7 Tips to turn Contacts into real Leads.

Tired of "collecting" contacts without ever hearing from them again?

You're not alone. The average person only converts about 2% of their contacts into leads.

But there are a few things you can do to change that. Here are 7 tips to turn your contacts into real leads:

1. Have a Customer-Focused Profile

When you approach your potential customers, they will most probably visit your profile before accepting your invitation request. If your profile does not look interesting, professional, authentic, and, most important, customer-focused, it will be very difficult. Your potential customers must get the immediate impression that you are THE expert, which can help them to solve their (business) challenges.

2. Stay authentic

Your counterpart will already unconsciously determine in the first message whether you are likable or not. Authenticity is a sympathy factor that should not be underestimated. The more you stay true to yourself, choose your own words, and show your personal side, the better your chances of making a pleasant first impression. Therefore, standard messages or - in the worst case - automatic bot messages are an absolute no-go.

3. No selling in the first conversation

Your first exchange with a new contact should never be an attempt to sell something directly. This poses a risk of spam and will usually instinctively cause your counterpart to reject you. Be aware that LinkedIn users want to network first and foremost. If they later need your service or product, they will use their network and come back to you. It's a wise investment to build a good relationship until that moment. So when you make contact, think long-term - and less about quick sales. Think about opening new business opportunities, not about closing sales.

"LinkedIn is about opening new business opportunities, not about closing sales"

4. Make the most of every new contact

Think of LinkedIn as a platform for valuable networking rather than a sales machine. It is also worthwhile to add contacts who do not fit directly into your customer profile but who are characterized by other relevant overlaps. You can quickly find these, for example, in the LinkedIn groups that interest you. By the way, you can build up a higher and cross-sectoral reach and visibility through a greater "contact diversity." This, in turn, provides you with more new contacts. A diverse network also has a recommendation character and increases credibility and trust in your person and your services.

5. Social Listening

Look and LISTEN closely to get to know your target group better. What are their biggest challenges? What do they like, what don't they like, whom do they follow, and what do they like & comment on? Participate in their discussions, show your expertise, and position yourself as a problem solver for your potential customers sympathetically and authentically. You will quickly notice for whom your services are really useful, and you can gradually draw the attention of these contacts. This way, after getting to know each other and building up an initial basis of trust, you can go into the sales pitch in a targeted and more efficient manner when and for whom your services or products can be relevant.

6. Profile Visitors

Check who has visited your profile every day. Are there any interesting visitors? Write to them. There is a reason why they landed on your profile, even if it was a coincidence - it is the perfect opportunity to make warm contact.

7. Celebrations

Yes Celebrations, it's the easiest way to get in touch or start a conversation because it is a very positive occasion. You usually get notifications about new celebrations, such as new jobs, birthdays, etc. But LinkedIn just made this even easier for all of us with this brand-new feature. You can now simply click on this URL / Link, and you will automatically see an overview of all "Celebrations" in your network. With that, you can systematically get in touch with the "right" people in the "right" moment.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/celebrations/

Summary

LinkedIn is a business network, not a cold-selling platform. Always keep in mind that most people are on LinkedIn to network and not to buy anything. Even if making business is relevant for most of us, it does not give us the "license to hunt" everybody and everything.

Always stay true to yourself, and build true and trustful relationships by helping and not by selling. Even if it sounds difficult, the more you give, the more you will receive, but it will take time and consistency. Social Selling is a (never-ending) Marathon and not a Sprint!

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About Me:

I'm Patrick Simone ??, LinkedIn & Sales Navigator Trainer and Social Selling Coach, and author of SALESification, the LinkedIn Book transforming an entire organization into brand ambassadors (currently available in german on Amazon)

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/patricksimone/

I ?? to work with Sales professionals and sales teams and show them how to accelerate sales success and efficiency with the power of LinkedIn, Sales Navigator, and other Digital Selling Tools ??

Probably it's because I have worked for more than 20 years in global companies, many years as a Sales + Marketing Leader before I decided to take a leap and exchange my successful corporate career and 9 to 5 job with a 24/7 job of building my own company. BTW: Best Decision ever ??

#adessodigital #socialselling #leadership #salesification #sales