šļø Monday Night Live with Derek Arden
Welcome to this weekās exciting episode of Monday Night Live!
Our host Derek Arden sat down with the brilliant Karen Young ā Founder and CEO of Ethos Metrics ā to discuss everything LinkedIn, marketing, and creative strategies for UK SMEs.
Karen, with her 30 years of marketing experience across diverse sectors including British Airways and other leading companies, delivered a fun yet deeply informative presentation that left everyone inspired. šāØ
An Engaging Start
Karen kicked off the session by admitting that she sometimes feels like an āimposterā when talking about LinkedIn marketing. Despite that playful remark, her expertise shone through as she explained how, beyond simply spending budgets on ads, businesses can leverage LinkedIn as a powerful free channel to generate meaningful connections and quality leads. Derek and Karen emphasized the importance of forging authentic relationships rather than sending random connection requests, and Karen shared her unique perspective on targeting the right audienceāespecially freelance marketing directors and managers who are truly interested in engaging with insightful content.
The Power of LinkedIn
Karen highlighted why LinkedIn remains the premier business social media platform, boasting a user base of 44 million in the UK alone and rising steadily. She explained that with 56% male users and a professional environment where 61% of UK professionals are active, LinkedIn presents an ideal platform to reach decision makers. Karen also noted, with a lighthearted tone and plenty of emojis like šš¼, that LinkedIn is remarkably less toxic than other social networks, making it the perfect space for professional discourse and networking. Her practical advice covered how to optimize visibility by posting quality content regularly and engaging with the right peopleāensuring that the algorithm boosts those posts to the intended audience.
Quality Over Quantity
One major theme of the discussion was the importance of strategy. Karen advised that simply amassing connections isnāt enough; instead, focus on connecting with individuals likely to engage with your content. For instance, linking up with key freelance marketing experts can make a huge difference in how many likes, comments, and shares your posts receive. Karen also explained the nuances of LinkedInās algorithm: if your posts fail to captivate within the first hour, theyāre likely to vanish from view. Therefore, she recommended that each post should be crafted with a strategic aimācurating a network that is genuinely interested and responsive. āØš
Content is King
Switching the conversation to content creation, Karen shared her fondness for using unedited, authentic videos rather than overly polished productions. According to her, real-life authenticity wins the day as video content generates memorable impressionsāoften leading to face-to-face interactions after an online encounter. She also discussed the benefits of posting pictures, particularly selfies, which help humanize your brand and build a recognizable persona. Karen noted that every piece of content, whether it be a thought-provoking post or a relatable video, should invite conversation and encourage organic engagement from the right audience. š¹š¤³
Insider Tips and Tricks
The conversation soon moved into some insider tactics for both organic reach and paid strategies. Karen explained the distinctions between impressions, likes, and comments on LinkedIn. She stressed that beyond the jargon, real engagement comes when posts invite thoughtful discussionānot just automated group responses. Additionally, she touched on LinkedIn advertising options such as thought leadership ads and lead generation forms, which pre-populate user details to reduce friction. Derek chimed in with his own experiences, humorously remarking on how even the smallest strategic adjustments can significantly widen a postās reach. šš”
Final Thoughts and Call to Action
As the episode wrapped up, Karen shared parting words of wisdom: be intentional in your LinkedIn strategy, maintain authenticity, and never underestimate the power of a strong network. Derek reminded viewers that while each connection may not be perfect, focusing on those few valuable relationships will yield better long-term engagement. The session ended on a high note with lighthearted jokes and an invitation for audience members, especially those in the Guildford area, to join the conversation and network in person. šš¤
Thank you for tuning in to this fun-filled Monday Night Live session!
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Donāt forget to connect with Karen Young and join our community for more insights on boosting your online presence!