Welcome back to the Walk In Victory Blog, where we sit at the feet of the masters! Today we explore invaluable insights from Colin Hirdman, the founder of Rainmaker, who shares his expert strategies for mastering LinkedIn growth. Get ready to dive deep into Colin’s journey and learn practical steps to enhance your LinkedIn presence and grow your business.
The Journey of a Rainmaker Entrepreneur
Colin Hirdman’s entrepreneurial story is a testament to perseverance and resilience. With a degree in criminal justice that he never used; Colin jumped into entrepreneurship straight out of college. His first venture was a learning experience, as he started with no formal business education, yet he persisted through failures to achieve success.
In 2007, Colin co-founded Monkey Island Ventures with childhood friends, which laid the foundation for several businesses, including service companies like a digital marketing firm and a software development company. Today, Colin runs Rainmaker, a platform that focuses on LinkedIn growth strategies, helping businesses leverage the platform for B2B success.
Why LinkedIn?
Colin’s focus on LinkedIn is deliberate and strategic. Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn is a business-oriented platform where people go to hire, sell, and network. Colin explains,
“The beauty of LinkedIn is that it's a business network. People are there to hire, look for jobs, build relationships, buy, and sell from one another.” It’s the ideal space for businesses to cultivate meaningful connections.
His philosophy centers around authenticity and providing value to your audience.
“You need to know specifically what it is that your audience wants to learn from you. Nobody wants to be sold on LinkedIn, but everyone is willing to be educated.”
Key Takeaways for LinkedIn Success
1. Philosophical Approach
To succeed on LinkedIn, Colin emphasizes the importance of approaching it with the right mindset:
- Authenticity and Educational Mindset: “You have to represent that authenticity with how you communicate. You also need to know what your audience wants to be educated on.”
- Value Addition: Always focus on adding value rather than pushing a sale. Educational content is key to building trust.
2. Building the Right Audience
The foundation of LinkedIn success lies in building a targeted and relevant audience:
- Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator: “I'm typically using Sales Navigator to target audiences and build out connections.”
- Leverage Advanced Connections: Utilize LinkedIn events and follow key individuals who align with your target audience to foster deeper engagement.
3. Campaigns and Strategies
Putting strategies into action is essential for LinkedIn growth:
- Connection Requests: Colin suggests connecting with 25 people a day, Monday through Friday, to steadily grow your network.
- Messaging: Follow up with authentic thank-you messages and valuable content. Avoid overly aggressive sales pitches.
- Campaign Diversity: Implement a range of campaign strategies like group messages, LinkedIn event invites, and more to maintain engagement.
Embracing Entrepreneurial Resilience
Colin’s journey from numerous failed startups to creating thriving ventures highlights the importance of resilience. Reflecting on his career, Colin says, “When I’m an old man looking back at my life, I want to be able to say I lived a life that was rich and diverse.” His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to embrace failure as part of the process and keep iterating. “Start small, keep iterating, pivoting, and always focus on delivering value to your customers.”
Start Your Own LinkedIn Growth Journey
If you’re looking to grow your business on LinkedIn, Colin’s strategies offer a solid foundation. Start with authenticity, build meaningful connections, and use campaigns to engage your audience. Colin reminds us, “The biggest thing is to start having conversations with prospects way before you’re comfortable.”
Recommended Books for Business Growth
Colin also shared some must-read books to fuel your entrepreneurial mindset:
- "10x Is Easier Than 2x"
- "The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann
- "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Final Thoughts
In this episode of the Walk In Victory Podcast, Colin Hirdman’s insights have provided us with a practical roadmap for mastering LinkedIn and achieving entrepreneurial success. Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or looking to level up your strategies, Colin’s advice will help you navigate the platform with confidence.
As Colin reminds us, “Everyone is making up everything all the time,” so don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. If you’re ready to take your LinkedIn game to the next level, visit rainmakergrowth.com for more information and a free consultation with Colin.
Thank you for joining us on this inspiring episode. Stay victorious, and as always, keep walking in victory!
