How to Advertise on LinkedIn

LinkedIn advertising is a great way to show your business. Here's how to advertise on LinkedIn.
Because thelime.one is all about real people, real connections and real sales, we're upfront about this article being mostly AI+Human and a placeholder while our team get round to writing the full piece!

When it comes to building relationships and driving sales on LinkedIn, advertising can be a game-changer. But with so many options and features, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this guide, we'll dive into the world of LinkedIn advertising, sharing expert tips and research-backed insights to help you get started and see real results.

Understanding LinkedIn Ads and Targeting

Reaching your ideal customer on LinkedIn requires understanding how to target them effectively. With LinkedIn Ads, you can tap into a powerful inbound marketing platform that helps you connect with specific audiences, drive engagement, and boost conversions.

To get started, define your objective, select your targeting criteria, choose an ad format, set your budget, and measure your success. Targeting the right people is what makes all the difference. By focusing on the right audience, you'll see higher engagement rates and more conversions.

You can target by company name, company size, member groups, interests, schools, job title, job seniority, skills, and much more. With over 20 different audience attributes and targeting categories to choose from, you can get really specific about who sees your ads.

Setting Up a LinkedIn Ad Campaign

Getting started with LinkedIn ads is easier than you think. To set up a campaign, create a Campaign Manager account and link it to your LinkedIn Company Page. This will give you access to all the tools you need to create and manage your ads.

Next, define your campaign objective. Do you want to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or generate leads? LinkedIn offers three main objectives: Awareness, Consideration, and Conversions. Choose the one that aligns with your business goals.

Then, think about your target audience. Who do you want to reach with your ads? LinkedIn's targeting options let you narrow down your audience by factors like job title, industry, company size, and more. Be specific – the more targeted your ads, the better they'll perform.

Crafting Compelling Ads that Drive Results

When it comes to creating effective ad content on LinkedIn, the devil is in the details. You want to make sure your ads stand out, resonate with your target audience, and ultimately drive results for your business.

Here are some expert tips to get you started:

  • Give your campaigns a clear and descriptive name – it'll make it easier to keep track of their performance and make data-driven decisions.
  • Get specific with your targeting criteria to increase ad relevance and ROI.
  • Craft ad content that grabs attention – think eye-catching visuals, compelling language, and clear text that communicates your value proposition.
  • Experiment with different ad elements like CTAs, images, videos, and GIFs to see what works best for your audience.
  • And don't forget to A/B test. Try out different visuals, language, and text to see what resonates with your target audience, and refine your ad elements accordingly.

Managing Your Ad Budget and Tracking Success

When it comes to advertising on LinkedIn, understanding how to manage your budget and track your campaign's performance is crucial. You want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck, right?

To do this, you need to wrap your head around objective-based pricing, which affects both your campaign goals and the ad formats you use. This will help you set clear objectives and choose the right ad formats to achieve them.

Keep a close eye on your campaign's performance using the Campaign Manager dashboard – it's your go-to spot for tracking clicks, expenditures, and click-through rates. Dive deeper into your metrics to optimize your campaign's performance – think conversions, click-through rates, and more.

Advanced Ad Strategies and Features

When it comes to taking your LinkedIn ad game to the next level, there are a few advanced strategies and features you can leverage to maximize your impact. These tactics can help you track important metrics, simplify the lead generation process, and get the most out of your ad spend.

Here are some expert tips to get you started:

  • Use LinkedIn lead gen forms to gate your offers and track key metrics – this will help you understand what's working and what's not. Then, integrate these forms with Sponsored Content and Message Ads to amplify your results.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with bidding – start with LinkedIn's suggested bid and adjust based on trial and error. And remember, bidding higher during peak hours when your audience is most active can pay off big time.
  • Finally, consider expanding your reach by displaying ads on the LinkedIn Audience Network, but don't forget to exclude or block certain categories, applications, and sites that aren't aligned with your target audience.{}

About the Author

Charli is a co-founder and marketing director of thelime.one and a regular contributor to LinkedIn.

The author worked with AI assistance on this article. (We're a startup and we need to get our stuff out there!) We're working our way through the most popular pieces and rewriting fully with our human team.