You're aiming to enhance social selling with automation tools. How can you keep your interactions personal?

I am surprised this question is even being posed on here, as far as I am aware, LinkedIn takes a very dim view on the use of automation tools, especially when it comes to message and outreach, so my counsel is don't use it. 8.2 .13 states Do not Use bots or other automated methods to access the Services, add or download contacts, send or redirect messages;

Two tactics can work here: 1. Utilize hyper-personalized messages in combination with AI tools and intent. 2. Use automation activities for backend tasks only; avoid using them for messages. Remember, it's crucial to demonstrate that you understand the importance of context and relevance. Without these, your message will not be effective.

You don't want to automate a personal message. Automation means getting more done in less time, and sending more "Automated Personal Messages" is not efficient—it is waste. While automation is focusing on your products and services, personalising a message means researching the customer and the individual you are trying to contact. Personalisation means identifying the customer's problem: What are they trying to fix, achieve or avoid? Like everybody else, I receive hundreds of "Personalized messages." I only responded to one this year, and it was from a salesperson who had researched my situation and my needs. The salesperson also had read my blog and knew I responded to data.

Instead of focusing solely on the prospect's recent activity or mutual connections, consider tailoring your message to their specific needs or pain points. Research their industry or company to identify current challenges or trends. For example, you could send a message like, "I noticed that [company] recently announced [news]. I've been following similar trends in the [industry] and thought you might find this [resource] helpful. Would you be interested in discussing this further?" This approach demonstrates that you've done your homework and are offering valuable insights, rather than just trying to sell a product or service.

Automation tools can significantly enhance social selling by streamlining tasks, increasing efficiency, and providing valuable insights. Here are some ways to leverage automation Best practices 1.⁠ ⁠Start with simple automation tasks  2.⁠ ⁠Monitor and adjust automation workflows  3.⁠ ⁠Ensure personalized content and messaging  4.⁠ ⁠Integrate automation with CRM and sales processes  5.⁠ ⁠Continuously evaluate and optimize automation tools

Automação é inevitável para uma melhor performance, mais eficiente, rápida e precisa. Porém você também tem a disposição inúmeras ferramentas que trazem mais humanidade ao processo, desde personalização de mensagens a tempo de resposta com semelhança humana. Importante é que a automação vai até a página x, depois os pontos precisam ser direcionados as pessoas que devem entrar no circuito e fazer o atendimento. Encontrar esse equilíbrio e o ponto exato de entrada que requer maior dedicação e atenção. Ao encontrar vai conseguir tem a agilidade da automação com a eficiência e atendimento humanizado.

Automation tools can enhance your social selling, but keeping interactions personal is key. On LinkedIn, tailor each message by referencing your prospect's name, a recent post, or a mutual connection. For example, ‘Hi [Name], I saw your post about [topic] and thought we could connect based on our shared interest in [mutual interest].’ This human touch shows you're genuinely interested, fostering real conversations rather than just sending generic sales pitches

It is, of course, a delicate balance – you want to save time but still be personal – I don't believe there is a clear-cut answer. Naturally, you can reach out cold with minimal personalization, but you could also base your outreach as much as possible on the information you have. When I sold LinkedIn services, I cold-called, but I still spent a few minutes getting an overview of their LinkedIn presence – for example, the number of organic posts vs. paid, whether there were any paid posts at all, total engagement on posts, etc. It paid off for all. The same goes for automation tools!

But automation is becoming more prevalent and yes I prefer the personal touch over anything automatic, however.... I would look at my "audience" and divide them into small demographics and then tailor messaging to them which would make interactions more personal. Also use the data you gain from these interactions to personalise your messaging. Encourage two way communication by asking questions and actively responding to comments. Show genuine interest to build trust and rapport Make sure you inject that human touch into your interactions, make sure you come across as a person and avoid jargon and generic messaging, be empathetic, be funny, be anything but generic which creates an genuine connection If it doesn't work, adjust.

No todo es hablar. Aunque uses ciertas herramientas, debes estar ahí, pendiente de las respuestas, las reacciones y los comentarios. La escucha activa es clave para que la persona del otro lado sienta que su mensaje es importante. Ningún bot puede reemplazar la habilidad de escuchar y responder de manera auténtica a las necesidades del cliente.

