To build a strong personal network on LinkedIn as an IT sales professional, optimize your profile with a friendly photo and engaging headline. Actively engage with others by commenting on posts and sharing insightful content. Personalize connection requests, share your expertise through posts, and join relevant groups. Attend virtual events, update your status regularly, and be genuinely supportive. Building authentic relationships is key to growing your network over time.

After considering the objective of sales process, IT sales professionals use virtual platforms despite time and distance keeping prospects or team members who are beyond arms reach aligned to each other bring this message 'together' to people who are apart. The message is to - just connect! Connecting creates interactions to one another so the context of messages can be communicated. This allows everyone in a virtual set up to work in and to find the best approach to collaboration. The more we can connect, the greater the chance of achieving the objectives that we set out to accomplish. With IT, we build relationships with people we don't see. Unknowingly, we need them more than they need us. Keep connecting!

First, research potential customers using tools like LinkedIn, Crunchbase or industry directories. Learn their titles, roles, responsibilities and interests. This helps you understand their needs. Next, segment your market into groups. Common ways include business size (small, medium, large), location (country, state, city), industry (healthcare, finance, tech) or budget (how much they can spend). Targeting one group at a time focuses your efforts. Most importantly, pinpoint your customers' biggest challenges or pain points - the problems your products or services directly solve. For example, saving time or money or reducing effort. Customers are more interested when you help with their key issues.

IT sales professionals can strategically build their personal network by leveraging online and offline channels. Actively engage in industry-specific events, conferences, and meet-ups to connect with potential clients and partners. Utilize professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to showcase expertise, share insights, and connect with industry professionals. Join relevant online forums and groups to participate in discussions and build credibility. Offer value by providing insights and solutions, positioning yourself as a trusted resource. Leverage existing client relationships for referrals and introductions. Regularly attend industry webinars and workshops to stay informed and expand your network.

Share valuable content. Provide articles, tips, advice, or other helpful information relevant to your contact's work or interests. Showing you understand their needs and priorities earns their appreciation and trust over time. Ask relevant questions. Inquire respectfully about what challenges or goals they're working on. Display insightful listening and offer helpful perspectives if you can. Questions are a dialogue starter for building understanding and connections. Provide prompt feedback. Respond quickly and thoughtfully to any queries from contacts. Showing you care about their experience of you builds a reliable partnership for the long run.

There are multiple ways to be valuable and solutions aren't necessarily one of them. Think about connecting them with people and resources that help them clarify problems. Continuously provide value in each interaction and try to accomplish AHA moments. One way I love to do that is by randomly sharing things that you think can be useful to them. This can be based on what they expressed during previous conversations, or just based on gutfeeling or what you know from others in that industry/function/etc. So continuously educate around pains, problems, ask them for their opinions on certain things. Don't forget the human interaction and element in this. People are more than just their function or work.

If you have happy satisfied customers you can ask them if they would be willing and able to refer you to other companies who may need your solution. You could even have them featured in an article showcasing their success with using your solution.

Here are my best tips on how to be the go-to person on your topics of expertise: 1. Regular Communication: Stay in touch through emails, calls, and social media updates. Can even be just commenting and adding your own insights. 2. Attend Networking Events: Participate in industry conferences, seminars, and meet-ups. That's where I met my mentors or some of the best CEOs. 3. Provide Value: Share relevant insights, resources, or assistance to others. It can be via email, linkedin, whatsapp. 4. LinkedIn Engagement: Actively connect, share content, and engage on professional platforms. 5. Personal connection: we are a all umans, be interested and understand what makes them tick. Be it a sports, a passion or activity!

When aiming to expand your professional network, it's a no-brainer to attend numerous networking events. Nonetheless: - Strategically choose your events based on your field. For example, if you're in tech, consider joining technology-focused organizations. - Engage in community activities and volunteer whenever possible. - Identify your targets and discover the events attended by their leaders. You never know who you may encounter. Focus on building relationships rather than selling, and the rest will naturally unfold over time.

Identify your target IT decision makers - Find prospects through LinkedIn searches of companies, titles, locations you want to target. Get clear on the types of IT solutions you offer. Build rapport through meaningful interactions - Comment on prospects' posts, share relevant industry articles. Send polite, helpful messages introducing yourself and how you may assist them. Ask questions to understand their challenges. Provide value before asking - Share tips via regular blog posts. Offer to brief prospects on new products. Lead webinars to teach skills. Educate prospects so they see you as an expert resource.