A few days ago, Tricycle hosted the event Virtual Coffee with a Coach, where our attendees can have a ‘virtual coffee break’ and ask any question related to thought leadership, social selling, and personal branding to one of our coaches. This time, our Digital Business Consultant Mariana Lima was asked: “I am not in sales. Is social selling the right thing for me?”.
It is clear: social selling is a powerful way to build relationships and gain new customers. It is an effective approach to reach new audiences and generate more leads without having to cold call or send out countless emails. It can be daunting to try to use it when you are not in sales. However, as Mariana explained, with the right plan of action, social selling will open doors to new opportunities for any professional, no matter their position or title.
Social selling is not only for Sales or Marketing
Social selling is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of which department you work in. This is because it is about building relationships and creating connections. You don’t need to be in sales to do this, everyone within the team can do it. Your social selling efforts will not only help others to find new prospects or grow their network, it will also help you to achieve your own goals.
The best way to get started with social selling is to understand your audience and what they are looking for. You can then tailor your content to meet their needs, including who you are and what you have to offer.
Is not about selling a product or service
Is not about selling a product or serviceThe phrase ‘social selling’ may conjure up images of someone trying to push a product on an unsuspecting customer, or being pushy and aggressive in an attempt to win a deal. In reality, selling is not about pressuring someone into making a purchase. Rather, it is about creating our personal brand and increasing our exposure, about building trust and relationships through social media. It is also about giving people a reason to choose you or your brand. This can include sharing your expertise and advice, expressing your values and personality, and creating a connection with your audience. Social selling is also about listening to what your audience needs and wants. In order to do this, you need to be present on the platforms where they spend their time.
Building a strong personal brand
Having a strong personal brand is a must-do for anyone’s career. It can help you to build or strengthen your reputation and position your name at the top of your prospects’ minds. It’s all about getting people to know you and trust you.
Building your personal brand requires dedication and consistency. It is essential to engage frequently with your network, provide them with fresh and relevant content and be, to sum up, their go-to person. If you are unsure where to begin, start with your profile! Make sure it is updated and that truly shows your own story.
Final Thoughts
Social selling is a great way to create connections and build relationships. It is a way to be helpful to your audience and offer them value without asking for anything in return. With the right strategy, you can build your brand and attract more opportunities without having to be in front of people face-to-face. Social media allows you to connect with people near and far, and it is a great source for building your network. With all this in mind, the next step is to get started with your social selling efforts.
To learn more about this and many other frequently asked questions, watch the full recording of our Virtual Coffee with a Coach (December 2022 Edition) event here. We talked about profile tips, connecting on LinkedIn, Sales Navigator and so much more! If you want us to help you answer your questions and get the results you want to achieve on social, register for our next edition here!
