05/13/2021
LinkedIn is hands down one of the best platforms for lead generation!
But generating leads isn’t as easy as one might think. It requires quite a bit of finesse and a whole lot of time.
I’m sure you’ve heard that lead generation is a numbers game.
Target enough people, and eventually, you’ll land a sale.
That’s true in a sense.
But what is most important is what you do after the initial contact.
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is not following up with old leads before targeting new ones
Many people collect a bunch of leads, initiate contact, and stop there.
Then, they restart the process.
The problem with that?
There’s NO follow-up.
And if you know a thing or two about lead generation, you know the follow-up is crucial.
80% of sales need at least five follow-ups, but almost 50% of people only send one.
If you don’t send a follow-up message, you miss out on a potential customer.
You also waste the time and effort it took to generate those leads.
When is the right time to send a subsequent message?
Three days is ideal for the first follow-up. You should check in with your prospects several times.
I know this sounds like a tedious and long road.
I promise you; this is way more effective than constantly trying to target and cultivate new leads.
You will get nowhere fast.
LinkedIn is a great prospecting tool, but it should not be used to sell. You’ll sabotage your lead generation if you sell prematurely.
Use it to get prospects interested enough to then take the sales process outside of the platform.
Creating content is one of the most brilliant strategies for generating leads.
For one, it allows you to demonstrate your expertise to potential customers.
There’s no better way to convert a customer than to show them how knowledgeable you are in your field.
It can also shorten the sales cycle.
Think about it.
If you’re consistently educating prospects and solving their problems with your free content, they’ll be easier to convert.
Doesn’t content marketing take time, though?
It does, but here’s the thing.
You won’t find another audience as receptive as the network on LinkedIn.
The platform is filled with professionals waiting for you to educate them.
They are ready and willing to do business.
If you publish helpful content, your job is half done. You’ll be on your way to generating the kind of leads that turn into lifelong customers.
Here’s some crucial advice for publishing content on LinkedIn:
√ Upload a Professional Photo: You need a profile picture. No one will take you seriously without one. Ideally, get a professional headshot done.
TIP: If you can’t do that, find a white wall somewhere, put on a professional outfit, and have someone take a picture with your smartphone. It won’t be the same quality as a professional picture, but it’ll be good enough—phone cameras are pretty good these days.
√ Fill out your profile information (No blanks). List all your past jobs and the things you accomplished at each of those jobs.
TIP: Add a line that shows you’re open to connecting with new people in the introduction section.
√ Optimize your Title: LinkedIn calls it your “professional headline.” You’ll want your job title(s) in here as well as any other impressive titles you hold.
TIP: Take a second, and think about the type of people you’ll be connecting with to come up with a headline.
√ Consistently post content at least once a day. Always leave a call to action and a link at the end of your articles.
√ Create content that will serve your ideal prospect, that can be educational and relevant to them.
