LinkedIn has added the opportunity for members to “follow” one another instead of using the traditional “connect” method of contact. Previously, only individuals with the coveted “inFLUENCER” title could use the “follow” option, but now anyone may change their LinkedIn profile button from “Connect” to “Follow.”
What’s the point of bringing this up?
This may not appear to be extremely remarkable in terms of innovation. Other platforms, after all, have had a follow option since the beginning. LinkedIn, on the other hand, provides a more purposeful strategy to position yourself as a B2B thought leader, address questions, and share ideas with like-minded people. At
At toptut.com, we frequently speak with IT and telecom organizations and their executives about how to use LinkedIn the “correct way” for things like prospecting, social selling, partner recruitment, and account mapping – here’s how the “Follow” option can help.
The Difference Between “Connecting” and “Following”:
The distinction between LinkedIn Connecting and LinkedIn Following is straightforward. A connection is described as a two-way relationship in which one user sends an invitation and another accepts it. The following, on the other hand, allows one person to view and participate in the material and activity of another user without being connected.
By using the Follow option, you may reach a wide audience without being inundated with connection requests from every individual user who is interested in your material.
To have your profile display the ‘Follow’ button rather than the ‘Connect’ button, head to your ‘Settings’ in the LinkedIn mobile app, then to the ‘Privacy’ page. There is a ‘Who can follow you’ setting there. Simply touch on it to select the CTA for your profile. This settings option is currently only available on mobile:
“When users follow you, they are more likely to see your content in their stream,” according to LinkedIn. We’ve heard from you that receiving a large number of connection requests from individuals you don’t know might be daunting. This option makes it simple to connect with others who are interested in what you have to say and share your ideas. You may establish a devoted and engaged audience by sharing high-quality ideas.”
The Differences and Similarities Between Following and Connecting
Connections are LinkedIn members who have connected because they know and trust one another. If you’re connected to someone, you’ll be able to view each other’s LinkedIn shares and updates on your respective homepages. You can also send messages to your LinkedIn acquaintances.
You will automatically follow your first-degree connections, but you can always unfollow them. Following someone on LinkedIn allows you to view their posts and articles without being connected to them. The person you’re following, on the other hand, will not see your posts. Allowing others to follow your activity and read what you’re posting on LinkedIn allows you to reach a broader audience.
Establish Yourself as a Thought Leader and Expand Your Audience
What exactly does this mean? For starters, it eliminates the need to wade through and accept hundreds or thousands of connection requests in order to broadcast your material to the people who truly want it. It also aids in keeping your own newsfeed and information as relevant and intentional as possible.
You’ve certainly heard the term “social media influencer,” which refers to someone on Instagram or YouTube, or a writer, who has earned the trust of an online audience looking for solutions or fresh ideas. LinkedIn can (and should!) be utilized in the same way: as a platform to build ethos by sharing your ideas and perspectives and offering meaningful replies to your online community.
Regarding B2B marketing, data shows that LinkedIn accounts for 80 percent of a company’s social media leads, whereas all other social platforms account for only 19.67 percent.
Positioning yourself as a trusted advisor will assist you in increasing demand for your company and emphasizing the solutions and outcomes it provides. You have a better chance of developing a loyal and engaged audience of prospects, leads, and customers when you generate and share useful and helpful material.
How do you switch your LinkedIn Button from “Connect” to “Follow”?
Go to your Privacy Settings, then to the ‘Visibility’ page, and then to the second sub-menu, ‘Visibility of your LinkedIn activity.’ Then, on the right, select the last option, ‘Followers,’ and click to enlarge it.
You will be given a simple Yes/No option under the subheading ‘Make follow primary.’ Set to Yes to display the ‘Follow’ button instead of the normal ‘Connect’ button.
A shortcut to this setting on LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/mypreferences/d/followed
Follow is the default with ‘Creator Mode’ switched on
You will also automatically change your button from “connect” to “follow”, if you select to activate LinkedIn’s Creator Mode. This mode is designed to showcase your content as a contributor on LinkedIn. Sarah Clay has written a very useful article outlining whether Linked Creator mode is right for you.
Conclusion
LinkedIn now allows you to display a ‘Follow’ button as the main button call to action on your profile page, rather than the present ‘Connect’ button.
For a long time, this has been the primary choice for high-profile users in LinkedIn’s ‘inFluencer’ program, but soon all users will be able to do the same.
LinkedIn is a fantastic resource for B2B marketing. Don’t underestimate it!