November 2, 2024
Why do some sellers seem to dominate social selling while others can’t seem to make any headway? The answer lies in how they go about connecting with prospects on social channels. The top performers in social selling, or who we call "supersellers," at Sybill, are not necessarily the ones who have been in the game the longest or have the most connections. Instead, they are the ones who’ve mastered the art of social selling by avoiding common pitfalls that trap many sales reps.
The problem? Most salespeople tend to overlook subtle, yet critical, social selling mistakes. They treat social platforms like a numbers game—pushing out generic pitches and failing to engage meaningfully with their audience.
Here’s the kicker: 90% of salespeople already use social selling tools as part of their strategy. With such widespread adoption, making social selling mistakes can be costly.
In this blog, we’ll break down the 10 most common social selling mistakes that can hold you back. More importantly, we’ll explore how supersellers avoid these missteps and how you can learn from their success to elevate your own sales game. Let’s go!
Many sales reps make the mistake of believing that social selling is a numbers game. They think the more people they reach out to, the better their chances of success. However, supersellers know the secret to winning at social selling: it’s not about how many people you connect with—it’s about the quality of those connections.
Supersellers take the time to research and target the right prospects. They don’t spam hundreds of generic messages in the hopes that something will stick. Instead, they focus on engaging with prospects who fit their ideal customer profile, ensuring that every outreach is meaningful and personalized.
Before sending a connection request or message, do your homework. Look at the prospect’s profile, recent posts, company updates, and mutual connections. Craft a message that shows you’ve taken the time to understand their needs and pain points. A personalized approach not only gets more responses but also builds long-term, trust-based relationships.
Why do supersellers dominate social selling? It's not just because they sell more—it's because they’re trusted, recognized voices in their industry. One of the biggest mistakes sales reps make is neglecting their personal brand. Supersellers know that people don’t just buy products—they buy trust, expertise, and credibility. Personal branding is your way to demonstrate all three.
Supersellers build their reputation as industry experts by sharing valuable content, engaging with thought leaders, and consistently adding insights to industry conversations. They don't just sell. They educate, inform, and engage their audience in meaningful ways. This trust leads to stronger relationships, and ultimately, more conversions.
In the age of AI, you no longer need to be a personal branding expert or a creative director to build your brand. Here are a few tools that can help you achieve your personal branding goals.
By focusing on creating and sharing thoughtful, educational content, and consistently engaging with your industry, you build a personal brand that makes prospects come to you.
One of the quickest ways to alienate a prospect on social media is by diving straight into a sales pitch. Imagine someone walking up to you at a party and immediately launching into a hard sell—awkward, right? That’s exactly how prospects feel when you pitch before building a connection. Supersellers understand that social selling is about creating trust, not pushing a product the moment someone connects with you.
Before you start selling, take the time to build rapport. Here's how you can do it:
Supersellers take the time to understand their prospects before making the ask. By engaging and providing value upfront, you build stronger relationships that lead to more successful sales conversations.
Related read: How to Be a Master Rapport Builder Using AI: 7 Tips for Sales Reps
One of the biggest reasons sellers struggle with social selling is their lack of consistency. Supersellers, on the other hand, know that regularly showing up in their prospects' feeds builds trust and keeps them top of mind. Sporadic posting or going silent for long periods gives the impression that you’re either not serious about your brand or that you’re too busy to care about your audience. And guess what? If your audience thinks you don’t care, they won’t care about you either.
A calendar helps you plan out posts ahead of time and ensures you’re consistently sharing valuable insights, updates, and thought leadership. You don’t have to post every day, but you do need a regular rhythm—whether that’s three times a week or twice a month, find a schedule that works for you.
Here are some tools that can help:
Staying consistent will help build familiarity, trust, and interest from your audience over time.
One of the biggest mistakes in social selling is thinking it’s all about broadcasting your message. Supersellers know better. They understand that effective social selling is a two-way conversation, and they spend more time listening than talking.
By actively listening to what prospects are saying—whether it’s through their posts, comments, or interactions—supersellers gather valuable insights into their needs, pain points, and interests. This helps them craft more targeted and effective outreach.
