LinkedIn is the best tool in your toolbox, as a salesman...or even as a business professional.
Linkedin is a great place to prospect for business. I use LinkedIn in a couple of different ways.
1. Initiate a list: When I am looking for prospects within a certain profession, I run a search for a designation or a title. For example, if I am looking for propects with a CCIM designation (Commercial Real Estate), I will put “CCIM” in the search bar. I can then filter by location, such as the metropolitan market that I sell in. Linkedin will give me results based upon my connections. For example, I will get 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree connections at the top. I can then make phone calls and ask our mutual connections for help. I can also just get on the phone and call these people directly.
2. If I am trying to get into a company such as Ford Motor Company, I will type “Ford Motor Company” in the search bar on Linkedin. I will then get a result set sorted by my 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree connections. Again, now I have a point of contact and their title. This isn't rocket science here...If you know the person you should reach, you are 80% there.
3. Finally, I will start looking through my connections, to see if they are connected to anyone interesting. I have a number of connections that are very well connected. I will use these people as a springboard. I will always snoop around with these high influencers to see if there is a person or a company that I missed.
4. I will continuously upload my contact database to Linkedin so that I can see if I am missing connections. After setting up a meeting with someone, I always check out their LinkedIn profile and either add them or get some recon for the upcoming meeting.
5. Put your Linkedin url link on your email signature. Mine is http://www.linkedin.com/in/mweinstein222. Check me out and connect with me....But please let me know how you found me...I don't just accept anyone.
Linkedin is a great place to prospect for business. I use LinkedIn in a couple of different ways.
1. Initiate a list: When I am looking for prospects within a certain profession, I run a search for a designation or a title. For example, if I am looking for propects with a CCIM designation (Commercial Real Estate), I will put “CCIM” in the search bar. I can then filter by location, such as the metropolitan market that I sell in. Linkedin will give me results based upon my connections. For example, I will get 1st, 2nd and 3rd Degree connections at the top. I can then make phone calls and ask our mutual connections for help. I can also just get on the phone and call these people directly.
2. If I am trying to get into a company such as Ford Motor Company, I will type “Ford Motor Company” in the search bar on Linkedin. I will then get a result set sorted by my 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree connections. Again, now I have a point of contact and their title. This isn't rocket science here...If you know the person you should reach, you are 80% there.
3. Finally, I will start looking through my connections, to see if they are connected to anyone interesting. I have a number of connections that are very well connected. I will use these people as a springboard. I will always snoop around with these high influencers to see if there is a person or a company that I missed.
4. I will continuously upload my contact database to Linkedin so that I can see if I am missing connections. After setting up a meeting with someone, I always check out their LinkedIn profile and either add them or get some recon for the upcoming meeting.
5. Put your Linkedin url link on your email signature. Mine is http://www.linkedin.com/in/mweinstein222. Check me out and connect with me....But please let me know how you found me...I don't just accept anyone.
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