Image Credit: Sheila Scarborough
I love LinkedIn. Not the most revealing of statements, I know, because apparently so do most B2B marketers. In fact, Content Marketing Institute reported that 83% of B2B marketers use LinkedIn as a content distribution channel. Are you surprised? Probably not. So much more than a place to post your online resume, LinkedIn is now a revenue-generating, lead-driving, career-empowering, connection-making, publishing platform–which makes many a marketer swoon as I do.
And did I mention the content is across-the-board brilliant? Well, the content is across-the-board brilliant.
Now, I’m a total LinkedIn nerd and a content nerd to boot (if you’re both of those people, too, I have a Group for you to join). So when LinkedIn started its influencer program in October of 2012, I fell even more deeply in love with this particular platform. I began following influencers left and right, particularly those with interesting things to say about marketing.
Since then, I’ve been bookmarking my favorite influencer contributions and, today, I thought I’d share the LinkedIn love with other content marketing nerds…like you. Read at your leisure. They’re all good and every one has something fascinating to offer. So in no particular order, I give you the best 18 posts for the B2B marketer:
1. 3 Steps to Become a “Customer Company”
By Michael Lazerow, Entrepreneur (Buddy Media, GOLF.com, Lazerow Ventures, & more)
“Welcome to the Customer Revolution, where you are no longer in charge. Your customer is.”
2. Content Performance Issues? These Are the Remedies.
By Joe Pulizzi, Founder of Content Marketing Institute
“Understand that mediocre content is just clutter…it doesn’t help you or your customer.”
3. For the Modern Marketer, Hearing (Market) Voices Is a Good Thing
By Jonathan Becher, Chief Marketing Officer at SAP
“Today, companies must also capture the strategies and viewpoints of everyone who is not a customer: prospects, business partners, competitors, economists, trendsetters, and anyone else who may influence their business or industry.”
4. Big Idea 2013: Put a Content Engine Inside Your Company
By Steve Rubel, Chief Content Strategist at Edelman
“Put a content engine inside your company. It’s no longer optional. It’s required.”
5. The Art of Creating a Community
By Guy Kawasaki, Acclaimed Author & Advisor at Motorola Mobility
“It’s hard to build a community around mundane and mediocre crap no matter how hard you try.”
6. The 7 Success Factors of Social Business Strategy
By Brian Solis, Principal Analyst at Altimeter Group
“Social media often exists in its own marketing silo. At some point, it must expand to empower the rest of the business.”
7. Marketing Leaders Know How to Follow
By David Edelman, Partner at McKinsey leading Digital Marketing Strategy
“As much as 50% of marketing spend is not aligned with the issues that matter to decision makers.”
8. Why Your Business Should Be Telling Stories
By Colin Shaw, CEO of Beyond Philosophy
“Never underestimate the power of a great story.”
9. How social sellers make it to the top
By Clara Shih, CEO of Hearsay Social
“You never know what connections will come in handy.”
10. Marketers, Don’t Just Publish; Be a Publisher
By David Edelman, Partner at McKinsey leading Digital Marketing Strategy
“Publishing has to become a core competency of any business today if it wants to stay connected.”
11. Your Customers Are Not Ignorant, Selfish Control Freaks
By Dharmesh Shah, CTO at HubSpot
“If the customer were there, I think you’d have better meetings.”
12. What Every CEO Should Expect From Their CMO
By Jonathan Becher, Chief Marketing Officer at SAP
“Some tough love, resources, and air cover from the CEO will transform marketing from an order taker to a business driver.”
13. Content is Fire and Social Media is Gasoline
By Dave Kerpen, CEO of Likeable Local
“If your social media informs more often than it promotes, you’re on the right track.”
14. From Seinfeld to Sushi: How to Master Your Domain
By Jeff Weiner, CEO at LinkedIn
“The more I pay attention to the habits of individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their profession, the more I recognize clear patterns between them.”
15. How I Manage My Social Media Presence
By Guy Kawasaki, Acclaimed Author & Advisor at Motorola Mobility
“My Twitter practices defy the recommendations of social media ‘schmexperts’ (schmuck + experts).”
16. Put Customers at the Center of Your Organization
By Meg Whitman, CEO at Hewlett-Packard
“When it comes to speaking with customers, I want to know the good, the bad and the ugly.”
17. Between a Rock and Creative Place
By Beth Comstock, CMO at GE
“Here’s what I’ve learned: In business, we delegate what is uncomfortable.”
18. Tips On Using Social Media as Your Secret Sales Weapon
By Ryan Holmes, CEO at HootSuite
“IBM reported that they saw a stunning 400% surge in their sales after implementing their social selling pilot program.”
There you have it. 18 of my absolute favorite LinkedIn posts. Have you followed all of these influencers yet on LinkedIn? Well, you should. Because LinkedIn will only continue to evolve and if/when they open up publishing in this format to all of us, these posts will give you some quality examples to follow.