Ignored No More: InMail Plus Email Is A Winning Sales Combination
The growing popularity and widespread use of social media have greatly impacted many aspects of our daily lives. Family members and friends across the world can stay connected through photos and messages that are shared on Facebook. We have the ability to interact with our favorite brands and celebrities on Twitter. The way that business and selling takes place has also evolved with the use of LinkedIn. Social media is a game-changer, so it is imperative that business leaders and sales professionals take notice of its power.LinkedIn has made social selling possible, and the InMail feature that it offers can be a great advantage to salespeople when it is used correctly and efficiently. Why Are InMails So Effective? The great thing about LinkedIn InMails is that you have the ability to create a personal connection with each prospect that you message. Do not ruin this capability by sending out canned messages that try to sell your product or service right away. Every single subject line I use for my InMails is personal. You can reference sports, where they went to college (especially if you went to the same school), that you are a fan of their brand or mutual connections. There are many different avenues you can take to create a personalized subject line, but just be sure that it does not talk about anything you are selling. It should be all about the individual and trying to establish a personal connection with them. The worst thing that you could do is connect with someone that you have never met before and immediately send them a note trying to sell them your product or service.
Carefully crafted InMails also allow you to develop a sense of rapport with the prospect. If you have a catchy subject line and appealing message, the prospect will likely check out your LinkedIn profile. The content of your profile can easily demonstrate that you are in the industry, know some of the same people and already have an established reputation. Especially if you share mutual connections, they may be more willing to connect with you and listen to what you have to say. Why Is It Better To Combine InMails With Emails? I often have to remind myself that not everyone lives on LinkedIn as I do. Some business professionals may make it a priority to regularly check their accounts and interact with their connections, while others get caught up in other activities and only check LinkedIn when they need to. For this reason, it is important to not solely rely on InMails.
Contacting prospects through InMail and email has been very effective for me. The obvious reason to use both is that two channels are better than one. If you cannot get in touch with a prospect through LinkedIn, you may have a better chance by hitting their email. Additionally, when hitting from both angles, always reference the other message. For example, the first email that you send after attempting to reach them through InMail should direct them to LinkedIn. Your InMails can also reference the fact that you have tried reaching them through email as well. Show them that you are persistent and very interested in connecting. Are You Taking Advantage Of Social Selling? Especially when selling to eCommerce websites, taking advantage of the opportunities that exist within social selling is a no-brainer. When LinkedIn, InMail, and email are all used effectively and with the right intentions, you have the opportunity to develop lasting connections and increase your sales numbers.
