How do you conquer fear in social selling?

Talking through your fears with colleagues or coaches is a great way to help identify them. When you say them out loud, especially to another person, they quickly get put in perspective. Especially if the person you are talking with has dealt with and overcome those fears themselves.

The discussion is not about the fear of social selling but the fear of selling in general. Is it the fear of being rejected, being a failure, or even seen being pushy or salesy? By reframing the process as a chance to connect with others and provide genuine solutions, you can gradually transcend the fear of selling and achieve success in your social selling endeavors.

Most fears I have seen are: 1. What if I post and no one likes it? 2. What if my DM gets ignored? 3. What if I am seen as a spammer? So many messages are being sent out and so much content is created, that 99% will have forgotten about you before you even noticed. Trial - error - improve - repeat.

Know your audience; don't try to lie or use nonsense speeches. Be prepared if you don't have the answer, dig in, and learn where the client wants to take you. For example: - I don't have that data, but I would like you to guide me in knowing what information you think is relevant. - If I had more information about this, which characteristic would you like me to utilize in the analysis or the proposal? It is okay to be afraid, but you must remember the route to the doctor and how you would describe your symptoms to receive the appropriate medicine for your problem.

I felt sweat trickling down my forehead. A red alarm was sounding in my head. I mustered courage and hit post. That's how it felt to publish my first personal video on LinkedIn. If you feel similar, or you don't know what to post, or you're afraid you'll look silly, or won't add value—You're not alone. Anyone that puts themselves out there on social has felt, and most likely still feels those feeling sometimes. The first step is to figure out what's scaring you. If it's fear of failure, fear of rejection, or pride, you're fears are valid. Posting to social will bring all of those fears to life. The reality of failure, rejection, and humiliation, have a bite, but the reward of building relationships is worth the price.

The most toxic thought you can have about social selling is that you aren’t the “right” person to be doing it. These feelings of self doubt are the stories we torture ourselves with. They hold us back from putting ourselves out there on LinkedIn. They stop us from creating opportunities for ourselves. Because the truth is, you will never: - Sound the right way - Look the right way - Talk the right way All you can do is use social media YOUR way, because all you can be is yourself. Embrace social selling, silence the self doubt and truly be your authentic self. That’s when opportunities will start to come your way. And you’ll have yourself to thank for them.

Imagine you're at a party surrounded by strangers. The best move is to simply relax and be yourself, doing what feels right. Eventually, you'll naturally connect with the right people. Stay true to yourself and keep moving forward. Remember the well-known saying: don't focus solely on reaching your destination, enjoy the journey along the way.

The hardest part for me and something I imagine most encounter is just starting. Sending the first post and creating the first video. The truth is you will never know your outcomes unless you try. -Your first post will not get much traction. -Your first video will hardly be seen. But you will be posting and you will be creating an audience, no matter how slow the start. Just Start!

"Sir, you may be thinking of a response, but you type in a different answer...like a Freudian slip" I got an ANGRY commenter this week. It hurt. It really did. Deep down, I knew he was blowing things out of proportion and looking for a reason to be mad. It still stung. If you post on social or use social to build relationships, you will have people get upset with you. That's reality. The truth is those people have problems and they take it out on you. Once you realize you can bring real value to people through your knowledge, it makes it easier to put negative people behind. Avoiding haters isn't possible. Create content for the people who inspire you to keep going.

Start by recognizing the negative thoughts that hold you back. Are you telling yourself that you're not good enough? Ask yourself, "Is this thought based on facts, or is it an assumption?" Often, you'll find that these thoughts are not grounded in reality. Recognize your unique strengths and value proposition. What sets you apart from others in your industry? Highlight these qualities to boost your confidence You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be you. Authenticity often requires being vulnerable. Don't be afraid to share your setbacks. People connect with stories. Share your journey, experiences, and passion for what you do Focus on building relationships and offering value. Sales will follow as a natural outcome.

As with everything in life you will not do your best the first time you do it. Repetition grows skill, confidence, Followers, and rewards but you have to first have the courage to start.