To truly understand your prospects, you need to pay attention to what they’re saying. Social listening involves monitoring online conversations to gather insights and build relationships. Here are some tools and techniques that can help you become a better listener:
Click here to learn more about empathetic listening.
By listening more and talking less, you can position yourself as someone who understands your prospects’ challenges, rather than just another salesperson pushing a product. This approach builds trust and credibility, two crucial elements in social selling success.
One of the biggest turn-offs in social selling is when reps only talk about their product or service without offering anything valuable to the prospect. Supersellers understand that building relationships means giving before asking. They don’t just show up with a sales pitch; they consistently provide valuable resources, insights, or advice that help prospects solve their challenges or learn something new.
This could be helpful articles, industry insights, or even a well-timed piece of advice. Here are some tools to help you offer more value in your social selling strategy:
By consistently offering value through these tools, you’ll build trust with your prospects and position yourself as someone they can turn to for advice—not just another salesperson pushing a product.
This approach ensures that when it does come time to make an offer, your prospects are more receptive because you've already established a foundation of value.
Supersellers understand that social media isn’t just a platform to push sales—it’s a space to build relationships. One of the biggest mistakes salespeople make is treating social platforms as lead generators, spamming with pitch after pitch. Instead, supersellers use these platforms to engage meaningfully, get to know their audience, and create trust over time.
Engagement is key to building relationships. Liking and commenting on your prospect's posts shows that you're interested in what they have to say. When you offer thoughtful comments, you demonstrate value and set the stage for deeper conversations down the line. Don't wait for the perfect moment to pitch—start by showing genuine interest in your prospect’s world.
Tools that can help:
Supersellers don’t just post and hope for the best—they track their performance to continuously improve. Ignoring analytics is like driving without a map: you have no idea where you’re going or what’s working. Without checking how your content and engagement are performing, you won’t know what resonates with your audience or what needs tweaking.
Tracking your analytics helps you see which posts are engaging, which messages land, and where your audience is most active. Whether it’s tracking clicks, views, or engagement rates, platform analytics offer critical insights that allow you to refine your social selling strategy.
Some key analytics to focus on:
Tools that can help:
Supersellers know that sticking to one platform is a missed opportunity. Social media is constantly evolving, with new platforms and features popping up all the time. Whether it’s jumping onto the TikTok trend, experimenting with Instagram reels, or exploring Clubhouse, supersellers stay agile and adaptable, ensuring they’re engaging their audience where they’re most active. Failing to explore new platforms means missing out on untapped potential leads.
The best way to avoid this mistake is to be open to experimenting with new platforms. Start by identifying where your target audience is spending their time and test the waters. Not every platform is right for every industry, but experimenting with new channels can reveal surprising opportunities for engagement.
Supersellers know that closing deals often happens in the follow-up, not on a LinkedIn conversation. If you’re not consistently following up with prospects, you’re leaving money on the table. Yet, many sales reps drop the ball by either forgetting to follow up or waiting too long to re-engage. Prospects need nurturing, and inconsistent follow-ups can give the impression that you’re not interested or organized.
To avoid this mistake, the key is to stay organized and automate where possible. Supersellers make follow-ups part of their daily routine, ensuring no lead falls through the cracks. Here are some tips:
Tools that can help:
Social selling is more than just sending connection requests and hoping for the best. Supersellers know that success comes from avoiding the common traps—whether it’s spamming prospects, skipping the follow-up, or failing to offer real value. It’s all about creating meaningful connections, being consistent, listening to your audience, and adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape.
If you want to stand out in today’s crowded social media space, start by learning from the pros. Steer clear of these social selling mistakes, and watch how quickly your outreach becomes more engaging, your connections more meaningful, and your sales pipeline fuller.
The great news? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just follow what works. Take a page out of the superseller playbook and start implementing these strategies today. Whether it's refining your follow-ups with Sybill or crafting valuable content with ChatGPT, you’ve got the tools to turn your social selling into a powerhouse.
Ready to level up your social selling game? Get out there and start connecting like a superseller. Your next deal could be just a click away!
