All platforms have specific strategies you can use to navigate them so you can get the most out of them. Instagram's picture-heavy feed relies on finding the right aesthetic for your clientele, for example, and can go a long way in finding them.
LinkedIn is no different.
And the SSI also has best practices attached to it.
Here are a few to get you going.
Understand "Social" Selling So what exactly is
social selling? It's been mentioned several times now, so let's dig in further.
Social selling allows you to zero in on business prospects on a more personal level than your typical cold selling strategies. It focuses on social media, such as
LinkedIn, as the main conduit to make a connection with a prospect. You are building and developing relationships with a network of potential leads.
While it is still a sales technique, you want to really understand, nourish, and use the social aspect. Make sure not to burn any bridges before they even start by being too focused on the sales side of things.
Know Who and Where Your Buyers Are The companies you are aiming for will have a presence on social media. Depending on their industry, some may be more niche than your regular LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Make sure you're also looking at places like Reddit, Pinterest, and Quora.
Generally, companies exist where their buyers are. Depending on the field or industry you are in, you want to be in the same place as both. Study each company and study their customers, and then create a presence in that space that is wholly your own.
Taking the extra step will go a long way in separating yourself from the crowd. In B2B selling, you have to know both sides of the equation really well.
Branding, Branding, Branding! Like the first factor of the SSI, you want to create your own independent brand. Don't be shy. Let the world know who you are, what can you offer, and how it may align with what you want to sell.
You want to also allow space for vulnerability here to tell your story. For example, a former ballerina who is now a SaaS SDR is sure to be an interesting story and experience for people to follow.
Jot down a list of these things then begin to display them across all of your social media channels. They don't all have to be as specific as the example here, but we all have something that makes us different or unique. It's time to share it.
Stand Out Standing out on social media today seems like a daunting task at first. But when you get down to it, you really just want to stand out to the audience that interests you.
Remember, you want engaged followers, and you want to become known to your peers and prospects alike. Find your niche and work from there. Following those related to this specific niche and seeing what they post is a good way to get inspiration as well.
For instance, a salesperson with digital art or design experience may produce fun sales comics as a way to draw attention to themselves.
A good idea is to also get familiar with the frequency with which to
post on social media across platforms. Generally speaking, you want to aim for one Linkedin post per day, one Instagram, and four or more on Twitter.
Think Like a Digital Marketer Sales and marketing are the peanut butter and jelly of LinkedIn. Although they are different disciplines, with different strategies and numbers, those differences have blurred over time. Today's successful salesperson is very familiar with marketing principles, tools, and strategies.
It's a good idea to add content creation to your sales bag of tricks. An easy one to start with is blogging since salespeople are usually innate communicators.
A sales blog is a great tool you can use. You show that you stay updated on all the relevant sales topics and that you have first-hand experience. At the same time, you are providing valuable information for your followers, future followers, and prospective clients.
Following these simple and easy "best practices" for LinkedIn's social selling strategy can go a long way. You achieve a high score on the LinkedIn social score, and you will also be much more likely to hit and even surpass your personal sales quotas.
Make sure to learn as much as you can about all the ins and outs. The path created by following LinkedIn social selling best practices for their SSI is a great way to get started. Once you're ready to adopt the suggestions, you'll add them to your everyday work routine. This will make you the best salesperson you can be.