My friend David is a ROCKSTAR seller. He's sold millions of dollars through cold-calling and relationship building at events. But when it came to posting on social, he struggled to get over his fear. David decided to go for it anyway. He got a job in a new industry and needed to get some quick wins. So he invited prospects and experts to join him for conversations on LinkedIn live. David wasn't the star of the show, he was the MC. By starting with a format he was comfortable with, he got over his fear and closed a $5M deal in less than six months. He just started posting original content, and it's blowing up. Practice, practice practice. Record 10 videos you don't share. Then share one, then two, then three. Take baby steps.

The key indeed is to look at people who you think lead by example, observe their behavior but most importantly apply it to yourself and the way you operate (social) selling. It must be authentic and inline with your values

Starting anything new is rarely easy or effective right away. social selling should be started by: - Knowing your target audience inside out. Identify their needs, preferences, and pain points. Tailor your approach to provide real value! - Connect with people daily and be patient as you nurture relationships! - Become the go-to resource in your field and gain the trust of your audience. collaborate between marketing and sales, and help each other make even better content! - Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Seek knowledge, attend industry events, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends. The more you know, the stronger you become! Testing and learning by doing is good way to succes!

You are going to make mistakes, that’s a given, in fact it’s a guarantee… learn from them and quickly…. The landscape constantly is evolving. Also you must be fearless, especially in regards to trying out new posts/ putting out content you maybe haven’t got approval yet from your supervisor. My motto is it’s always better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. You are pushing the boundaries, get prepared for constant pushback but persevere!

Volume that is average is better than perfect inaction. People who aren't afraid to suck do way more! Seeing average people crush it is a great reminder that you can do anything!

Matthew said yes. He is a local marketing leader that agreed to coffee with me. I was Padawan learner and Matthew is a social selling Jedi Master. He encouraged me to keep going. To press through my fears. And create content. Without the support of Matthew and others, I would not have made succeeded on social. LinkedIn is a friendly community. Sure, you'll find an occasional Sith Lord and negative comment droids, but overall, people on LinkedIn are very nice and helpful. Don't be afraid to reach out to people that are killing it to get some encouragement. To be successful on LinkedIn you have to go from social engagement, to direct messages, to live conversations. I'm always happy to chat social selling, so you can start with me.

Food doesn't taste as good when eating alone. I used to solo travel for work. My per diem was $50 a day. When I finished hard jobs, I'd treat myself to a NICE dinner. But it never tasted good. An expensive steak? Meh. A cedar plank salmon—Uh. But when I traveled with a team and we celebrated the completion of a big job? That was a party. Don't celebrate your wins on social alone. You need to find a close friend or two to share big wins. Someone that's on the journey with you. Whether a post gets traction, or a prospect books a call, you need people to cheer you on. Find a community to support you.

Just celebrate in General! It's said that running away from fear and pain is more motivating than the positive stuff which I think is true but I try and celebrate losses just as much. Always failing forward but not repeating. Maintain perspective.

Sometimes, we forget who we are and how far we come to achieve that goal... and you know what? It's OK, it's normal. Tell somebody, and let the people you love or care about tell you how significant that achievement was. Don't worry about being alone; sometimes, everyone needs some clarity. Just make sure you remember that every successful story needs a hero.

When I started posting on social media, I was made fun of, laughed at and judged. Even the top executives of the company I worked for created fake email address and wrote derogatory comments on the blogs I was writing. Even some of my closest friends would make jokes about the videos I was making about sales and leadership. Not everyone is going to understand your goals. Not everyone will support your dreams. This can be scary and often times feel incredibly lonely. Don't ever give up! Choosing to step out, regardless of fear, is one of the most empowering decisions you could make. Stepping out of your comfort zone grows you, strengthens you and stretches you. Don't let fear hold you back. You weren't meant to hide, but to shine.

It's all about taking action. What steps can you start taking today that will help you become a better social seller tomorrow? From my experience in coaching sales teams, the action-oriented sales reps are always the ones that are the most successful.

Remember this: Social Selling isn't just about selling; it's about connecting, building trust, empowering, and making a difference. Start your journey today, and watch your business soar! ??

To conquer fear in social selling, start with small actions and gradually increase your online presence. Educate yourself on social selling tactics to gain confidence. Focus on creating authentic content that reflects your true interests and insights. Regularly engage with others' posts and respond to comments to build a supportive community. Celebrate every bit of progress and seek feedback for improvement. Practice mindfulness to calm nerves and sharpen focus. Remember, overcoming fear is a step-by-step journey towards becoming a more confident and effective communicator.