LinkedIn is arguably the most important social media network for a business professional these days. Not only is it where you’ll find your contacts, but it’s also where entrepreneurs and marketers go to find people and companies that they might want to collaborate with, partner with, or hire. In this article, you’re going to learn about how to market your new online class event using LinkedIn.

First, Define Your Target Audience

The first step in any marketing plan is to clearly define your target audience. Who is this audience? What do they need? What do they want? These are all excellent questions to ask yourself, as an entrepreneur or marketer, and they’ll all help you to figure out who you’re trying to attract with your online class.

For example, if you’re teaching a web design class, your target audience might be other designers. Maybe you’re trying to target business owners or marketers who are looking to expand their knowledge in the field. Or perhaps you’re aiming to grow your freelance business and you’re looking to attract other entrepreneurs and business owners who can help you to brand their projects.

Whatever your reasons for creating the class, it’s important to remember who you’re trying to reach. This is especially important on social media platforms like LinkedIn, where everything you post and share will be curated and judged by your target audience. If you want to succeed on LinkedIn, it’s essential that you establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field.

Then, Choose Your Platform

Once you’ve got your target audience, it’s time to choose your platform. There are a variety of online class platforms out there, each with its perks and quirks. For example, some platforms might only allow you to broadcast your lectures to existing customers, while others might allow you to engage with your audience through Q&As, group chats, or social networking. Ultimately, it’s important to choose a format that best suits the type of content you’re presenting.

For example, if you’re presenting a webinar on SEO, you might want to consider using a webinar platform such as Webinar Wizard or Googone Hangouts.

As a business owner or marketer, it’s essential that you work closely with a web developer to ensure that your website is optimized for search engines and that it meets all the technical requirements of your chosen platform. Too often, businesses set up shop but don’t bother to optimize their site or use the right plugins. The result? A poorly designed site that won’t showcase their best features, which in turn, hurts their online presence and limits their growth.

Content Is Key

If you’ve ever run a business, you might know that content is gold. If you want to attract potential customers to your class, you’ll inevitably need to give them content to read (or listen to).

Depending on the type of class you’re teaching, you might want to consider creating a syllabus with a detailed outline of what you’ll cover. You can then use this document to create a series of blog posts (or an ebook) to go along with your lecture.

Similarly, it’s a good idea to think about creating a sample lesson or unit that you can use to demonstrate your expertise in your field. Although you’re probably not going to release this sample lesson to the general public, it might be an ideal opportunity for a potential customer or collaborator to see what you’re like and to determine if they want to work with you.

Connections

If you want to market your class on LinkedIn, one of the most important things you can do is connect with experts in your field. With a little bit of effort, you can get in touch with industry leaders, bloggers, and people who’ve had success in your niche. Simply visit the LinkedIn profile of an individual who’s in a position to help you and then, click the “Suggested connections” button on the top right of their profile.

You can then browse through the suggested connections and decide which ones you’d like to add to your own network. Keep in mind that many people might already be connected to these individuals, even if they aren’t members of LinkedIn. If you do decide to connect with a suggested contact, you’ll have to wait for them to accept your request before you can officially start networking on this platform. Although this might sound like a lot of effort, establishing yourself as an expert in your chosen field is one of the most valuable things you can do for your business.

Post Regularly

To start building your audience on LinkedIn, you need to post regularly. Even experts who work from home need to get out there and make content. You never know when someone might stumble upon one of your posts and that could lead to a few new customers or collaborators.

If you’re finding it tough to get content published regularly, you might want to consider looking into content outsourcing. You could outsource the creation of high-quality content to a talented freelance writer or content strategist. Doing this will help you to establish your expertise and position yourself as an industry leader. Your freelancer might even introduce you to new customers or collaborators who can help you to grow your business.

Connections Are Worth Making

If you want to make the most of your LinkedIn connections, it’s important that you connect with people who can help you to further your business. Even if you have hundreds of connections, it’s not a good idea to limit yourself to using them all for networking purposes. Instead, look for ways to combine your connections in order to gain access to even more experts within your field.

For example, if your goal is to market a web design class, you could start by connecting with designers who have experience in creating websites for businesses. From here, you can then branch out and meet other business owners, product managers, and marketers who might be able to offer advice on the best way to build a website for your product or service.

With the right planning and strategy, establishing a marketing plan on LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for your business. Remember to take your time and do things right.