Yet, each industry has taught me something different and has provided me with valuable life experience. I just have one small complaint -- LinkedIn is not a dating website. Should I Do It? Spoiler Alert: No I recently trained as an inbound sales representative. I thought if I knew how to sell products and services, I would have a better understanding of my job as a marketer. Part of my sales training consisted of beginning conversations on a variety of platforms -- from the phone to email and, yes, even LinkedIn. This method changes the sales perspective and allows reps to be a little more psychiatrist and a lot less professional bull rider. Everything was going well, and I saw my book of business expanding by the minute. To build rapport with my prospects, I added LinkedIn messaging to my sales outreach process. Thanks for accepting my invitation to join your network. Enjoy your day, and please let me know if there is anything I can help you with. Best, Hayley Pretty standard stuff, right? One prospect thought my greeting was so great, he proposed I work with him. I thrive off creativity, relationships, and team building. What exactly do you do? Would you like to meet for a drink sometime? There are so many online platforms to meet people in a romantic way i. LinkedIn is not one of those sites. It is designed for professionals to network, share business, and recruit for career paths, not dates. However, I want to pursue sales, and to do that, I need to get my messaging right so nothing comes across as flirtation. However, there is a strategy behind professional persuasion. Keep your profile picture professional Your phone may have a terrific camera, but that selfie is not a professional profile picture for LinkedIn. When choosing a photo, consider your audience. Your outfit should mimic something you would wear to an interview, and your pose should be one that conveys your professional attitude, persona, and goals. Put simply, this might not be the place for duck lips and bar photos. Be smart and ask a friend for advice. Have a professional message When reaching out to a connection, be aware of your approach. Have a great day! You are not able to see body language or hear the tone of voice -- and neither is the other party. Be as professional as possible while enjoying the online experience. Professional messaging goes for both your direct profile and your connections. Make professional gestures Now that your network is thriving, keep your connections happy with helpful content that solidifies trust. Interested in learning more on best practices for LinkedIn? Originally published Jun 22, 2018 7:30:00 AM, updated June 22 2018.
