Webinar Wire

Webinar Promotions begin on LinkedIn

Posted by BeaconLive June 22 2011 9:59 AM EDT

LinkedIn emphasizes the networking portion of social networking for professionals connecting with colleagues around the world.  It connects you with not only your past and present workers but with industry professionals and experts.  However, LinkedIn is more than just a networking tool connecting you to individuals, it offers ways to reach out to a larger network of potential audience members for your webinars and online events.  You couldn’t find an easier way to reach your audience than in a place where they actively seek you out.  Here are four ways to use LinkedIn to promote your upcoming Webinar to your network of connections.

LinkedIn Events.  If you only use LinkedIn as a way to collect contacts and resumes, then you’re likely not aware of the opportunities available to promote your upcoming events.  Promoting your webinar on LinkedIn allows you to reach thousands of potential attendees in a place where they actively seek relevant information.  Under the ‘More’ tab of the navigation bar, select Events to Find, Manage and Add your events.  You can search for specific events by date, subject or proximity to you. Upon adding your online event to LinkedIn, you can send the event information to the people you are connected with as well as to the members of industry groups you belong to.  When someone chooses to attend your webinar, the count of attendees goes up, ranking your event higher in popularity.  This also provides the attendees the opportunity to see who else is attending the webinar, so they can further their network circle.  Now, you are not only bringing useful information to your attendees but also growing their own growing network. 

LinkedIn Statuses.  We all post status updates on Facebook, but have you updated your LinkedIn Status?  Post a quick blurb with a link to your upcoming webinar.  Event if your connections cannot attend, they may recommend it to one of their colleagues.  Also, request that your attendees mention that they are attending your upcoming Webinar on their LinkedIn page.  Never underestimate the power of word-of-mouth.  This can bring in many more viewers to your company page, registration page and hopefully even your webinar.

Groups.  Did you know that when you belong to a networking group on Linkedin, you have the ability post links, questions and status updates to the group page?  Gone are the days of joining a group with 50-thousand members; with LinkedIn Groups, you can join a specialized group in your field with a couple hundred members suiting your professional needs.  Finding your niche within the mass of groups then posting to the members of that group reaches out to your intended potential audience.  These people have joined the industry-specific group because they want to stay informed on trends and news.  Unlike advertising on TV or printing an ad in a magazine, people seek out information delivered through this medium-resulting in you being able to reach your target audience easily. 

Advertising.  While not free, advertising on LinkedIn allows you to reach for specific people while not wasting your money on clicks from individuals who may not be your ideal audience.  Advertising your event on LinkedIn can cost as little as $10 a day depending on your reach and audience. You specify which LinkedIn members view your ads by selecting a target audience: by job title, job function, industry, geography, age, gender, company name, company size, or LinkedIn Group.  Unlike advertising on TV or printing an ad in a magazine, people seek out information delivered through this medium-resulting in you being able to reach your target audience easily.

Check in with the BeaconLive Blog, Webinarmed, for more tips on how to promote your event on Social Media.  If you use Social Media in unexpected ways to inform your audience of your upcoming Online Event, lets us know how it went.  And if you haven’t already connected with BeaconLive on LinkedIn, do so Here!!