{"id":422,"date":"2021-02-23T19:25:30","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T19:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-555301-2679610.cloudwaysapps.com\/fierce-insights\/the-ultimate-guide-to-social-selling-for-women-entrepreneurs\/"},"modified":"2022-07-24T14:11:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-24T14:11:11","slug":"the-ultimate-guide-to-social-selling-for-women-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safimedia.co\/fierce-insights\/the-ultimate-guide-to-social-selling-for-women-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Social Selling for Women Entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"
Historically, women have always discussed the products and services we buy with others.\u00a0<\/span> It\u2019s part of being what Bridget Brennan calls \u201cchief purchasing officers\u201d for our households. \u201cMany women pride themselves on being a source of helpful information and resources for their family, friends, and colleagues,\u201d she says in <\/span>this Forbes article<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span> Social selling <\/span>takes this concept out of the coffeeshop and into the digital world, to the social media networks that women are already dominating. (78% of American women use social media vs 65% of American men, according to a <\/span>2019 Pew Research study<\/span><\/a>). It\u2019s the act of leveraging your social networks to find potential clients, build trusting relationships, and achieve sales goals.<\/span><\/p>\n “78% of American women use social media vs 65% of American men, according to a 2019 Pew Research Study.”<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n So, how do you promote your services on social media without spamming your contacts? You do what women have been doing for generations: make new connections and share valuable resources. In this guide, we\u2019ll cover everything you need to know about using <\/span>social selling<\/span> to generate leads and increase revenue, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s get started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Social selling<\/span> is the m<\/span>odern way to generate meaningful interactions and move through the <\/span>7 steps of the sales cycle<\/span><\/a>: prospect, connect, research, present, handle objections, close, and follow up and generate referrals.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/eleanorbeaton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/7-Steps-of-the-Sales-Cycle.jpg” title_text=”7 Steps of the Sales Cycle” admin_label=”2 – Image” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”65%” module_alignment=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”3 -Text” _builder_version=”4.7.7″]<\/p>\n In <\/span>this Forbes article<\/span><\/a>, Mario M. Martinez Jr., host of <\/span>The Modern Selling Podcast<\/span><\/a>, defines <\/span>social selling<\/span> as: \u201cleveraging social networks to help a sales person establish a personal and <\/span>professional brand as well as understand their buyers through research, allowing them to relate and build a relationship with today\u2019s digitally, socially, and mobile-enabled buyer, which ultimately drives sales.\u201d<\/span> The takeaway here is understanding your potential customers and developing strong connections. <\/span>Social selling<\/span> is not about constantly pitching\u2014that type of unreserved, and often unwelcome, promotion can work against you. Instead, it\u2019s about providing value to your market by answering questions, responding to comments, and sharing thoughtful content that meets the needs of your prospects and helps them decide whether to buy from you.\u00a0<\/span> When done right, <\/span>social selling<\/span> can enable you to establish your brand as a go-to resource for thought leadership, trend forecasting, and\u2014most importantly\u2014expert services in your industry. The stronger your reputation and relationships, the more likely potential customers will be to take actions that could lead to sales. Goodbye, cold calls! Hello, inbound marketing!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “The stronger your reputation and relationships, the more likely potential customers will be to take actions that could lead to sales.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Now more than ever, buyers are looking for authentic and inspiring businesses they can trust, and they\u2019re looking online to find them. In our digital world, it\u2019s no surprise that <\/span>75% of B2B buyers<\/span><\/a> said they turn to social media when deciding whether to purchase a product or service<\/span>. If you\u2019re not on your market\u2019s preferred social platform, you could be missing out on interested leads, important sales conversations, and ultimately, revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n “75% of B2B buyers said they turn to social media when deciding whether to purchase a product or service.”<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Smart salespeople know that social media is an integral part of the first step in the buyers\u2019<\/span> journey. Just look at this list of <\/span>social selling<\/span> statistics from Hubspot<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Not only does <\/span>social selling<\/span> ensure you have a strong online presence, but also a solid reputation. It all starts with knowing who you are, what you represent, and what value you bring your customers. Once you have a clear understanding of your offer, you can start to target and connect with potential clients online.\u00a0<\/span> So, now that you know the impact <\/span>social selling<\/span> can have on your company\u2019s success, how do you get started? Here are 6 actionable strategies for turning your connections on social media into cold, hard cash.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n As I mentioned in <\/span>The Ultimate Guide to Personal Branding for Women Entrepreneurs<\/span><\/a>, personal branding is what makes you stand out in a sea of sameys. It\u2019s an integral way for you to stake your claim in the market, elevate your reputation, and expand your network.\u00a0<\/span> Developing a personal brand starts with understanding the unique qualities that set you apart from your competition. Maybe it\u2019s your skills and experience, your commitment to social causes, or your quirky personality traits. Whatever you decide to focus on, be intentional and consistent in sharing it across all your marketing and communications channels\u2014especially social media.\u00a0<\/span> More than <\/span>80% of buyers are more likely to engage with a strong brand<\/span><\/a> than a wishy-washy one. So, make sure your social profiles are primed to catch potential customers\u2019 eyes when they\u2019re looking for expertise in your industry. That way, they\u2019ll see you as a leader and a valuable contact to have.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Once you know what you want to say, you need to figure out who you\u2019re going to say it to. <\/span>In this conversation on The Sigrun Show<\/span><\/a>, I talk about the importance of niching down to become a company of one. Niching is the act of focusing your offer on a specific group of people. Think about who you want to help, specifically, and target your offer towards them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default”]\n
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What is social selling?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Learn more about the impact social media can have on your growing business in this video, <\/span>\u201cMarketing your Business on Social Media (Is it REALLY Necessary?)\u201d<\/span><\/a>. Subscribe to Eleanor\u2019s YouTube channel for more practical advice for high-performing women entrepreneurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Why is social selling important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How to get started with social selling\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Develop a personal brand.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Identify your ideal customer.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n