If you’re reaching out to directors, business owners & CEOs on LinkedIn, the chances are you’re not the only one. Sure, many people would ‘love to add you to their network’ to discuss ‘mutual interests’ but, if nothing makes you stand out, why would people want to accept your connection request? Here is my checklist to help you secure those connections:
Make sure to hyper personalise your message
There are many ways in which you can personalise your message. For example, instead of just sending messages to ‘business owners’, you could have a different message for finance directors and managing directors. Instead of reaching out to anyone within the UK, you could personalise the message with their location. The options are extensive.
Have a point to your message
People have busy schedules in our post COVID, back-to-back Zoom meeting era. Most don’t have the time to have a wishy-washy conversation with everybody who drops them a message on LinkedIn. Add something attention grabbing to your message, such as replacing ‘Can we connect?’ with ‘Can I show you how I’ve helped other owners in your industry achieve <insert specific outcome>?’. For a business owner, sales manager or marketing guru, their curiosity will, more often than not, be piqued.
Don’t be too salesy
Life is all about balance, as are messages on LinkedIn. Whilst you certainly don’t want to be too diffuse with your wording, make sure your messages don’t appear too spammy. ‘Can we set up a meeting to discuss {my product/service}?’ is too much for an opener. Remember, it’s all about them, not you.
Remember to follow up once your prospect has connected
Whilst this may seem a daft point to some, the number of connection requests I have accepted on LinkedIn to receive nothing short of radio silence afterwards grows daily. Once you’ve gained a new valuable connection, make sure you keep the conversation going. You’ve now got a foot in the door (and no character limit), so make the most of it. Don’t take that as an invitation to send copy-pasted marketing material though! But do remember to follow up, and to touch back in a few months’ time to see how they are.
If you’d like help writing an opener for your LinkedIn outreach, drop me an email personally (my email is tom@fusiondigital.co.uk) and I’ll be more than happy to cast my eye over it.
Alternatively, have a look at our Digital masterclass series and register for our webinars.
