Social selling is a term that’s often confused with similar language, like network marketing, multi-level marketing, and even social media marketing. Not clear on the differences? That’s where we come in!

Let’s take a closer look at what social selling is and how you can leverage its power for your home-based business.

According to Hootsuite, social selling allows you to connect with your prospects on social media, which can help you avoid cold calling and other forms of outreach. Social sellers use their social platforms to build relationships with followers and prospective customers, typically with a combination of posts, comment replies, and direct messages (DMs).

Done correctly, social selling is powerful. It allows you to slowly build rapport with your audience instead of pushing a sale in their face. It tends to feel more authentic than other prospecting approaches, like cold-calling or email outreach, because it feels more like a two-way conversation.

With that in mind, let’s explore some do’s and don’ts to make sure you’re making the most of the social selling atmosphere.

Social Selling Best Practices

1)    Don’t send mass messages.

It’s tempting to use social media for mass outreach, sending pitch messages to anyone you can find on the platform. While that may technically get you some sales, it’s also a fast pass to a negative reputation. Message recipients who know they aren’t in your target market or feel violated by the cold message may actively discourage others from connecting with you, which can hurt your business in the long term. Instead, take a more targeted approach to make sure the people you contact might actually be interested in what you have to offer.

2)    Do focus on long-term relationships.

Because your audience likely spends regular time on social media, you don’t have to push a sale right away. Focus your efforts on actually getting to know your prospects, learning how your product or service might affect their life and truly adding value. Don’t ignore healthy connections just because you don’t think you can close a deal right away. Play the long game!

3)    Try a variety of social platforms.

The reality of social media is that every business is different and every platform is different. Your target audience may gravitate more towards one platform or another, making it easier for you to connect with them on some platforms over others. Additionally, some platforms make it easier to chat and connect than other platforms. When you’re starting your social selling strategy, try a few platforms to see where your outreach resonates most. Then, you can scale down (if needed) to prioritize the winner(s).

Final Thoughts

Social selling is critical for the MLM and home-based business space, so if you’re not already leveraging this tactic, you might be falling behind. Take this article as your sign to get started and watch as your business grows!