Why do some sellers seem to dominate social selling while others can’t seem to make any headway? The answer lies in how they go about connecting with prospects on social channels. The top performers in social selling, or who we call "supersellers," at Sybill, are not necessarily the ones who have been in the game the longest or have the most connections. Instead, they are the ones who’ve mastered the art of social selling by avoiding common pitfalls that trap many sales reps.
The problem? Most salespeople tend to overlook subtle, yet critical, social selling mistakes. They treat social platforms like a numbers game—pushing out generic pitches and failing to engage meaningfully with their audience.
Here’s the kicker: 90% of salespeople already use social selling tools as part of their strategy. With such widespread adoption, making social selling mistakes can be costly.
In this blog, we’ll break down the 10 most common social selling mistakes that can hold you back. More importantly, we’ll explore how supersellers avoid these missteps and how you can learn from their success to elevate your own sales game. Let’s go!
Many sales reps make the mistake of believing that social selling is a numbers game. They think the more people they reach out to, the better their chances of success. However, supersellers know the secret to winning at social selling: it’s not about how many people you connect with—it’s about the quality of those connections.
Supersellers take the time to research and target the right prospects. They don’t spam hundreds of generic messages in the hopes that something will stick. Instead, they focus on engaging with prospects who fit their ideal customer profile, ensuring that every outreach is meaningful and personalized.
Before sending a connection request or message, do your homework. Look at the prospect’s profile, recent posts, company updates, and mutual connections. Craft a message that shows you’ve taken the time to understand their needs and pain points. A personalized approach not only gets more responses but also builds long-term, trust-based relationships.
Why do supersellers dominate social selling? It's not just because they sell more—it's because they’re trusted, recognized voices in their industry. One of the biggest mistakes sales reps make is neglecting their personal brand. Supersellers know that people don’t just buy products—they buy trust, expertise, and credibility. Personal branding is your way to demonstrate all three.
Supersellers build their reputation as industry experts by sharing valuable content, engaging with thought leaders, and consistently adding insights to industry conversations. They don't just sell. They educate, inform, and engage their audience in meaningful ways. This trust leads to stronger relationships, and ultimately, more conversions.
In the age of AI, you no longer need to be a personal branding expert or a creative director to build your brand. Here are a few tools that can help you achieve your personal branding goals.
By focusing on creating and sharing thoughtful, educational content, and consistently engaging with your industry, you build a personal brand that makes prospects come to you.
One of the quickest ways to alienate a prospect on social media is by diving straight into a sales pitch. Imagine someone walking up to you at a party and immediately launching into a hard sell—awkward, right? That’s exactly how prospects feel when you pitch before building a connection. Supersellers understand that social selling is about creating trust, not pushing a product the moment someone connects with you.
Before you start selling, take the time to build rapport. Here's how you can do it:
Supersellers take the time to understand their prospects before making the ask. By engaging and providing value upfront, you build stronger relationships that lead to more successful sales conversations.
Related read: How to Be a Master Rapport Builder Using AI: 7 Tips for Sales Reps
One of the biggest reasons sellers struggle with social selling is their lack of consistency. Supersellers, on the other hand, know that regularly showing up in their prospects' feeds builds trust and keeps them top of mind. Sporadic posting or going silent for long periods gives the impression that you’re either not serious about your brand or that you’re too busy to care about your audience. And guess what? If your audience thinks you don’t care, they won’t care about you either.
A calendar helps you plan out posts ahead of time and ensures you’re consistently sharing valuable insights, updates, and thought leadership. You don’t have to post every day, but you do need a regular rhythm—whether that’s three times a week or twice a month, find a schedule that works for you.
Here are some tools that can help:
Staying consistent will help build familiarity, trust, and interest from your audience over time.
One of the biggest mistakes in social selling is thinking it’s all about broadcasting your message. Supersellers know better. They understand that effective social selling is a two-way conversation, and they spend more time listening than talking.
By actively listening to what prospects are saying—whether it’s through their posts, comments, or interactions—supersellers gather valuable insights into their needs, pain points, and interests. This helps them craft more targeted and effective outreach.
