Many people overlook the enormous lead generation potential from LinkedIn because they consider it a simple place to post a resume, get a job, or find employees. From experience, we’ve seen that it’s so much more than that. If you use it right, LinkedIn can be a major tool to help build your business because it has delivered one of the most consistent, and yet most overlooked methods of acquiring new B2B clients.

Let’s take a look at why LinkedIn is an amazing lead generation tool for B2B businesses.

First... the LinkedIn History

LinkedIn sometimes gets a bad rap. People say it’s old and outdated.

While it might not be the shiniest new toy in the social media landscape, that’s actually a good thing and as you’ll see… LinkedIn is anything but outdated. With an incredible growth pattern and and with Microsoft acquiring LinkedIn a little over a year ago, they are a major player for the future.

1. LinkedIn has been around for 15 years – longer than most people realize. After it’s launch in 2003, LinkedIn started slow (some days with only 20 sign-ups a day), but it grew year after year, adding new capabilities, features, and users every year.
2. Today LinkedIn has an incredible 546 million registered users as of March 2018 and it continues to be the fastest growing social media platform.
3. 146 million of those are in the US.
4. In fact, LinkedIn has seen a 517% increase in users just since 2010.
5. And an average of increase of users of over 26% each year since then.
6. LinkedIn is actually growing at TWICE the active user growth rate Facebook or Twitter are, according to one of LinkedIn’s recent SEC filings.
7. In December 2016, Microsoft completed its acquisition of LinkedIn.

The Opportunity: Fish Where The Fish Are

Here’s an old business truth: go where the clients are. This is where B2B businesses get interested because LinkedIn attracts the c-suite.

It’s also easier to build direct relationships with the decision makers you want to do business with, often sidestepping the gatekeeper secretaries and assistants. With more than 540 million members worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company, and millions of businesses, LinkedIn is a prime place to be for getting clients!

1. IPSOS, a global market research firm did a study a while back and found that LinkedIn reaches more business elite and c-suite monthly than any other international news and business website measured.
2. Over 530 million registered users, 133 million+ from the US alone.
3. 1 out of every 3 business people have a LinkedIn profile.
4. 29% of the U.S.online users use LinkedIn.
5. 41% of millionaires use LinkedIn.
6. 44% of Linked users earn more than $75,000 in a year.
7. In fact, LinkedIn is the most affluent social network today with average household income well over $100,000 and the average user over age 25.
8. 70% of Linkedin users are from outside the U.S. (30% are within the U.S.).
9. 43% of LinkedIn members are in a decision-making role.
10. LinkedIn reaches 200 countries.
11. And it is translated in at least 20 languages.
12. More than 3 million have created a company page on LinkedIn and LinkedIn has data on more than 9 million companies.
13. LinkedIn has 106 million monthly visitors.
14. It’s users have created 2.1 million groups.
15. 42% of users update their profile regularly.

But How Active Are LinkedIn Users?

1. 35% of LinkedIn users access the site daily.
2. 25 million LinkedIn profiles are viewed every day.
3. 31% of LinkedIn users check the site every week
4. 96% of sales executives use LinkedIn at least once a week.
5. And they spend an average of 6 hours per week on the professional social network.

All this means that a huge percentage of the people on LinkedIn are the affluent decision makers YOU want to create relationships with – no matter what industry you’re in! You’ve literally got millions of businesses and decision makers at your fingertips, and they’re actively engaged.

If you sell to other businesses, it’s something you can’t afford to ignore. And if your prospects are on it and checking it every day… you need to be there, too.

What Are They Doing On LinkedIn?

When done right, content can be a key piece of your lead gen strategy.

1. 3 million users share content weekly.
2. LinkedIn has found that the average decision maker reads 10 pieces of content before finalizing a purchase decision.
3. There are 9 billion content impressions in Linkedin feeds each week.
4. And 57% percent of those are on a mobile device – good to know!
5. 70% of professionals describe LinkedIn as a trustworthy source of professional content.
6. LinkedIn has shown to be the #1 social media channel B2B marketers use to distribute content.
7. 94% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn to distribute content.
8. LinkedIn Slideshare reaches 70M unique visitors every single month.
9. More than 1 million professionals have published posts on LinkedIn.
10. 3.5 million creative professionals follow influencers on LinkedIn.
11. 91% of B2B marketers are using LinkedIn for sharing content.
12. 81% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn to launch new products.
13. 80% of LinkedIn members consider professional networking important.

And speaking of content, did you know that…

1. 98% posts with images get a higher comment rate.
2. Post ended with question receive 50% more engagement.
3. Posts including link receive 200% more engagement.

One of our most recent blogs, talks about the BIGGEST missed opportunity on the platform: check it out here.

B2B businesses are also using LinkedIn for major lead generation:

Here are some interesting stats to look at...

• A study from Hubspot shows that LinkedIn is 277% more effective for lead generation than other social media networks.
• Of all leads generated from social media, 80% of B2B leads come from LinkedIn.
• 79% of B2B marketers agree that LinkedIn is an effective marketing channel.
• 46% percent of social media traffic coming to B2B company sites is from LinkedIn.
• 43% of marketers surveyed have gotten customers from LinkedIn.
• 92% of B2B marketers specifically prefer LinkedIn over all other social platforms.
• 79% of B2B marketers view Linkedin as an effective source of B2B leads.

Do You Have A LinkedIn Lead Generation Strategy?

At LinkedSelling, we’ve perfected a strategy using LinkedIn as a major B2B business-growth tool because it is the perfect platform for lead generation, if you do it right.

Why LinkedIn?

Plain and simple, LinkedIn is a platform that gives you direct access to the EXACT prospects you want to do business with – your high-ticket prospects. LinkedIn also makes it very easy to connect with those prospects, build a relationship with them and stay top-of-mind, so that when your prospect is ready, you are the one they turn to.

If you are looking for a done-for-you LinkedIn marketing solution, click here to speak with a client strategist and discuss what kind of results our agency can provide your business.