Learn to Leverage LinkedIn, Google My Business in Webinars

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — As a part of the Rally Around Small Business campaign, The Business Journal is hosting two webinars to deliver fresh insights on two business-critical digital platforms.

While Facebook, Twitter and Instagram capture the consumers’ attention, there is tremendous value in LinkedIn and Google My Business that can go untapped by owners of small businesses, says Jeff Herrman, chief revenue officer for The Business Journal. And though LinkedIn creates a different social media experience than Facebook – which boasts more than 2 billion monthly users – it can prove even more effective for strengthening a business, making connections and growing a career, Herrmann said.

“Other social media platforms are struggling with privacy issues and frustration around a news feed polluted with toxic social and political conversations,” Herrmann said. “As Facebook continues to shed users due to politics and data breaches, LinkedIn stands to gain from Facebook’s loss. It’s a professional platform focused on networking, learning and career development.”

With approximately 180,316 LinkedIn members in the five-county region, it is “finally emerging in our region as the go-to social media platform for businesses to build relationships at scale,” he said. Of the more than 260-million users, 40% are active daily, creating a robust audience of professionals.

In the LinkedIn 101 webinar on May 15 at 1 p.m., Herrmann and co-host Jeremy Lydic, reporter and content manager for The Business Journal, will discuss how LinkedIn helps users connect with prospects, customers and industry peers to grow their business, and how it helps professionals learn and build their career. 

In addition, the webinar will demonstrate how LinkedIn can be used as a growth platform for business and not just for career development, Herrmann says. While the perception is that LinkedIn is only for job seekers, the reality is that it’s “an amazing way to have a published record of your knowledge and expertise to scale your business,” he said.

“By sharing content on LinkedIn, you’re present in your audience’s newsfeed without actually being live and in person,” Herrmann said. ”A video travels much farther than a person can face-to-face and a video works for you every single day.”

Herrmann will guide listeners step-by-step in how to set up a LinkedIn professional profile and company page, as well as how to develop a content strategy for building relationships and revenue. He ranks in the top 1% of users on LinkedIn and has presented at numerous conferences around the United States, including LinkedIn’s Sales Connect conference and Content Marketing World.

On Thursday, May 30, Herrmann and Lydic will host a second webinar that focuses on Google My Business. The free business profile is something that is often overlooked by business owners, Lydic said, but plays a vital role in a company’s online reputation and SEO. Lydic has worked closely with marketing clients in setting up their Google My Business profile, and said it’s an easy way to stay connected with customers.

“If you have a business with a street address, then you have a Google My Business profile. But until you claim it, it’s just sitting out there,” Lydic said. “Once you claim it, you can update business hours, holiday hours, website and contact information. Most important, you can respond directly to reviews left by customers and prospects.”

To register for a webinar or watch past webinars hosted by The Business Journal, visit BusinessJournalDaily.com/webinars.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.