This is the best use of automation tools in social selling. Tools like Kleo, Sparktoro, and more can easily reveal trends and hot topics of your ICPs. Based on this, you can tailor your messaging and content.

Listening gives more power to speaking. Get the tools that help you know what buyers are doing on your digital footpront. Also keep a track of what prospects talking about your competitors.

La automatización en ventas es como esa batidora que te prometen en la teletienda: parece que va a hacer todo el trabajo por ti, pero si no la manejas bien, te acabas salpicando. Claro, es tentador programar correos, mensajes y seguimientos automáticos, pero, ¡ojo!, que nadie quiere sentirse como si hablara con un contestador automático. La clave está en usar la automatización como tu asistente, no como tu reemplazo. Si no añades tu toque humano, personal y auténtico, al final todo sonará igual... y ahí es donde mueren las ventas.

Instead of just responding to comments, try initiating conversations. Share relevant articles, industry news, or personal anecdotes that you think your audience might find interesting. This shows that you're not just waiting for them to reach out, but actively seeking opportunities to connect and engage

Go beyond automation and embrace the power of active listening. Pay close attention to what your audience is saying, Utilize social listening tools to monitor trends within your industry and target audience. Stay on top of their pain points, interests, and needs. Reference specific details from their profile or recent activity to demonstrate that you've taken the time to learn about them. Ask thoughtful questions that encourage dialogue and show genuine interest. It need not stop at a single interactions, follow up on conversations, provide additional information or check in on their progress. Idea is to combine efficiency of automation with the authenticity of active listening.

Eacuchar habla más de ti como ser humano, que incluso tus palabras o conocimientos. Cuándo escuchamos realmente al otro, podemos comprender exactamente cómo podríamos ayudar o generar valor. Toda buena relación empieza por una escucha activa, todos merecemos ser escuchados y sobre todo es una muestra de respeto por sus palabras, sentimientos y, además, una gran muestra de empatía. Trato de estar siempre enfocado en aprender de las otras personas, para así, tener la puerta siempre abierta para enseñar.

Even with automation, actively listen to your prospects by monitoring their responses and engagement on social platforms. Use this information to tailor your follow-up messages, addressing their specific concerns or interests to demonstrate that you’re genuinely paying attention to their needs.

One of the best ways to use automation tools is to set up alerts for industry news. Two ways you can do this: 1. Sales Navigator -> create a list -> you'll get notifications when people post, someone is mentioned in an article, or there is a trending topic. 2. Set notifications for the few accounts in your space who drop interesting news. You'll "automatically" stay up to speed. Then when you go to share your opinions and thoughts, ask yourself this question: Is my opinion unique? Nicolas Cole calls this "The Tequila Test". For example, if you are talking about a morning routine and tell people the same things everyone does, no one listens. But if you say "first thing in the morning, take a shot of tequila".. what you say is unique.

Automation can be used to scrub the interactions and check for specific words that can trigger alarms throughout the process. Still it is important that human eyes scrutinize the quality of the interactions to control and act if needed.

Online presence = Physical presence. Otherwise, you will damage your reputation. Be genuine and provide real-life examples and experiences, both positive and negative.

No importa cuántas herramientas uses, la autenticidad siempre debe estar presente. Mostrarte como quien realmente eres, con tus valores y tu manera de comunicar, hará que tu mensaje resuene más que cualquier automatización. Las personas confían en personas, no en máquinas. NUNCA delegues tu autenticidad a un software.

This is critical and can off-set the problem with automated messaging, posts and blogs. AI generated content, without personalisation is of less value, identifiable and lacks, personal, real world experience. Automating the publication of posts is fine, so long as they are time, and event-sensitive. Context is as important as content. And guerrilla marketing and responsive posts are almost impossible with automation. And remember that many Social media gaffes have been caused by insensitive and poorly timed, automated messages.

