Are we connecting or soliciting sales?
Oh fellow LinkedIn'ers, can we have a chat about using LinkedIn to solicit sales? I have a business and I'm as interested as the next person in growing that business. BUT I think some of us have fallen into some bad habits that need correction. Consider this:
1. If you don't take time to read my profile and understand who I am and what I do then don't reach out to me. CDP is NOT a nonprofit. We SERVE nonprofits. If you are reaching out to help me win grants, strengthen my board or other nonprofit-y service, it is clear you didn't bother to learn about me before blasting me with a sales pitch.
2. If you are only requesting a connection to push a sale on me then don't reach out. LinkedIn is about connections. I'm interested in win-win scenarios. B2B? I'm in the space but lead your request to connect with how we can MUTUALLY benefit from a connection.
3. Rethink the "you can't live without me approach." If your leading words to me are a critique of my website, my strategy, or my logo I'm likely ignoring your request to connect. I have no idea who you are, what you do, or how well you do it. Leading with everything wrong with my business in order to convince me I need you is not going to be fruitful for you.
4. Nurture your connections. Relationships are never one-sided and they aren't about dominance. Don't hit me up with endless messages, emails and phone calls after I agree to connect. Let's get to know each other first. Follow me and I'll follow you. Load your feed with posts that tell me who you are and what you offer. I promise I'll be reading and watching. B2B sales is a marathon, not a sprint. I am fiercely loyal to those I do business with but it takes time to build that loyalty.
LinkedIn is fantastic and I'm on here regularly. Today, let's rethink our strategy for connecting with others and make sure we are connecting well.
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
#business #b2b #nonprofit #sales #linkedin #connections #communitydevelopmentprofessionals
