How to increase Social Selling Index on LinkedIn

Think of the LinkedIn SSI as a barometer, it gives you a steer of how well you are doing as a score. This score, ranging from 0 to 100, tells you how effectively you're engaging on LinkedIn to sell your ideas, products, or services. It's like a report card but for your professional brand and networking success. 

The LinkedIn Social Selling Index (SSI) is broken down into four key components, each as crucial as the other. Here's the rundown:

• Establish your professional brand: This is all about how well you present yourself. Are you sharing insights that highlight your expertise? Is your profile just a resume, or does it tell your professional story? A stellar profile doesn't just make you look good; it makes people curious and want to engage with you.
• Find the right people: It's not just who you know; it's about knowing the right people. This part of the SSI measures how effectively you're identifying and connecting with potential leads or partners. It's like being at the world's biggest networking event but with the ability to filter through the crowd to find the people you want to talk to. This part of the score is looking at your focus and connection with people.
• Engage with insights: Sharing content is one thing, but are you sparking conversations? This metric looks at how you're using insights to engage with your network. Commenting on posts, sharing relevant articles, and starting discussions show that you're not just there to sell; you're there to add value. Engaging with prospects through content is key to this part of the score.
• Build relationships: The cornerstone of social selling. This measures your ability to establish trust and build meaningful connections. It's about moving beyond connections to creating relationships. After all, people buy from people they trust. 

Why does the SSI matter?

Well, LinkedIn claims that a high SSI leads to more success in the sales world. Does it? Sort of, think of it as a barometer of how you're doing. It's relative score that gives you an indication that you are doing the right things. It isn't a predictor of success, but most top performers at social selling do have a high score.

8 Ways to increase your Social Selling Index

1. Complete your profile - optimise your profile so it clearly shows the who you help, how you help and why they need it. Use your profile as buyer education zone.
2. Grow your network - Grow your connections with the people you can help. Be ruthless in who you connect with. Only connect with people who are you ideal client or are associated with them.
3. Start conversations - engage with your network, don't just accumulate connections, build relationships. Comment on their posts, share in the messages. Create two-way conversations.
4. Share content - Create content that your ideal clients will benefit from. Don't just broadcast, create discussions, ask for your audiences opinions.
5. Personal outreach - when you do reach out to prospects, make it personal, not just personalised. The more personal the more replies you get.
6. Join groups  - Participate in discussions. There are hundreds of groups, find the active ones and be an active member of them.
7. Capture Recommendations - Ask your clients to give you recommendations on your profile, build social proof.
8. Be a good human - Ultimately, be a helpful person for your network and you're score will rise. Don't just use the platform to sell sell sell. Be genuinely helpful to your network.

Final Thought

You score will go up and down, so don't get too stressed about it. Sometimes it will dip for no apparent reason. The key is to remember that your SSI is a guide, it doesn't mean, if you get a score of 100 you will be flooded with sales. It's handy guide, but ultimately you should measure your success by how many conversations, leads and clients you are winning from LinkedIn.