To truly understand your prospects, you need to pay attention to what they’re saying. Social listening involves monitoring online conversations to gather insights and build relationships. Here are some tools and techniques that can help you become a better listener:
Click here to learn more about empathetic listening.
By listening more and talking less, you can position yourself as someone who understands your prospects’ challenges, rather than just another salesperson pushing a product. This approach builds trust and credibility, two crucial elements in social selling success.
One of the biggest turn-offs in social selling is when reps only talk about their product or service without offering anything valuable to the prospect. Supersellers understand that building relationships means giving before asking. They don’t just show up with a sales pitch; they consistently provide valuable resources, insights, or advice that help prospects solve their challenges or learn something new.
This could be helpful articles, industry insights, or even a well-timed piece of advice. Here are some tools to help you offer more value in your social selling strategy:
By consistently offering value through these tools, you’ll build trust with your prospects and position yourself as someone they can turn to for advice—not just another salesperson pushing a product.
This approach ensures that when it does come time to make an offer, your prospects are more receptive because you've already established a foundation of value.
Supersellers understand that social media isn’t just a platform to push sales—it’s a space to build relationships. One of the biggest mistakes salespeople make is treating social platforms as lead generators, spamming with pitch after pitch. Instead, supersellers use these platforms to engage meaningfully, get to know their audience, and create trust over time.
Engagement is key to building relationships. Liking and commenting on your prospect's posts shows that you're interested in what they have to say. When you offer thoughtful comments, you demonstrate value and set the stage for deeper conversations down the line. Don't wait for the perfect moment to pitch—start by showing genuine interest in your prospect’s world.
Tools that can help:
Supersellers don’t just post and hope for the best—they track their performance to continuously improve. Ignoring analytics is like driving without a map: you have no idea where you’re going or what’s working. Without checking how your content and engagement are performing, you won’t know what resonates with your audience or what needs tweaking.
Tracking your analytics helps you see which posts are engaging, which messages land, and where your audience is most active. Whether it’s tracking clicks, views, or engagement rates, platform analytics offer critical insights that allow you to refine your social selling strategy.
Some key analytics to focus on:
Tools that can help:
Supersellers know that sticking to one platform is a missed opportunity. Social media is constantly evolving, with new platforms and features popping up all the time. Whether it’s jumping onto the TikTok trend, experimenting with Instagram reels, or exploring Clubhouse, supersellers stay agile and adaptable, ensuring they’re engaging their audience where they’re most active. Failing to explore new platforms means missing out on untapped potential leads.
The best way to avoid this mistake is to be open to experimenting with new platforms. Start by identifying where your target audience is spending their time and test the waters. Not every platform is right for every industry, but experimenting with new channels can reveal surprising opportunities for engagement.
Supersellers know that closing deals often happens in the follow-up, not on a LinkedIn conversation. If you’re not consistently following up with prospects, you’re leaving money on the table. Yet, many sales reps drop the ball by either forgetting to follow up or waiting too long to re-engage. Prospects need nurturing, and inconsistent follow-ups can give the impression that you’re not interested or organized.
To avoid this mistake, the key is to stay organized and automate where possible. Supersellers make follow-ups part of their daily routine, ensuring no lead falls through the cracks. Here are some tips:
Tools that can help:
Social selling is more than just sending connection requests and hoping for the best. Supersellers know that success comes from avoiding the common traps—whether it’s spamming prospects, skipping the follow-up, or failing to offer real value. It’s all about creating meaningful connections, being consistent, listening to your audience, and adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape.
If you want to stand out in today’s crowded social media space, start by learning from the pros. Steer clear of these social selling mistakes, and watch how quickly your outreach becomes more engaging, your connections more meaningful, and your sales pipeline fuller.
The great news? You don’t need to reinvent the wheel—just follow what works. Take a page out of the superseller playbook and start implementing these strategies today. Whether it's refining your follow-ups with Sybill or crafting valuable content with ChatGPT, you’ve got the tools to turn your social selling into a powerhouse.
Ready to level up your social selling game? Get out there and start connecting like a superseller. Your next deal could be just a click away!
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