How Successful CEOs Kickstart Their Business With LinkedIn

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Anna Gong

Anna Gong, CEO of Perx

Is it possible to kickstart your business with only 30 minutes a day using LinkedIn?

Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL eCommerce and Anna Gong, CEO of Perx would say yes.

Thanks to their efforts on LinkedIn, the two CEOs have built awareness for their personal and company’s brand online.

I caught up with these two LinkedIn 2017 CEO Power Profiles to get their thoughts on how CEOs can successfully leverage LinkedIn.

Keep reading to discover how they use LinkedIn to propel their business forward:

Joe Escobedo: Why do you think you have such a strong following on LinkedIn in Singapore?

Anna Gong:I use LinkedIn for talent search, business networking and keeping the pulse on the global tech community. At the same time I share and educate the tech and business community with my findings and learnings on industry trends. So maybe I inadvertently gained some following there.

Like anything you wish to be great at, you have to put in a lot of time, energy and commitment to it. Because we’re a startup, we have to work a lot harder! We don’t have the big PR budget, so we have to rely on ourselves to build our brand through conferences, speaking engagements and more importantly, share and contribute to various digital platforms.

Kind of like Rosaline Chow Koo, my friend at CXA, who also made this year’s LinkedIn Power Profile List in Singapore. She’s a role model for the female leaders and founders community. All her hard work and consistent use of social media and physically being out there to evangelize and build her space has produced great results for her company and her brand.

Charles Brewer:It comes down to three things:

I’ve had an amazing opportunity to visit more than 110 countries and worked around the world. As a result I have built a global view and a broad, diverse network.
I enjoy reading lots of content, which in turn creates interest in what I post.
Everything I post, share and comment on LinkedIn is unfiltered and genuine. I think people want to see that on social media – an authentic voice or a person who can genuinely empathize with the world's opportunities and challenges.

I am also quite lucky that I work for an amazing company and have the good fortune to be the CEO in a really exciting space: e-commerce!

Charles Brewer

Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL eCommerce

Escobedo: What are your best tips for creating a powerful LinkedIn profile and building meaningful connections?

Gong:Your image, personal brand and social currency is a reflection of how involved you are with various social platforms.  

I manage my own brand, content and also do quite a bit of reading, research, and sharing on LinkedIn. With that in mind, I believe you have to offer relevant insights v.s. opinions. If you’re  unable to give informative and thought provoking content, then your following will decrease or you may attract the wrong audience.

I’m quite selective in who I connect with. For instance, I have around 1,000 pending invites. Many are soliciting and some could be fraudulent identities which I'm cautious about.

Fortunately, I am connecting with CXOs and tech-related leaders from around the world where potential business partnerships could be formed. LinkedIn is a powerful source for that aspect.

I also leverage LinkedIn to grow my like-minded network. For example, I learn from other execs, founders, VCs, and thought leaders through channels like podcasts such as SaaStr and A16Z. I then go directly to LinkedIn to connect with them and build on that professional relationship.