7 Ways A Social Selling Ninja Always Connects On LinkedIn

My LinkedIn network has grown over 30% in the last 3 months. Three months ago I made a decision to try to add 3 new connections on a daily basis which has now turned into 5-10 on accident.

@Jill_Rowley always says "Your network is your net worth," and I truly believe that she is 100% correct!

Through trial and error, I have found some ways that are highly effective for getting connected and some that aren't. I could give you a thousand different statistics on why growing your network is so important, but I won't bore you with the same social selling statistics that you hear over and over.

First off, it's not easy to add connections on LinkedIn anymore. Everyone is looking to safeguard their network since they have been spammed by companies and sales professionals taking the wrong approach. Decision makers and influencer's understand that most of the people connecting are looking to get something from them.

It is crucial that you are super RESPECTABLE and super GENUINE about how you connect and more importantly WHEN you connect. Don't be the spammy connecting dummy (Puh-Lease)!

Here Is My Connection Plug! Click Here To Add Me To Your Linked Network.

DISCLAIMER: These are examples of how I send the invites. To save innocent decision makers identities, I've chosen to use guinea pigs (my fellow colleagues).

Notice: I will point out why I am saying the things I am. I'm always looking for a commonality between myself and a new connection. Make all your invites personal or don't waste your time sending them.

#1 - You Set An Appointment

As soon as you set an appointment, have a conversation trying to set an appointment, or any scenario that involves the word "appointment..." Let them know you are sending an invitation to connect! This is LinkedIn connecting 101 but I hear sales professionals not doing this! Here is an example of how I send the appointment.

#2 - Someone Views Your Profile

I'm a social media addict and probably never go 2 minutes without checking my LinkedIn (Pathetic... I know!). You might not be the same but it's always good to see who's looking at your profile periodically. I don't add every Dick and Sally but if they add value to my network... I send the invite like this.

#3 - Someone Adds You On Twitter

This is only for my Twitter peeps but I just started doing this and have made some of my best connections with influencers. Once I see a connection made on Twitter and have a little engagement... I'm going straight to their LinkedIn and getting connected! I've found that influencers are more apt to connect on Twitter than LinkedIn. Get the connection into their network while you are top of mind.

#4 - After Reading A LinkedIn Publish

This is my absolute favorite one! This is where you can start connecting with decision makers and actually getting them to accept. For example, I see a CMO post an article about email marketing, I'm immediately liking the post and then engaging in the post with their name tagged... Next, I'm going straight to their profile and connecting with a message like this.

#5 - You Get A Follower From Your Publish

This is the old "read and run" scenario. Once I publish an article I will get some decision makers that hit the follow button but don't add me on LinkedIn. Oh No No No... Don't read and run on me because LinkedIn let's me know you were there! Ok, I don't do this a lot but if I see the right people following me when that alert hits... I'm connecting like this.

#6- Referrals

My bread and butter of success is referrals! I'd hope that all sales professionals work off of referrals...but that's for another blog post some other time. As soon as I get permission from my referral partner, I'm going straight to LinkedIn and making the connection. I'm doing this before I even send the email or make the call. I'm not sure I need an example for this one.

Lucky #7 - Any Event, Trade-show, Bar, or Networking Activity

I was lucky enough to attend Dreamforce this year and I can tell you that I made 132 LinkedIn connections in 48 hours. Get rid of those stupid business cards and pull out your smartphone! I was sipping on a cocktail at Ruby Skye for the DocuSign party adding people left and right into my LinkedIn network. Let's just say that I forgot who anyone was with a business card and I think I lost the ones I did collect. The best part about connecting on LinkedIn is that after a few cocktails... It does all the remembering for you!

This is the humor invite of the Publish (Sorry Billy!).

All I have to say is that it's time that you start connecting and growing that LinkedIn network! I hope these helped and make sure to leave some feedback as I am a big believer that #SharingIsCaring!

Give me a little Twitter love if you can find it in your heart! @JackKosakowski1

-The SaaS A Nova of Marketing Automation and Borat Thank You For Liking!