With more than 500 million users, LinkedIn is a social media platform companies and organizations of all sizes can benefit from. LinkedIn for Chambers LinkedIn is an excellent way to connect with your members and also advocated for them on their business pages. You can let your members affiliate with your chamber on their own pages which helps increase their credibility. Being on LinkedIn lets members tag you in event and show images and posts which helps you build visibility for you. LinkedIn is another great way to connect with new potential members. Since LinkedIn is mainly used for professional networking and work needs, you can promote any events and advertise your chamber by location. LinkedIn for Associations Associations of all size can use LinkedIn to: Share thought leadership posts Engage with members Recruit new members Promote any non-dues revenue streams like online purchases, events, sponsorships, etc. Because LinkedIn is used by professionals for professional reasons, it’s an especially great resource for professional associations — young professionals especially. General benefits of LinkedIn You may have a personal page in place, but do you have a company page as well – for your association or chamber? If not, we highly recommend creating one! Here’s why (and how to actually do so): LinkedIn pages boost credibility Before people join your association or chamber, chances are, they’re going to scope you out. They’re going to check out your website, and likely, your social media sites as well. So if you’re not active on social media, well, that doesn’t exactly bode well for your organization. And remember, LinkedIn is the more professional social media platform, so if your professional organization isn’t represented there, that can often negate your credibility. LinkedIn is where your new and potential members are Want to grow your organization’s membership? Fish where the fish are! And in this case, they’re likely on LinkedIn. See, LinkedIn has always been the platform that, even if people don’t use it much, they still feel like they need it – to enhance their professional image. And doesn’t your association or chamber help people and businesses enhance their professional image as well – through training, certifications, and networking? It’s the perfect match! It’s Becoming Way More Popular Believe it or not, LinkedIn usage is on the rise. The social media platform recently underwent a major design overhaul, making it much more user-friendly. As of 2023, LinkedIn has 875 million users, 60% of whom are between the ages 25 – 34 years old. 16.2% of USA users log in every single day. 40% of visitors organically engage with at least one page every week. So, yeah. You need LinkedIn. For more 2023 LinkedIn stats, check out this article by HootSuite. LinkedIn Pages VS Groups Now you may be wondering, what’s the difference between a LinkedIn company page and a group. Well, company pages let you add a lot more detail about your organization, and more importantly, are visible to everyone. Groups, on the other hand, are typically private, and users have to request permission to join. The conversations that take place there are typically more intimate (think along the lines of a private online social community for members only). Groups work great for certain companies and organizations, but regardless of whether or not you have a group, we still encourage you to have a company page, as it’s open to both members and prospects. (That’s key!) How to create a LinkedIn company page Hopefully by now, you’re on board with creating a LinkedIn company page. But how do you do that? Here’s a step-by-step guide: Note: You must first have a professional LinkedIn page before you can create a company page. Click the Work icon in the top right corner. Click Create a Company Page. Enter your company name and choose a URL. (Your company page URL will appear as linkedin.com/company/[yourcompanyname].) Check the verification box to confirm you have the right to act on behalf of that company in the creation of the page. Click Create Page. You’ll be prompted to add and verify your email address. Click Get Started to begin editing your company page Get Your Association on LinkedIn Today Pretty easy, right? Once you have your page set up, you’ll then want to build it out and start attracting/engaging followers. Make the most of your LinkedIn page with our top tips HERE. Then, check if you’re following these 5 best practices for LinkedIn for associations and chambers. If you want a more comprehensive overview, download our FREE guide to LinkedIn.