Most LinkedIn sales strategies fail before they start. People push their services too hard, turning potential clients away. They send connection requests with instant pitches. They post about how amazing they are. They sign off and say it didn’t work, failing to see that they played the game wrong.
But founders succeeding on LinkedIn know better. They build relationships first. They play the long game. They share value freely, turning cold leads into warm prospects who choose to buy. No sales pitch needed.
Build trust on LinkedIn through authentic connection
Share customer success stories
Telling client success stories grabs attention better than any sales pitch. Pick one transformation and break down exactly what changed. Your ideal clients will see themselves in your client’s story and reach out to create their own.
Show the starting point, journey, and outcome with real numbers. Paint a picture of what’s possible through your work together. Get famous for the success of your clients. Let your happy customers do the selling for you.
Add extra value after each post
Give away your best stuff. Share resources that help your audience right now. Add a simple “want help with this?” or “how I can help:” at the bottom of high-value posts, and share something you know is awesome. When someone reads all the way down, they can choose to find out more. Let interested readers take the next step naturally.
Psychologist Robert Cialdini proved people feel compelled to return favors. When you freely give out valuable insights, your audience naturally wants to reciprocate. Add templates, frameworks or guides that make someone’s work easier today. Build credibility by solving problems before asking for anything in return.
Launch events that matter
Create LinkedIn events that add real value. Run workshops that teach something specific. Host expert interviews your audience wants to watch. When you’re in your event dashboard, you can invite your connections so they get a notification. Make your work known to people who don’t spend long scrolling the feed.
I created a LinkedIn event for every AI for coaches webinar I ran. The platform pushed my events to relevant audiences and I invited my connections, bringing new attendees with zero extra effort.
Start meaningful conversations
Send DMs that focus on helping, not selling. Find your ideal customers and ask about their challenges and create content that addresses those exact points. Make introductions that benefit both parties with no expectation of return. Keep the conversation going.
Use a DM management tool like Kondo to keep on top of your messages. Build relationships first, business later. Learn what keeps your audience up at night then position your work as the solution they need.
Show the human behind the business
People want to know about you, so use follower milestones to reintroduce yourself. Share your story, your work and your world. Tell people why you do what you do. Help them understand your mission and methods.
When I hit 25,000 followers I shared a reintroduction post. I included information about me, my work and my world. A hello to old and new friends. It wasn’t salesly, but I made sales. Connect through common ground before talking business. Give your connections an excuse to start a chat.
Win at LinkedIn: build relationships that lead to sales
Stop pushing your services and start pulling people in. Share client wins that inspire action. Give value freely in posts and comments. Create events worth attending. Start real conversations in DMs. Show up as yourself.
The best sales happen when you focus on serving first. Pick one strategy and implement it this week. Track what works and adjust as you go. Your ideal clients are waiting to hear from you.
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