Four Ways You Have Already Been Social Selling on LinkedIn
When sales people hear “social selling” some of them immediately dread learning something new, which, in their minds, may or may not work. Before you pooh-pooh social selling LinkedIn, you need to consider you may already be using social selling tools to sell!
What? How did these process sneak it’s way in? Read on for four ways you have most likely already been social selling.
You have a LinkedIn profile.
Chances are great you already created a profile. Participating in LinkedIn is embracing social selling, even if you didn’t know it.
How to get more out of it? Ramp up your efforts by adding a killer professional photograph, searching every so often for targeted leads, and finding a common ground to approach and connect with them.
You use Twitter.
Even if you have never tweeted anything about business, the fact that you have an account increases your web brand, and your presence helps potential clients know about you.
How to get more out of it? Start tweeting about topics your clients would find helpful, with links back to your website, and relevant hashtags. Lead prospects to you, all without every making a terrifying cold call.
You use these platforms to nurture leads.
The interesting aspect of social media websites is that they are not just for finding prospects, they are also helpful in keeping in touch. Sending a happy birthday message on LinkedIn or shouting out of “congratulations” on Twitter are easy, non-threatening ways to stay in touch with your prospect.
How to get more out of it? Create a consistent plan of attack in using your profiles to nurture your leads. Be sure to connect socially with every new lead, review their profiles, and note any information you can reference, whether now or in the future.
You share content.
Posting your company’s latest blog, info graphic, or customer survey findings is a valuable part of the social selling process. Even if you didn’t realize it.
How to get more out of it? Consistently post content, instead of here and there. For greater organization, invest in a platform that allows you to schedule posts in advance.
See? You are social selling LinkedIn without even realizing it! If these efforts have helped increase your close ratio, imagine your success if you really focused on using social selling to generate and nurture leads? So, shake off all the cold calling and ramp up your already-started social selling game!