Social Selling is one of the last bastions of human authenticity and automated tools should be kept for enhancing back end efficiency and kept away from content and engagement. Why? Social Selling is about real human connection. Connection that leads to commercial interaction with permission. No hard selling, bots or automated (insert name) messaging….its about people. From our experience, you and your team need to learn to master the foundational elements, how to build digital communities and aim for becoming the leading technical and commercial digital influencers in your sectors. Once you have the foundations and track record, then look to automation to help you in the background - but keep it away from your network facing output.

Automação é uma ferramenta útil, mas jamais deve substituir a autenticidade nas interações. Manter uma conexão verdadeira, compartilhando experiências genuínas e histórias reais, é o que gera confiança com o público. No final, é essa autenticidade que transforma contatos em relacionamentos duradouros no social selling.

Without authenticity you lose the trust. Which is why it is very important to start manually, and gradually identifying the tasks that need automation. Usually, a lot of reps follow others, in terms of what worked for them and then start automating. Which is why they tend to pickup less impactful messaging and processes. This approach is more authentic and actually faster because you make lesser and better mistakes. And are fully aware of what is happening.

Remember, people connect with people, not algorithms and AIs. Automation can be a game-changer for Social Selling efficiency, but it's your authentic voice that forges real connections. Let your personality shine through even in automated messages. Craft templates that sound like you, not a robot. Share insights and stories that reflect your expertise and passion. Use automation to free up time for meaningful engagement, like responding thoughtfully to comments or sharing personalised video messages. Authenticity builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any successful social selling relationship. So, 'You Be You' and let your true self shine through, even when using automation.

Solo se tú! La autenticidad es una virtud que no deberíamos pasar por alto nunca al momento de dirigirnos al otro. Prevalece la sinceridad y el respeto por uno mismo, eso es lo que se denota al transmitir contenido, enviar o responder un mensaje, estos valores son realmente el gran valor agregado. Es fundamental sentarnos a pensar por qué queremos ser vistos, cómo queremos ser recordados y sobre todo, por qué queremos ser valorados. Hablar desde el amor, desde nuestro corazón, siempre tratando de crear una relación genuina, basada en la confianza.

Authenticity is key to building trust in social selling. Ensure that your communication reflects your genuine self, avoiding overly scripted or generic responses. Authentic interactions are more likely to foster deeper connections and long-term relationships, as people tend to engage more with those they perceive as real and relatable.

Maintain authenticity by crafting messages that reflect your true voice and values, rather than relying solely on templates. When prospects sense that your communications are sincere and not just automated, they’re more likely to engage and build a relationship with you.

La rapidez de respuesta es importante, pero no tanto como la calidad de esa respuesta. Puedes usar la tecnología para ser eficiente, pero nunca sacrifiques el contenido por el tiempo. A veces, lo que un cliente necesita es una respuesta bien pensada y que genere valor y no una respuesta instantánea.

Instead of focusing solely on your audience's peak activity times, consider the time zone differences between yourself and your prospects. Sending messages at a time that's convenient for them, even if it means adjusting your own schedule, can show that you're going the extra mile to build a relationship.

Modern technology is a beautiful thing, but it doesn't replace authentic connection. The goal is still to achieve a one on one with the customer. This differentiates you from everyone else.

Hot take: When you post doesn't matter. If you write good content and post at 6am, 8am, or 12pm, it will perform relatively the same. Only optimize what moves the needle: Your content.

Strategic timing is key in social selling. Utilize automation tools to schedule content when your audience is most likely to engage, maximizing visibility and reach. However, don't let automation replace real-time interactions and your authentic voice and the tone. Be responsive to comments and messages, fostering a sense of immediacy and personal connection. Timely responses demonstrate your attentiveness and genuine interest in building relationships. Strike the perfect balance between automation and real-time engagement. Use scheduling tools to maintain a consistent presence, but also prioritize authentic tone that show you're more than just a bot. Best blend of efficiency and personalization will elevate your social selling game.

Respetar el tiempo del otro, es saber que tomará 5 minutos de mi tiempo para responder en este momento. Es muy importante tener en cuenta al interactuar con otras personas que las respuestas rápidas forman un lazo real de confianza y sobretodo de interés. Además, saber que tratamos con diferentes culturas y horarios, nuestro momento de escribir debe ser en el mejor momento posible para el otro, aunque los mensajen sean atumatizados.

