This was the update my newsletter subscribers got from me this morning, but I thought I would take the question out to all of you, so don’t be shy, give me the info in the comments below.
If you have hung out on Darren’s for any length of time you will know that I have no love for Angie’s list. You will also know that of all the social media platforms in the marketplace today, I rarely use LinkedIn as a resource. In fact, when I say rarely, I mean I literally haven’t been on the site in six months.
Here’s why-LinkedIn generates more leads for companies than Facebook, Twitter or blogs but here’s the point, it’s all business-to-business.
In other words, for guys like me, I should be all over it. For guys and girls like you, you need to continue to ignore it. Now I am not saying it’s all bad, I am just saying there are better tools out there to use to get your social media message across.
Some of them are not your typical Google plus, twitter or Facebook apps. Having strong local citation-based profiles means more. Having links back to your site from the local chamber of commerce or a more localized directory will have a higher impact on Google’s ability to distinguish between you as a local contractor, and the big players like Sears.
I guess what I am saying here is that LinkedIn is as useless as it always has been for me, but the facts show it is pretty useless for you as well. But maybe I couldn’t be more wrong, if you have actually generated business from LinkedIn please let me know.
I don’t mean a contact, or new vendor, or a supplier. I mean an real living, breathing, client or customer who wrote you a check to fix their house.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
13 responses to “Is There Any Value to LinkedIn For You?”
I find that Linkedin is for someone else. I’m not actually sure who that would be, but I know it doesn’t seem to generate a thing in the way of leads for my little custom construction company. The things I notice are that I’m always receiving a request from someone trying to sell me some advice. Or they want lots of contacts and are hoping to generate some of their own business. Quite a few of the contacts seem to be in the ‘I can make it happen for you’ business. What I would need is someone who needs a contractor who could build something for them not someone who wants me to buy their advice or want me to participate in their online thing so they can sell whatever it is they sell. Okay so I’m a skeptic. Well the reality is that I have to spend my time productively and build additions, kitchens and bathrooms, not chit-chat with someone who wants to eat up my day. What I will be trying soon is contacting Darren and see if he can help me build a web presence. That might really help me build stuff for people.
Let me know when you are ready Eric and thanks for commenting!
I am a member of some of great groups. It gives me the ability to connecct with some very
important and experienced experts in the industry. It is also very helpful to see what is going on
in other parts of the country.
As far as marketing goes, I personally have never been contacted by anyone from LinkedIn
needing our services. I am fairly new to social media marketing and I will take your advice on
the subject.
Congratulations on your featured article in the new Remodeling magazine. Your opinions are
always very helpful.
Hey Mark,
Thanks for commenting. Thank you for the Remodeling mention! I appreciate it!
Hi Darren! I don’t find much use for LI for my painting business, although I was recently invited to bid on a large project by a GC I share a local (non construction related) group with. He got my name from a referral though. I’ll have to ask if our conversation on LI had any influence! But I don’t ever expect to get a lead from a homeowner there!
I do enjoy the business and tech discussions in some groups, some are just filled with spam though.
If it were not for BP, I doubt I would spend any time there though. I have made some great connections with painters, industry reps and vendors that have been fruitful.
Thanks Chris. That seems to be the consensus, good for contacts, not so good for biz dev.
I would agree with Angie’s List; in my area I’ve seen the painters that are on the list and I wouldn’t recommend them to my grandmother. 1 to1’s, direct referral, a.k.a. word of mouth are still are most consist form of getting work-and we track every sales lead so the facts are real!!! The jury is still out on LinkedIn; I’m giving it a good solid year to see where it goes if anywhere. I totally enjoy all of your emails and blogs keep it up, that’s.
“keep a wet edge”
I have to be the guy who is in disagreement here. While I can’t argue that LinkedIn has great potential to be a waste of energy and resources, the same can really be said for FB, Twitter, Pinterest, Houzz, and so on. It all depends on who you are trying to reach, why you’re trying to reach them, and how. In my opinion, all have potential for business development and lead gen, but each needs a bit of independent approach and a plan.
I made a decision to pursue designers and architects in my area back in March. I made connections on LinkedIn, then followed up with brief introductory meetings. I am already working on my second remodel project born from this effort, and have turned down 3 other leads because they were not a good fit. It did take a bit of effort to make deeper connections, but it has paid off. It is true that homeowners are not hanging out on LinkedIn, but these designers were, and they just referred me to the clients directly.
Hi Paul,
I agree, for who you are trying to reach, LI would work, but to get to homeowners, I still say LI is useless.
Hi Darren,
I definitely agree with your assessment of Linkedin. Originally, I was under the impression that “All those executives have to have a house somewhere”, I’ve since revised my opinion of the effectiveness of trying to market to homeowners on the site.
While Linkedin remains one of the top referring sites to my blog and newsletter, I can’t recall ever getting a 100%, bonafied, you-betcha, actual sale, directly linked to a lead from there.
I’d say your assessment is once again, bang on!
Keith McGorlick, President,
Lakeside Interiors,
keithlakeside.blogspot.com
Thanks Keith!
What LinkedIn does mostly is allow anyone to post what is essentially an online resume for others to view. For a remodeling professional, it allows them to post their training, certifications, experience etc. Will that lead to new business? Maybe yes, maybe no. Will it give another avenue to present oneself and their professionalism? Absolutely.
Thanks Chuck for responding. Has LinkedIn brought you any new business?