Have you noticed a flurry of people requesting to Link with you. That’s what a round of redundancies in a company does, people that were not really using LinkedIn suddenly want to LinkedIn with everybody in case they need a job opportunity.

Most people are on LinkedIn, but few know how to use it to find new clients. Firstly, not the way LinkedIn suggest. This would mean identifying someone on your contacts list that you would like to work with, then sending your contact a mail asking them to mail that person on your behalf requesting that they get in  touch with you. The chances of all that happening are remote. Here is the way to do it:

List all the people from your clients LinkedIn list that you would like to meet. When you meet your client next go through the list and find out who they think would make good prospects for you. Ask your client to email these prospects on your behalf saying that you will telephone them.

Of course, do not leave the email to your client, they have enough to do. When you get back to the office you write the email detailing the good work you have done for the client (be conservative) send your client the email and ask them to cut and past it and make any changes if they are not entirely happy with it.

They then send their contact the email referring you and you telephone the prospect the next day. This works like a dream and will give a very high conversion rate for meetings and for the business. Don’t forget to thank your client and if you get business, buy them a good lunch!

Ian