This week I have spent some time exploring the world of LinkedIn. I’ve had a LinkedIn account for about four or five years, but I’m still unsure how it really operates.
I know that my Facebook account’s main purpose is to keep in contact with friends and family, and to operate the Club Solutions Magazine Facebook page. I know that Twitter is a place where I can ramble on about random topics, and manage the Club Solutions Twitter feed. However, I’m not sure how LinkedIn can benefit myself, or my company.
Over the past year I’ve had a couple of people tell me to make a move to create a Club Solutions presence on LinkedIn. Although this may provide for networking, I’m not 100 percent sure how it could benefit our end user. But, I started thinking about how it could help a club.
I try to connect with as many of you as possible through LinkedIn. I believe having even a small connection could provide opportunities for Club Solutions in the future and allow for dialogue to open between our publication and your clubs — if the relationship hasn’t been already established.
At your club, how do you believe you and your members could use LinkedIn? Imagine if you had a LinkedIn page and every one of your members was included in your LinkedIn page — you could become the center network for your community. You could open discussions about fitness and community opportunities. You could release job opportunities to people that might have a desire to become more invested in your club.
Personal LinkedIn pages can help you to better connect to professionals throughout the industry. However, your club’s LinkedIn page could provide a multitude of resources on local business opportunities for recent graduates, people looking for new job opportunities or employers in your community looking to hire.
Although it’s not the main driving goal behind being a fitness source for the community, it creates a new position for your business in the community. It could be your first step to being a one-stop shop for everything your members need for success in their lives.
Tyler Montgomery is the Editor of Club Solutions Magazine. Contact him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
Nice post Tyler,
We recently ran a survey on social networking for member retention, and while LinkedIn was in there, it definitely didn’t come out on top!
We see clubs or PTs using recommendations (either for individuals, or for the company’s services) as a way of helping people to stick around. Your suggestions of building communities and groups is a good one too.
Keep up the great writing,
Guy