Social selling is a practice that has been around for some time. However, now it’s more popular than ever! The benefits are clear: social selling makes it easier to find leads, build trust, and connect with new contacts. So if you’re not already using LinkedIn to sell your products or services, read on to find out why you should!
What is social selling?
Social selling is a sales process that relies on relationships and social interaction in order to generate leads and close sales. It is not a new-fangled sales tactic, but a new approach to how salespeople engage with their clients. With social selling, you focus on building and maintaining relationships in order to earn trust and create opportunities to sell. That way, you’re not just hoping to get a foot in the door—you’re there on a friendly basis, with a warm welcome, and an open invitation to show your value.
Why use LinkedIn for social selling?
LinkedIn is the perfect place for social selling. Finding leads is easier than ever, and you don’t have to knock on doors—you can find the people you want to meet from the comfort of your computer. And the best part is that those people are looking for you! With LinkedIn’s search engine, you can find prospects based on location, industry, job title, and more. Just type in what you’re looking for and you’ll be flooded with potential connections! Once you’ve connected with these potential customers, it’s time to turn them into leads. Do this by asking them questions about their business and suggesting your product or service. And if they don’t respond, don’t worry. You can always send a message through the “Connect” button and ask if you can help them out with anything.
3 Ways to use LinkedIn to sell more
Now that you know why you should use LinkedIn for social selling, let’s take a look at how you can do it. Here are three ways you can use LinkedIn to sell more: – Connect with new leads – You know what they say—it’s not the people who find you that make the sale, it’s the ones you find! So find new leads on LinkedIn and let them know you’re there for them. Offer to help them with whatever you have knowledge in, and be sure to ask for their business in return. – Participate in Groups – Make sure you’re participating in as many groups as you can. Not only does this help you connect with other professionals in your area, but it also allows you to contribute to the conversation. – Use InMail – This is LinkedIn’s version of cold emailing. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to new people and let them know what you do.
2. Create a professional profile
The first step to selling on LinkedIn is to create a professional profile. This means you should make sure your profile is up-to-date and has the right information in it. Here’s what you should include: – A summary – This is the first thing people will see on your profile, so make sure it’s good! Your summary should be short and sweet, introducing yourself and what you do in a way that’s interesting and relevant to your potential customers. – Experience – It’s important to include the experience you have in your industry in your profile. This will make it easier for your potential customers to trust you. – Education – Include your education in your profile, but don’t make it the focus. Let it inform your other sections but don’t include too many details. – Other information – There are a few other things you should include in your LinkedIn profile: your website, contact information, and a short list of your interests and skills.
3. Use group meetings to grow your network
If you’re new to LinkedIn, participating in groups is a great way to make connections. But how can you make sure you’re making the most of these group meetings? Well, one way is to take advantage of group meetings and use them to grow your network and make new connections. Essentially, group meetings are times when members of a group get together and discuss a topic or problem they’re all interested in. Participating in group meetings can help you make new connections and discover new prospects who might become long-term clients. To find group meetings and join one, go to the “Groups” tab on your LinkedIn homepage and type in a topic that interests you. Once you’ve found a group meeting that interests you, click “Join Group” and introduce yourself to the members.
4. Join industry-based networking groups
Another way to make connections on LinkedIn and grow your network is to join industry-based networking groups. These are groups specifically designed to let professionals in your industry connect with one another and share ideas and advice. To find industry-based networking groups, go to the “Groups” tab on your LinkedIn homepage and type in the industry you work in. Once you’ve found a group that interests you, click “Join Group” and introduce yourself to the members. Joining industry-based networking groups will allow you to connect with other professionals in your industry and make new connections that can lead to sales in the future. It’s important to note, though, that not all groups are created equal. Make sure you pick groups that are active and encourage discussion between members. A good rule of thumb is to participate in a few different groups and see which ones work best for you.
5. Establish yourself as an industry expert
There are two ways you can establish yourself as an industry expert: by publishing articles on LinkedIn and by adding “endorsements” to your profile. Publishing articles is a great way to establish yourself as an industry expert. You can write about any topic as long as it relates to your industry, and you can publish it on LinkedIn or your website. Adding endorsements to your profile is another great way to establish yourself as an industry expert. Endorsements are phrases or sentences that are added to your profile by people you know or people you’ve worked with in the past. They let people know you’re a real person and provide examples of your work. You can add endorsements to your profile by going to your profile and clicking “endorse” next to each of the sections. You can endorse people for their skills, articles, and more, and they can endorse you as well.
6. Send Inmail and Networking Invites
Another easy way to make connections on LinkedIn is to send Inmail and Networking Invites. Inmail is LinkedIn’s version of email, only it’s meant for people you don’t know and are hoping to connect with. For Inmail, click on the “Connect” button on someone’s profile and select “Send InMail.” Then type your message and click “Send.” For Networking Invites, click on the “Connect” button on someone’s profile and select “Send Networking Invite.” Then type your message and click “Send.”
7. Wrapping up
Now that you know how to use LinkedIn for social selling, it’s time to get to work! Start by creating a professional profile, and make sure you’re participating in groups and joining industry-based networking groups. Then, make sure you’ve published articles and added endorsements to your profile and sent Inmail and Networking Invites to people you’d like to connect with. Finally, engage with your connections and ask them if they need any help with their business. And if they say yes, don’t be afraid to ask for their business! And once you’ve closed a sale, keep in touch with your clients and continue to grow your network. That way, you can sell to them again, and again, and again!