Timing plays a crucial role in social selling success. Pay attention to when your audience is most active online and strategically time your interactions to maximize engagement. Whether you’re sharing content, sending messages, or following up, the right timing can significantly increase the chances of your message being noticed and acted upon.

Leverage automation tools to send messages at the optimal times when your prospects are most likely to be online, ensuring your interactions are timely and relevant. However, be prepared to respond quickly and personally when a prospect shows interest, turning automated efforts into real-time conversations.

Use automation to send messages at optimal times when your prospects are most likely to be online and receptive. However, complement this with real-time engagement, responding quickly to any interactions that result from your automated outreach. This blend of strategic timing and immediate, personal follow-up ensures your communications are both effective and personable.

La automatización puede ayudarte a llegar a más personas, pero si lo que estás compartiendo no tiene valor, de nada sirve. El contenido que ofreces debe ser relevante para tu audiencia. Enfócate en resolver sus problemas, en educar, en inspirar. Eso es lo que realmente engancha!!! En resumen, el Social Selling no busca que envíes mil mensajes automáticos; se trata de construir relaciones con las personas correctas, en el momento adecuado, con contenido que aporte valor. Las herramientas pueden ayudarte a escalar, pero siempre es importante mantener lo humano en cada interacción.

If you sell high-ticket services (anything north of $2000), this is for you: People don't want to hop on sales calls with strangers. Instead, offer an easy alternative for people to take a "small" step forward: • An educational lead magnet • A webinar or free group • A free service After you deliver some sort of free value, you'll no longer be a stranger and more prospects will be willing to talk to you.

Automation can amplify your reach, but genuine value keeps your audience engaged. Don't just automate sales pitches; use those tools to share relevant industry insights, helpful tips, or thought-provoking questions. Position yourself as a valuable resource and as trusted advisor, not just a salesperson. When you consistently offer value, you build trust and credibility. People are more likely to engage with someone they perceive as genuinely helpful. Automation can help you scale this approach by scheduling valuable content and tracking engagement metrics to refine your strategy. Social selling is about building relationships, not just attempting to close deals. Focus on providing value and the personal connections will follow.

Each interaction should provide value to your audience, whether it’s through insightful content, helpful advice, or solutions to their challenges. Focus on how you can assist them in achieving their goals rather than just promoting your products or services. By consistently offering value, you position yourself as a trusted resource and thought leader in your field.

Focus on providing value in every automated interaction by sharing content, insights, or solutions that are directly relevant to your prospect’s needs. Tailor your automated messages to highlight how your offering can solve their specific problems, rather than pushing generic content. By consistently delivering value, you position yourself as a helpful resource, making your interactions more meaningful and personalized.

Always important to maintain a dosage of human interaction to keep the balance between automation and social selling as engagement is crucial for a good strategy.

"It's the same question as 'How can you make an iron ring from wood?' I understand the need for automated personal messages on the order side. However, what everyone seems to forget is: how many customers have actually asked us for these automated, ai-powered messages?

Can we be social AND automated ? This would look like a tennis player signing autographs at the end of a match: not really engaging, although fans look happy! I don't have as many fans as Rafa yet, although I am great at what I do. So I'd rather focus on creating relationships that matter. Some of the work required is indeed repetitive, and is still manageable within LinkedIn itself. The only thing you need is to follow a proper methodology, which will help you coordinate actions rather than automating individual steps.

Striking a balance between automation and personalization is crucial for effective social selling. While automation can help scale your efforts, too much reliance on it can make your interactions feel impersonal. Aim to blend efficiency with a human touch, ensuring that your outreach remains thoughtful and considerate, which helps maintain the integrity of your relationships.

While automation can streamline your social selling activities, it’s important to balance it with manual interactions to keep the relationship personal. Regularly engage in one-on-one conversations, respond to inquiries directly, and adapt your approach based on real-time feedback. This balance ensures that while automation handles routine tasks, your personal touch remains at the forefront of your social selling strategy.