LinkedIn Social Selling
Here's a stat that should change how you think about LinkedIn: 78% of social sellers outsell their peers who don't use social media. LinkedIn isn't just a platform for job seekers and recruiters anymore — it's where B2B deals start.
But most sales reps use LinkedIn wrong. They spam connection requests with pitch-slaps, post nothing, and wonder why nobody responds. The reps who win on LinkedIn are the ones who build a presence, provide value, and turn content into conversations.
Today you'll use AI to build your LinkedIn social selling system — posts that position you as a thought leader, comments that get noticed, connection messages that get accepted, and a repeatable pipeline from content to conversation to meeting.
AI-generated LinkedIn posts for thought leadership
You don't need to be a writer to build a LinkedIn presence. You need to share insights that your buyers find valuable — and AI can help you create those consistently.
Here's the prompt for generating LinkedIn posts:
```
I'm a [YOUR ROLE] selling [YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE] to [TARGET PERSONAS].
Write a LinkedIn post about [TOPIC]. Follow these rules:
- Hook: First line must stop the scroll (bold, surprising, or contrarian)
- Length: 150-200 words (short enough to read, long enough to add value)
- Structure: Short paragraphs, 1-2 sentences each. Use line breaks for readability
- Include a specific insight, stat, or story — no generic advice
- End with a question that drives comments
- No hashtags in the body. Add 3-5 relevant hashtags at the very end
- Tone: confident but not arrogant, helpful but not preachy
```
Post ideas that work for sales reps:
- Lessons from a deal you won (or lost) — and what you learned
- A counterintuitive insight about your buyers' biggest pain point
- A before/after story showing how a customer solved a problem
- A hot take on a trend in your industry
- A breakdown of a framework or process you use
Post 3-4 times per week. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Comment strategies that build relationships
Posting is only half the game. Strategic commenting on your prospects' and industry leaders' posts is how you get on their radar before you ever send a pitch.
Here's the framework:
Step 1: Build your comment list. Follow 20-30 prospects, industry leaders, and influencers in your target market. Turn on notifications for their posts.
Step 2: Comment with substance. Not "Great post!" — that's invisible. Instead, add a genuine insight, share a related experience, or ask a thoughtful follow-up question.
Here's a prompt for generating substantive comments:
```
I'm a sales rep who sells [PRODUCT] to [PERSONAS]. My prospect [NAME, TITLE at COMPANY] just posted about [TOPIC/PASTE THE POST].
Write a LinkedIn comment that:
- Adds a unique insight or perspective (not just agreement)
- Is 2-4 sentences long
- References my relevant experience without being self-promotional
- Ends with a question or observation that invites further conversation
- Sounds natural and conversational, not like a sales pitch
```
Step 3: Be consistent. Comment on 5-10 posts per day. Within 2-3 weeks, your target prospects will start recognizing your name. When your connection request comes, it won't be from a stranger.
Connection request messages that get accepted
The default LinkedIn connection request — blank, no message — gets accepted about 30% of the time. A personalized connection request gets accepted 50-70% of the time. Here's how to nail it:
The engagement-first approach (highest acceptance rate):
Comment on their posts 3-5 times over two weeks. Then send:
"[Name], I've been following your posts on [topic] — your perspective on [specific point] really resonated. Would love to connect and keep learning from your content."
The mutual connection approach:
"[Name], I noticed we're both connected to [mutual connection] and work in [shared space]. Would be great to connect."
The value-first approach:
"[Name], I just read about [Company]'s [achievement/news]. I work with a lot of [similar companies] and have some insights on [relevant topic] I think you'd find interesting. Would love to connect."
What to NEVER do:
- Don't pitch in the connection request. Ever. You haven't earned that right yet.
- Don't use the default blank request if you're connecting with a prospect.
- Don't mention your product, your company, or anything that sounds like a sales pitch.
The connection request is about opening a door, not closing a deal.
The content-to-conversation pipeline
Here's the complete system that turns LinkedIn activity into booked meetings:
Week 1-2: Build your presence.
Post 3-4 times per week. Comment on 5-10 posts per day from prospects and industry leaders. Optimize your profile headline to speak to your buyer (not "Account Executive at Acme" but "Helping SaaS companies cut SDR ramp time by 50%").
Week 3-4: Connect strategically.
Send 10-15 personalized connection requests per day to people who've seen your comments. Accept incoming requests from people in your target market. Don't pitch anyone yet.
Ongoing: Start conversations.
When a connection engages with your post (likes, comments, shares), send a DM:
```
"Hey [Name], thanks for engaging with my post on [topic]. I'm curious — is [related pain point] something you're actively working on at [Company]? I've been helping a few [similar companies] with this and would love to hear your perspective."
```
Notice: this is still not a pitch. It's a genuine conversation starter. If they respond with interest, you've earned the right to suggest a call.
The key insight: On LinkedIn, the sale happens in the DMs, but the trust is built in the feed. Your posts and comments create the foundation. The DM converts.