How to follow up on LinkedIn

Brad • August 7, 2024

4 Simple Tips for Following Up on LinkedIn

Turn On Notifications: Follow your prospect and click the notification bell to get alerts when they post. This keeps you updated and engaged with their content.
Leave Thoughtful Comments: Engage with their posts by leaving meaningful comments. Ask questions and share insights to show genuine interest.
Send a Friendly DM: After engaging with their content, send a message thanking them for their posts. Keep it simple and focused on them.
Sign Up for Their Newsletter: Join their newsletter and respond to their emails with thoughtful comments. This keeps you in their inbox and shows you value their content.

How to Follow Up on LinkedIn

Alright, this is going to be a pretty cool guide because this is exactly how I grew my agency 6 or 7 years ago by following up on LinkedIn. Hey there, my name is Brad Smith, owner of AutomationLinks , and I’ve been doing this marketing stuff for a long time. I've helped over 2,500 people grow online, and I believe follow-up is the best way. I was able to secure so many clients from LinkedIn by following up with them, building relationships, getting them on my podcast, and then they would become clients because I followed up with them right. That's what I'm going to show you how to do here.

Building Relationships First

You want to build relationships first; you don't want to just start selling. Find the ideal prospect you want to reach out to or work with, connect with them, and follow them. It sounds easy enough, but now you need to set a reminder to come back and follow up with them in a week. If you directly connect with someone and they send you a message right away trying to sell you something, do you even respond? Probably not.
So, take a step back and look at the overview. Would you respond to someone who did this to you? If you wouldn't, why do you think they would? Show some empathy, and think about what might interest you if you were in their position. Take it slow, like going on a date. You don't ask them to marry you on the first date, right? You take your time and build the relationship. That's what you need to be doing on LinkedIn.

Tips for Building Relationships:

Connect and follow your prospects.
Set reminders to follow up.
Engage with their posts by liking and commenting.
Provide value before sending a direct message.

Engaging with Their Content

For me, I wanted people on my podcast, so I would connect with them, follow them, and set reminders to follow up. I would start by liking, commenting, and engaging with their posts. This puts your name in their mind before you send them a direct message. They see that you’re engaging with their content and providing value. Engagement is value because the more engagement their posts get, the more eyeballs they attract.
Make sure to put thought into your comments. Ask for a reply to keep the conversation going. Start endorsing them by giving them a few endorsements for the things they specialize in. This shows that you are genuinely interested in their work and not just trying to sell them something.

Tips for Engaging with Content:

Like and comment on their posts regularly.
Make thoughtful comments that add value.
Ask questions to encourage replies.
Endorse their skills on their profile.

Sending the First DM

Once you've engaged with their content, it's time to send a message, but keep it simple. Thank them for connecting and let them know you've been enjoying their posts. You don’t need them to respond, and you don’t need to sell them anything. Make it all about them. Thank them for the value they provide and mention that you’ve endorsed them. This shows that you're genuinely interested in them and not just pushing your agenda.
After this initial message, wait another week before sending another message. This time, ask them a question about their work or show interest in a specific aspect of their profile. This gradual approach helps build a mutual relationship, which is key to successful follow-up.

Tips for Sending the First DM:

Keep it simple and focused on them.
Thank them for connecting and mention their posts.
Highlight the endorsements you’ve given.
Avoid selling anything in the first message.

Following Up Consistently

Not everyone is going to respond right away, and that's okay. Set reminders to follow up every week. If they respond but then go silent, grab their email and send them a personal email. The goal is to keep reminding them that you’re there without being pushy. Consistent follow-up shows that you’re interested and committed to building a relationship.
Signing up for their newsletter is another great way to stay connected. When you receive their newsletters, reply to them with thoughtful comments. This keeps you in their inbox and shows that you value their content. Over time, these small interactions build a strong foundation for future business relationships.

Tips for Consistent Follow-Up:

Set weekly reminders to follow up.
Send personal emails if they go silent.
Sign up for their newsletter and reply to it.
Be persistent but not pushy.

Making It About Them

The key to effective follow-up is making it about them, not you. People appreciate when you show genuine interest in their work and provide value without asking for anything in return. Keep the focus on them in your messages and interactions. This builds trust and makes them more likely to engage with you in the future.
When they’re ready to reach out or work with you, they’ll know where to find you. Keep providing value, engaging with their content, and making it about them. Over time, this approach will help you build a strong network on LinkedIn and convert connections into clients.

Tips for Making It About Them:

Focus on their work and achievements.
Provide value without asking for anything.
Build trust through genuine interest.
Be patient and consistent in your follow-ups.

Conclusion

So, are you following up with all your leads on LinkedIn? If not, start today. Build relationships, engage with their content, send thoughtful messages, follow up consistently, and make it all about them. These steps will help you convert LinkedIn connections into lasting business relationships. Thanks for reading, and I hope these tips help you follow up effectively on LinkedIn.

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