Over the years LinkedIn has become one of the most used and common modes of social interaction. A simple social media platform like LinkedIn, allows you to get in touch with anyone and everyone across the globe. Besides, it gives you a chance to connect with people one on one. This, in turn, increases the probability of turning them into a potential long-term account or lead.
However, the popularity of LinkedIn has also made it the most abused networking channel. It is because people utilize its facilities like InMail without knowing when to stop. This is what our write-up is exactly about! It will take you through some of the most interesting facts about LinkedIn, that marketers should be aware of.
Furthermore, it will even highlight how you can make proper use of the LinkedIn InMail option. So, you get more responses and are eventually able to close a higher number of deals in the future.
Why is LinkedIn a popular marketing tool?
In a short duration, LinkedIn has already crossed the mark of connecting 500 million users to one another according to the Business Insider 2017 post. Besides, it is still on a continuous growth which is far above than any social media or networking channel. This rapid growth has resulted in numerous Fortune 500 companies being active regularly on LinkedIn.
Currently, more than half of its user base, which is around 260 million (Fortune Post), logs in to their account every month. This research was conducted by Apptopia and was also backed by LinkedIn. Moreover, 40% (OMNICORE 2019) of this user base is browsing through the portal daily.
The other reason why LinkedIn has become such a popular marketing tool is because of its user type. As per the statistics shared by LinkedIn’s Marketing Solutions Blog, 61 million users belong to the top level management or influencer category. This results in the platform being an ideal place to float new business ideas, theories, and strategies.
To add to this, another 40 million users are also on decision making positions. This data too has been taken from the same LinkedIn blog. It has even established a record by being the No.1 networking platform for content distribution done by B2B marketers. The overall percentage of this statistic is a whopping 94% according to the Sophisticated Marketers Guide published by LinkedIn.
If you want to know about more reasons, as to why LinkedIn is a popular marketing tool, then here is a list.
- LinkedIn is the largest professional platform, which is used in more than 200 countries.
- LinkedIn has numerous marketing solutions and services, that facilitate the work of marketers worldwide.
- It is a platform that allows media exposure, which is a backbone for brand awareness these days.
- With LinkedIn, you can refer contacts and clients to others. This establishes a level of trust.
10 InMail tricks to get a response and close more deals
One of the most used services offered by LinkedIn is the InMail facility. It is a great way of connecting with like-minded people or potential business leads. However, a lot of people struggle with creating the perfect InMail, which gets them a quick response. As per statistics presented by LinkedIn Talent Blog, the response rate for InMail is three times higher than traditional emails.
This makes it one of the biggest reasons, why marketers should know about these 10 InMail tricks to get a quick response and close more deals.
1. The reason for sending an InMail
Everyone who is using LinkedIn is not there to find a job or hire a particular service. That is why, it is highly recommended that marketers conduct their research, and figure out a proper reason for sending someone an InMail. This becomes even more necessary as almost to 2 billion millennials (Adweek 2016) are using LinkedIn globally. It is a crowd which believes in the fast pace of life, and will not give time to a message that is irrelevant. So the next time around, contact someone who needs what your offering!
2. Intriguing subject lines
As we all know that LinkedIn is the top ranking networking platform in the entire world. It is because 79% (LinkedIn SlideShare) of B2B marketers believe the platform to be a good source of lead generation. However, in order to get a response from potential leads, one needs to create an InMail which has an intriguing subject line. Since the subject of an InMail is the first thing that a user sees is it needs to be catchy and to the point. Also, the subject line should be relevant to what you are offering.
3. Starting with personal greetings
Another trick that can allow you to get more responses for your InMail is starting with a personal greeting. According to a SaaS company Replicon, they were able to increase their response rate by 11 times (Marketing Solutions Blog) with the help of the LinkedIn InMail option. Besides, the company even stated that use of personal greetings can make the conversation more smooth and direct. Overall, it is a trick that can come in handy for marketers across the globe.
4. Giving a brief introduction
As someone who is trying to promote their business, one usually starts by introducing themselves to the other party. The same concept can be applied to the LinkedIn InMail service. According to B2B marketers, 46% (LinkedIn Blog) of social traffic that they receive on their website comes from LinkedIn. Thus, making sure to add a proper introduction is a critical aspect of getting responses and closing more deals. However, the introduction should be brief and not something that a person would get bored of reading.
5. Talking business
A long or lengthy InMail is not something that people usually care for especially on a platform like LinkedIn. It is mainly because LinkedIn is used by decision makers like CEOs, CMOs, and VPs who have other important things to do. To be precise, LinkedIn data suggests that 92% (LinkedIn Marketing Blog) of top-level marketers worldwide use the platform. Hence, your InMail should focus more on the business aspect. Rather than trying to create a bond in the very beginning. Creating a lasting business relationship can be left for the later part of your conversation stream.
6. A persuasive pitch
Sending out InMails is like pitching your idea or offerings to another person. For this, creating a persuasive pitch is of utmost importance. According to surveys conducted by LinkedIn, its content both InMail and published is viewed over 9 billion (Marketing Solutions Blog) times every week. Thus, creating impressive pitches and content is the only way to make it stand out amongst all others.
7. Closing it strong
Structuring the layout and outline of your InMail can make or break your entire effort. Adding a Call-to-Action at the very end of your message will encourage the reader to hit “Reply” if they like what you are offering. However, there is a correct way to do so. The call to action should be precise and must include the appropriate contact detail. Besides, a strong closing is known to increase the response rate, which will eventually lead to you closing more deals.
8. Signing the InMail
Even though this might sound like a simple trick, it can still prove to be quite useful. At the end of every InMail, one needs to sign it off with their correct information. This includes your name, company name, and designation. By signing the InMail properly, people reading it will be able to know whom to contact in case they are interested. Currently, 80% (Foundation) marketers are able to generate B2B leads with the help of a properly signed LinkedIn InMail.
9. Right time for messaging
One of the first rules of marketing is approaching a potential lead during a particular time. In other words, getting in touch at the right time will allow you to receive a more positive response from your lead. The same is the case when it comes to the LinkedIn InMail service. The ideal time for sending InMails is usually between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on a weekday. This information is self-published by LinkedIn on their Talent Blog.
10. Following up
After sending InMails to potential leads and other relevant people, one still needs to stay connected. The ideal way to do so is with the help of a systematic follow-up process. Most B2B marketers stop following up with their leads after three attempts. However, according to LinkedIn statistics, it takes more than 5 (Foundation) follow-up messages for a marketer to receive a response. Thus, make sure that you regularly check with your potential InMail leads, regarding their current thoughts about your offering.
These simple tricks can make a major difference in your LinkedIn InMail marketing strategy. So, before sending your next batch of InMails, make sure to use some of these tips to close more deals than ever before.