According to the Small Business Administration, in 2011 there were 28.2 million small business in the United States, representing 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms (a small business is commonly defined as employing less than 500 employees). Yet, there are only 4 million LinkedIn Company Pages. This means that approximately 85 percent of businesses do not have a LinkedIn Company Page. If you are the owner of one of those companies, you’re missing a great opportunity to connect with prospects and customers. Here are a few statistics that may persuade you that it is time to create a LinkedIn Company Page: 

• There are about 347 million LinkedIn users. That’s a lot of potential customers! In fact, two new users join every second and there are 42 million mobile visitors each month.
• 65 percent of B2B companies surveyed for The State of the Inbound Marketing Report found at least one customer via LinkedIn. A presence on this social media site can give your business that extra exposure.
• The majority of B2B marketers (94%) use LinkedIn to distribute their content. And, these marketers believe it is the most effective social media platform. 

Good for Business

Still not convinced a LinkedIn Company Page is beneficial for business? Check out these stats from The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide to LinkedIn: 

• 1 out of every 3 professionals is on LinkedIn.
• 50 percent of members are more likely to purchase products or services from businesses they engage with on LinkedIn and 80 percent want to connect with businesses.
• 93 percent of B2B marketers consider LinkedIn effective in generating leads.

Here’s an added incentive to assist you in connecting with potential customers. LinkedIn now offers the opportunity for individuals to post content on their publishing platform. At the end of 2014, over one million posts had been shared with members. This means that you, and your employees, can share your knowledge by posting content through this platform. It’s possible that these posts will be featured on LinkedIn Pulse, a daily hub of professional and industry posts. These posts are separated into “Channels” by subject matter. LinkedIn Pulse provides exposure to a broader group of members outside of your connections. 

Update Your LinkedIn Company Page

Post this content on your individual and/or employees’ LinkedIn pages and then share them via your LinkedIn Company Page. This provides additional opportunities to initiate conversations with prospects and customers. Also, you can post updates about your organization and others topics of interest to help readers solve their problems. When you share your knowledge of the industry and problem-solving solutions, you are recognized as an expert and thought leader in the field.

By creating and consistently updating your LinkedIn Company Page, you provide another mechanism for prospects to learn about your organization. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead—take advantage of this unique marketing tool and create a LinkedIn Company Page.