How to use LinkedIn as a public directory

LinkedIn is one of the most underrated search engines when it comes to public profile information. Used correctly, you can use it as a staff directory and check out competitor's teams, reach key decision makers. In this blog post, we show you how you can use LinkedIn as a public directory so that you can do a people search to find key decision makers, and information on your competitors.

Using LinkedIn as a staff directory to find key decision makers

One of the primary advantages of LinkedIn is its comprehensive database of professionals across industries making it a useful staff directory. Here’s how you can use it to identify and connect with key decision makers.

1. Advanced search filters: LinkedIn’s advanced search feature allows you to filter results by location, industry, current and past companies, and job titles. Use these filters to narrow down your search to the specific decision-makers within an organization.
2. Company pages: Visit the LinkedIn company pages of your target organizations. These pages often list employees, and you can see who holds the key positions such as CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, and other executive roles.
3. Connections and network: Check your existing connections to see if anyone is connected to the decision-makers you are targeting. A mutual connection can facilitate an introduction, increasing your chances of a successful outreach.
4. Content and activity: Follow the activity of key decision makers. Their posts, comments, and engagements can provide insights into their interests and priorities, which can be useful for personalized outreach.
5. LinkedIn Sales Navigator: For those with a premium LinkedIn account, Sales Navigator offers enhanced search capabilities and tailored lead recommendations, making it even easier to find and connect with decision makers.

Using LinkedIn to see public profile information of your competitors

On top of being a staff directory, LinkedIn is also a powerful tool for competitive analysis. Here’s how you can use it to gather valuable information on your competitors:

1. Competitor’s company page: Start by visiting the LinkedIn page of your competitors. You can see their recent updates, new hires, and changes in the organizational structure. This information can help you stay informed about their latest strategies and movements.
2. Employee profiles: Look at the profiles of employees working for your competitors. Their job descriptions, skills, and endorsements can provide insights into the company’s capabilities and focus areas.
3. Content analysis: Observe the content being shared by your competitors. What topics are they posting about? What are their engagement levels like? This can help you understand their content strategy and identify opportunities for differentiation.
4. Skill trends: By analyzing the skills and endorsements of your competitor’s employees, you can identify trends in the skills that are valued within their organization. This can provide clues about their strategic priorities and areas of investment.
5. Networking opportunities: Consider connecting with individuals in your competitor’s network. This can sometimes lead to valuable insights through conversations and interactions, although it should be done ethically and professionally.

3 tools to help you export contact information from a LinkedIn profile

Looking for a way to capture information straight into your CRM uninterrupted? Below we unpack three tools that can help you optimize your LinkedIn efforts.

1. folk's LinkedIn comment exporter

If you have been working hard behind the scenes to build your personal brand and public profile on LinkedIn, you might have been trying to find a way to turn the engagement you often get into warm leads. That's where folk's LinkedIn comment exporter can come in handy. Instead of manually adding each public profile URL to a spreadsheet, this handy tool helps you turn your engagement into a .CSV file so that you can simply import it into your folk CRM account.

2. folk X, a LinkedIn search list exporter

Having to view profile individually of someone's contact information you want can be cumbersome and time consuming. Fortunately folk also has a tool that can help you export your search results from LinkedIn directly to their CRM. It can also capture their public profile URL so that you don't have to do a people search each time you want to view profile.

3. LinkedIn listening tool

Finding it hard to keep up with a high-value lead's LinkedIn account? folk also has a LinkedIn listening tool that can help you stay up-to-date with all their activities and reach out at the right time. You'll be able to get lead updates by email, stay up-to-date with their new posts, company changes and promotions.

Conclusion

Your LinkedIn account is a versatile tool that goes beyond job searching and recruiting. By using it as a staff directory directory, you can effectively find LinkedIn members who are key decision makers, gather intelligence on competitors, and make informed business decisions all from your LinkedIn homepage. Remember to leverage LinkedIn’s advanced search features, company pages, and networking opportunities to maximize your research efforts. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, develop strategic partnerships, or gain a competitive edge, folk can help. Try using folk to complement your LinkedIn efforts today.

More resources

Whether you're looking to optimize your LinkedIn profile or reach the right LinkedIn members, we can help you increase your public visibility:

• Impressions on LinkedIn: Everything you need to know about them
• LinkedIn InMail – An overview and some alternatives
• How to optimize your LinkedIn headline

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