What are the best tools and techniques for social listening in inside sales?

1 Choose the right platforms

The first step in social listening is to decide which platforms to focus on. Depending on your target market, industry, and product, you may want to use different social media channels, forums, blogs, podcasts, or review sites. For example, if you sell B2B software, you may want to use LinkedIn, Twitter, Quora, or G2. If you sell B2C products, you may want to use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube. You can also use tools like Google Alerts, Mention, or BuzzSumo to track keywords and topics related to your niche.

2 Set up alerts and filters

The next step is to set up alerts and filters to monitor relevant conversations and mentions. You can use tools like Hootsuite, Sprout Social, or HubSpot to create dashboards and streams that show you what people are saying about your brand, products, competitors, and industry. You can also use filters to narrow down your results by location, language, sentiment, or influence. This way, you can prioritize the most important and relevant conversations and avoid being overwhelmed by noise.

3 Listen and learn

The third step is to listen and learn from the conversations you find. You can use tools like Brandwatch, Socialbakers, or Talkwalker to analyze the data and trends from your social listening. You can also use tools like Loomly, Buffer, or CoSchedule to plan and schedule your content and responses. The goal is to understand what your prospects are looking for, what their pain points and goals are, what their opinions and feedback are, and what their expectations and objections are. This will help you create a buyer persona, a value proposition, and a sales strategy that resonates with them.

4 Engage and connect

The fourth step is to engage and connect with your prospects through social listening. You can use tools like Nimble, Sales Navigator, or Outreach to find and reach out to potential buyers who are active and interested in your niche. You can also use tools like Vidyard, Loom, or BombBomb to send personalized video messages that stand out and build trust. The goal is to start a conversation, provide value, and establish rapport with your prospects. You can also use tools like Calendly, Zoom, or Skype to book and conduct meetings with them.

5 Follow up and nurture

The fifth step is to follow up and nurture your prospects through social listening. You can use tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, or Drip to send email sequences that educate, inform, and persuade your prospects. You can also use tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive to track and manage your leads and deals. The goal is to keep in touch, overcome objections, and move your prospects along the sales funnel. You can also use tools like Trustpilot, Yelp, or Google Reviews to collect and showcase testimonials and referrals from your happy customers.

6 Optimize and improve

The sixth and final step is to optimize and improve your social listening strategy. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Crazy Egg to measure and analyze your results and performance. You can also use tools like SurveyMonkey, Typeform, or Qualtrics to collect and act on feedback from your customers and prospects. The goal is to identify what works and what doesn't, and make adjustments and improvements accordingly. You can also use tools like Feedly, Medium, or LinkedIn Learning to stay updated and educated on the latest trends and best practices in your niche and industry.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?