One of your chief concerns is getting the word out about your services as a freelance writer. You can milk LinkedIn, also known as professional Facebook, to propel your business. Unsatisfied with your client base? Looking to build your professional community? Still need to nail down your target audience or niche? LinkedIn is a great place to start or boost networking.

So how exactly should you approach LinkedIn? We'll also discuss how we've seen others leverage the platform to create a massive following.

Why LinkedIn?

Let's get into why LinkedIn could be the perfect platform to grow your business. Its many functions give you opportunities platforms like Twitter don't. For one, this professional social platform has more real estate, so you can write long-form posts. Maybe you write short-form content, but we'd wager most writers like to write more than Twitter's 280 characters.

“I have nuanced ideas that I can't fit into the character limit. And LinkedIn allows me to explain things a little bit more and express my personality.”

You can also cold pitch companies in a professional setting, whereas your Twitter cold pitch might disappear in a deluge of DMs. And the truth is, most people don't log on to Twitter for professional networking. Be forewarned! You can't just spam everyone in sight. Find your niche or make a list of companies you admire. Go from there.

While Twitter has a broader audience like many other social media platforms, people log on to LinkedIn for work. They're networking, seeking a job, or looking to hire. You can build a community on Twitter, but that community is indiscriminate. Finding a target audience on LinkedIn is easier because you address people through a professional lens.

Consistency on LinkedIn

If your LinkedIn goal is content engagement, you should have a consistent message and presence. Users like Michal Eisikowitz and Leah Neaderthal are great examples of both. They frequently post and interact with other posts within their respective niches.

Eisikowitz writes charismatic content about copywriting for websites. With over 15,000 followers, she gets a lot of engagement and referrals from LinkedIn. Neaderthal doesn't write to a freelance writer audience. She helps women land high-paying clients in the B2B consulting space, and her advice is specific to LinkedIn.

Don't have the capacity to generate LinkedIn content every day or every other day? Two posts each week is consistent enough. But don't forget to comment on and like other users' posts! Make sure you nail down your target audience and your message. Are you giving out advice? Sharing anecdotes? And about what?

Content

Let's talk about the kinds of content you should generate. For format, plain text and videos garner a lot of engagement. You can even copy-paste your Twitter content to LinkedIn.

When it comes to the actual content, spend a lot of time on LinkedIn for inspiration. See what other users do well or don't do well. What's getting high levels of quality engagement? What's flopping? Start following LinkedIn experts or successful people in your niche.

Wondering if there's one thing you should avoid? LinkedIn has become polluted with personal posts. Steer away from boasting about your children or sharing a story that only remotely connects to business in the conclusion.

Ultimately, LinkedIn is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Try not to neglect your content on other social media platforms.

“Social media platforms feel like cocktail parties. LinkedIn and Twitter are two very different parties. If you're going to a networking event, which one do you want to go to?”

Creating a solid profile

People will visit your LinkedIn, whether they're clients, recruiters, or interested parties. So what do you need to make your profile shine? These are the basics to keep in mind:

Upload a quality photo. Don't upload a blurry image or a photo with others in it. This is your professional face—the face clients will see and decide whether you're a good fit.
Write a creative but clear "about" section. Describe your services and how you stand out from the crowd.
Make your headline purposeful.
If you're open to work, add that tag. LinkedIn lets you add profile picture tags like "open to work" or "hiring."
Curate social proof. It's a great place to showcase your success. Ask your clients to write you LinkedIn recommendations. These will appear toward the end of your profile and affirm your expertise.

Using LinkedIn as a freelance writer