things. For example, you might post on Facebook that you are celebrating 1 million likes by giving away a pair of headphones. On LinkedIn however, you will want to focus on the 1 million milestone and how proud you are of reaching it.
Connect with new people
One of the common misconceptions with LinkedIn is that you should only connect with people you already know. This couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the main components for achieving success on LinkedIn is finding the right people to connect with, people who share your passions and interests. You should also look for people who are likely to be interested in you and what you’re doing. You may want to look for people who have shown interest in an artist who shares similarities with you. This is a good indicator that they are likely to also be interested in your content. Do some research and find out who is supporting similar artists, they are great examples of people you should attempt to connect with.
Never spam your connections
Lastly, it is important not to spam. The single quickest method for getting all of your connections to disconnect from you is by spamming them with links to your latest track. Be careful with how much content you publish and how forceful you are with your advertising. Be present, but don’t be pushy. Most of your contacts will already be receiving plenty of spam and will likely be put off by receiving more. By showing some restraint and allowing people to discover your content on their timeline you give yourself a much more professional image.
Like all social media platforms, your success on LinkedIn depends on your ability to deliver exciting content that will entice your following effectively. Although your posts may resemble the content that you share on other platforms, the most important aspect of LinkedIn is delivering this content differently in order to connect with a completely different audience. Think about what your industry contacts may be interested in and tap into those interests with your own content. In the current climate, having an effective LinkedIn strategy is an integral aspect of succeeding as an artist. Make sure that you are making the most of the platform and maintaining an effective presence.