Surely you’ve noticed that opportunities for professional networking are everywhere, including on social media. As we become ever so more immerse in the digital era, networking on LinkedIn has become indispensable for those in the B2B sector.
This social network is more than just a collection of online CVs, it’s fertile ground for job opportunities, collaborations and professional growth, and it’s definitely an ideal space for business-to-business sales.
Find out how to use LinkedIn effectively to increase your sales opportunities through networking!
10 tips for networking on LinkedIn with a focus on sales
Establishing strong connections is the best way to make B2B sales online. But before you “hit the road”, it’s essential to think strategically about creating and nurturing these relationships.
LinkedIn, with its global audience, offers a favorable environment for building a wealth of opportunities; and networking in this environment is one of the first steps to start prospecting leads and closing deals on this social network.
Here are some practical tips to start optimizing your digital presence:
1. Have a clear strategy
Successful networking on LinkedIn starts with a well-defined strategy. So, before you start expanding your network, it’s essential to identify who your target audience is.
Outline the desired job title, industry and segment, company size, etc. Having a clear understanding of your target audience will help you channeling your networking efforts to your goal.
What’s more, you should set yourself objectives in terms of what you hope to achieve on LinkedIn. By focusing on your ideal audience and being clear about your goals, you create a solid foundation for qualified relationships; and speaking of focusing…
2. Focus on the right connections
This tip is directly related to the previous one. After all, it’s important to select the connections that make sense for your strategy. This way, you’ll be able to allocate your resources properly.
To make the right choice, before sending a request, do some detailed research into the professional’s profile. Analyze whether they meet the criteria set out in the previous section.
See also: Get to know Humanized Marketing and How to Apply it to Your Strategy.
3. Get the conversation started
Before selling, look for ways to offer value to your network of contacts. If your request is accepted, be proactive, send a message and show interest in a mutual relationship that benefits both parties.
Introduce yourself in a way that makes it clear not only your intentions, but also your willingness to contribute to their growth.
If you’ve followed the previous steps, by now you should know what your network’s needs and objectives are and how you can help them.
4. Get help from your connections
Building a professional network on LinkedIn goes beyond connecting directly with people you are interested in. It’s also important to take advantage of your existing network to broaden your horizons.
The good news is that your first-degree contacts can make it easier to connect with second-degree profiles. So when it’s convenient, ask for help and express why you are interested in contacting this person who is not part of your direct connections.
5. Engage with other people’s content
In this respect, networking on LinkedIn is like using any other social network: interacting with people is a must.
You need to pay attention to the latest updates and act proactively when commenting on posts, sharing relevant ideas, congratulating achievements, expressing your support for new projects, and so on.
Avoid generic comments to show that you are genuinely interested in the person. In fact, attention to detail can be the key you need to start a conversation.
It’s also worth participating in conversations that take place in the comment section. This increases the chances of connecting with new people who share the same interests as you. This type of interaction is a way of meeting new people who can contribute to your networking and, consequently, increase the chances of B2B sales.
See also: The power of Social Selling: How to boost your sales using social media.
6. Respond to comments on your profile
Remember to publish content on your own feed. As well as enriching your profile and generating valuable interaction, this is another opportunity to engage with people.
When people comment on your posts – and even when you receive messages about the post – respond. Show gratitude, answer questions, make room for different opinions and always maintain a professional attitude.
Also, you should ask shares of your content and use interactions as an opportunity to establish ongoing dialogue or a more profound conversation.
7. Tag people and companies in your posts
This is a simple tip, but it makes a big difference and often goes overlooked. Whenever you go to an event, an accelerator program or a simple networking happy hour, mention the people involved.
- Shows gratitude for the learning and the opportunity;
- It helps to promote the work of another professional;
- The person can share your publication and mention you to their audience..
8. Provide recommendations for fostering meaningful connections of interest
Networking means creating a vast network of professional connections. As such, leaving feedback for your contacts can boost your online relationships.
On LinkedIn, you can access a person’s profile and write about your experience with them in the recommendations field.
Use this section to describe your contact’s professional attributes, describe how they helped you or what it was like to work with them. Write a text that is objective and adds value to their profile.
9. Network in person at events
Yes, networking on LinkedIn goes far beyond chatting online. Did you know that attending face-to-face events can be part of your LinkedIn business strategy?
This means that going to conferences, workshops and other such gatherings helps expand your network.
When you meet people at these events, offer your business card and invite them to connect with you on LinkedIn. In this way, you can extend your network and increase the chances of building closer relationships with your connections.
10. Rely on Fastdezine’s B2B lead prospecting
With the tips above, your list of connections will certainly grow. But if you want to boost B2B lead prospecting on LinkedIn, you can count on Fastdezine.
With our B2B lead prospecting service, we get you in touch with the right people for your business and help you increase your sales.
We leverage cutting-edge tools and the expertise of our specialists to:
- Optimize LinkedIn profiles;
- Build relationships with your target audience;
- Generate leads databases;
- Manage messages;
- Create reports to follow your performance.
We hope this content on the power of networking on LinkedIn has been insightful and, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
