Messaging your Leads
Hello folks, welcome to the twelfth lesson of marketing hero. In this lesson, we will talk about correctly reaching out to a contact through messages.
Linkedin’s messaging has taken the business world by storm in recent years. Currently, LinkedIn boasts more than 500 million users.
On LinkedIn, messaging your First-degree connection is simple whereas to message Second-degree connection you need a premium account.
You can send a message to your connections directly from the following sections:
- Your messaging page
- Your connections page
- Linkedin member profile
To properly reach out to your contact through messages follow these steps as your guide
- Go to your profile
- Click my network icon at the top of your homepage
- Click connections on the left rail
- Find the person you want to message from your connections list
- Click message next to their name
- Draft your message in the text box and click send
You can send a message from a connection’s profile page. Follow these steps
-Go to your connection’s profile page
-Click message next to their profile picture
-Type your message
-Click send
Before you send a message - Personalise every message depending on your leads
Don’t just copy-paste the same message to every single lead. When reaching out to someone, it’s important to do a little research before sending the initial request.
Whatever you find in common between yourself and the potential lead. Keep that in mind while crafting your first message to them so that your first touch is targeted, personal, and relevant.
Use what you learned from their Linkedin profile to personally craft your message to each individual, so they know you actually paid attention to their profiles.
Leverage your mutual connection
It’s often easier to strike up a conversation with a stranger if there’s someone else who can vouch for you.
So if you have a mutual friend or former co-worker in common (and you feel comfortable doing so), try asking one of your shared connections to introduce you.
Your mutual connection can start a group message and share how they know each of you. After that, you can message individually.
Another more traditional approach is to simply mention your mutual connection in your first message to the lead.
Keep in mind LinkedIn messaging as instant messaging, not emailing. Don’t send paragraphs of text when a few concise sentences will do.
Have a look at this example for a better understanding
Send them a thank you message
Send a thank you message whenever someone accepts your personalized (always personalized ) invitation and when you have a successful connection.
Not many people do this, so if you want to stand out in a new connection’s mind, send a thank you message.
It’s amazing how a simple thank you can grease the wheels of engagement!
Use WIIFM (what's in it for me)
Present yourself as someone who wants to make your prospect’s job easier. Build your message about their needs and perspectives.
Your prospect does not care about how long you have been a part of a company, your products or services, how great your company is.
They only care about what you can offer them.
Keep it short! People are busy and the average reader’s attention span is only eight seconds
Have a look at this example
Craft message not being too pitchy
Asking for a sale in your first message is a deadly sin. If you need to beg a stranger to buy your products, it sends the message that you aren’t successfully drawing in customers.
Remember your goal is not to push your products or services, it’s to make a connection and start a conversation.
The below example message is being too pitchy by focusing on the services. By messaging this way you will never get a response from the prospect.
In the below example we are building rapport by using interesting topics you can find in their profile.
Pointing out the benefits they can get from working with you without the hassle of going through the long way of reaching that benefit.
Give value to your leads
You can provide value by sharing content that helps them solve a problem and ask questions that get them thinking about things that will lead them to the next step, which in most cases, is booking a phone call.
Flooding their inboxes and pushing sales immediately will only turn them off.
For best results, you should share relevant news articles, statistics, or insights from your own work experiences. Don’t be afraid to share case studies about how your products or services have helped other clients!
When someone messages you, you can send a reply by clicking the messaging window on the lower right corner of your LinkedIn feeder profile.
That is how easily you can reach out to your contacts on LinkedIn. Using the messaging feature you can contact your network connections daily. Remember your goal is to make your prospect engage.
By taking your time and providing value initially, you will be more likely to get a positive response.
So make sure to properly craft your message!
Let’s proceed to the next lesson: How to schedule appointments through LinkedIn. After a successful connection with potential leads, the first thing you will do is message them.
Build trust with your prospects on LinkedIn. LinkedIn Messaging is an ideal way to make connections and build strong relationships with prospects.
Flooding their inboxes and pushing sales immediately will only turn them off. If you want a response, you need to provide value, approach the relationship naturally, and ask questions.
Proceed to the next step once you believe your prospect is hooked to your message.
Schedule an appointment
As you develop the above conversations, you are going to see over time that a certain number of your connections are going to ask to speak with you, or in other cases, you can start a conversation.
Either way, always keep your appointment scheduler handy and send them a link. The point is to take the conversation offline!
If you just started to build a relationship with your prospects, give them options. That leads to where you want them to choose from
Give Choices from Monday to Wednesday
You can ask which day do you prefer? Monday or Wednesday?
Mondays could be busy for some people because it’s the start of the week and they need to deal with work-related stuff.
GIve time options
Give an earlier time and a few hours later than your first-time option. You can ask Do you prefer 10 am or 3 pm? Your prospect could be busy in the morning.
Give place options
Offer to meet up at a place near your office
You can ask, do you prefer a place near your area or office? Or a place near my area or office?
Chapter 13 : Why and how to advertise on LinkedIn See More