How to Recruit Teammates Using LinkedIn

Why:

20,000 voices selling your product or service are better than one voice.

Sales in the analog world is a team sport. The same is true when it comes to social selling—arguably more so—since word of mouth is on digital steroids.

Engaging other employees from your company, friends, and partners as social selling teammates will dramatically scale your network and voice. It will increase the probability that potential customers will hear about you and your offerings.

Assume you have 10 teammates, each with an average of 200 connections. Instead of simply reaching those 200 connections, you now have expanded your reach to 2,000 via your “Influencer Team.”

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

How:

1. Go to the LinkedIn search bar and type your company name.
2. Refine the search to show only 1^st connections—I did this for an amazing company I used to work for called EF Education First and had 171 1^st
3. Keep growing your team. Now, have your “antennae” up in the offline world for other possible teammates. If a partner or employee impresses you, ask them to connect on LinkedIn.
4. Share The next time you are going to send something to a prospect or client, ask yourself if your Influence Team would be interested in it as well. If the answer is yes, be sure to include them, as it will increase your potential reach both online and offline (remember these people still engage in conversations at lunch, over beers, etc.). The more they know, the more you grow.
5. Reward: If a teammate was influential in closing a deal—make sure to give credit where credit is due. Depending on their influence and your company policy, offer tickets to a ballgame, a day at the spa or a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Find out how to use LinkedIn to sell in Erik Qualman’s new book, How to Sell on LinkedIn.