Are you new to LinkedIn and don't know where to start? With over 756 million members worldwide, this professional networking platform can help you market your business and grow your brand quickly.

LinkedIn is not a social media platform, which means it operates under different rules and regulations. You need to create a well-optimized profile and add a few connections, as well as fill out your professional details.

Read on to learn how to use LinkedIn for your small business and discover the best marketing tips to get you started.

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1. Building a personal brand

In the age of technology and social media, building a personal brand online is a must to market your business and attract customers. LinkedIn is the best platform for putting yourself out there and promoting your business.

Building a personal brand will help you establish yourself as the face of your business as well as an authority in your industry. This is the most effective way of selling your products and/or services to your target audience.

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2. Gaining exposure

One of the biggest benefits of LinkedIn is gaining exposure for your company and brand. Even if your business is new, by posting on LinkedIn's company pages, you can get more eyes on your content, which means more potential customers.

You should also interact with other people's content by sharing it on your profile and leaving likes and comments. Joining groups on LinkedIn is another way to gain exposure — just make sure you comply with the group rules and avoid being overly salesy.

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3. Growing your professional network

If you use LinkedIn for business, it's important to grow your professional network the right way. In general, no one likes to be spammed with direct sales messages, so, be careful with your approach.

The key to creating valuable connections on LinkedIn is to offer value to people. You can do this by sharing and posting quality content, sending them valuable resources, or simply asking what they need help with.

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4. Generating leads

LinkedIn is an effective tool for lead generation, especially after launching a new business website. LinkedIn users can follow your personal and company pages or join a group you've created.

You can also use your LinkedIn company page to generate leads by leaving links to your free trials and lead magnets. This is a great way to direct traffic to your website and have people sign up!

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5. Getting testimonials

Testimonials and online reviews are essential for new businesses like yours. On LinkedIn, you can get recommendations from your connections to display on your LinkedIn profile.

You'll need to send a testimonial request to someone you've worked with or work with currently. Once they write it, it'll show on your profile in the Recommendations section.

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Grow your small business and professional network with Linkedin marketing

Whether you're new to LinkedIn or already have a profile, being on the platform is not enough to grow your business. You need to dedicate time and effort to marketing in order to get noticed. Luckily, with the help of these tips, you can get started in no time.

Ready to start your own business? Check out our amazing business resources to help you launch your first-ever business venture.