Effective LinkedIn Outreach to Decision Makers: 7 Steps

How to Reach Out to a Decision Maker on LinkedIn

Reaching out to decision makers on LinkedIn can be a strategic move for professionals looking to sell a product, offer a service, or establish a partnership. Decision makers are typically high-level executives or managers with the authority to make purchasing and partnership decisions. Successfully connecting with them can significantly shorten sales cycles and lead to fruitful business opportunities. Here are comprehensive steps and strategies to effectively reach out to decision makers on LinkedIn.

Identify the Decision Maker

Start by identifying who the decision makers are within the target organization. They can often be found by their job titles, such as CEOs, CTOs, VPs, Directors, or Heads of Departments, depending on the size of the company and the industry. Use LinkedIn's search function, Google, or the company's LinkedIn page to find potential decision makers. Advanced tools like LinkedIn Sales Navigator can also help in mapping out the organization and pinpointing the right contacts.

Connect Through Common Connections

Check if you have any mutual connections with the decision maker. A mutual connection can introduce you, making your outreach more personal and increasing the likelihood of a positive response. LinkedIn shows mutual connections on the profile of the person you're trying to connect with, and you can request an introduction through these mutual contacts.

Engage with Their Content

Before sending a connection request, engage with the decision maker's content. Like, comment, and share their posts to get on their radar. This shows genuine interest in their professional insights and increases the chances of your connection request being accepted.

Send a Personalized Connection Request

When you're ready to connect, always personalize your request. Mention how you found them, any common connections, or express genuine interest in their work or insights. Avoid using the default connection message. Personalization demonstrates effort and increases the likelihood of your request being accepted.

Follow Up with Value

Once connected, don’t immediately pitch your product or service. Instead, offer value. Share relevant articles, insights, or offer solutions to problems they've discussed. Establishing yourself as a valuable resource builds trust and opens the door for more meaningful conversations.

Utilize LinkedIn InMail

If you're unable to connect through mutual connections or your connection request goes unanswered, consider using LinkedIn InMail. InMail allows you to send messages to people you're not connected with. Ensure your message is compelling, personalized, and clearly outlines the reason for reaching out. Highlight mutual benefits and the value you can provide to their organization.

Participate in LinkedIn Groups

Join LinkedIn Groups where decision makers might be active. Participating in discussions and sharing valuable insights can help you establish credibility. This indirect approach allows decision makers to notice you in a professional context, making them more receptive to connection requests or direct messages.

Conclusion

Reaching out to decision makers on LinkedIn requires a strategic approach that emphasizes research, personalization, and providing value. By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully connecting with decision makers and potentially opening doors to new business opportunities.

While the traditional approach to reaching out to decision makers on LinkedIn involves a mix of research, personalized connection requests, and follow-up messages, automation can significantly enhance this process. Bardeen offers powerful automation playbooks that streamline the outreach process, making it more efficient and effective.

Here are examples of Bardeen automations that can assist in reaching out to decision makers on LinkedIn:

1. Create a sales outreach email draft in Microsoft Outlook for the currently opened LinkedIn profile: This playbook automates the creation of a personalized sales outreach email using details from the decision maker's LinkedIn profile, saving it as a draft in Microsoft Outlook. It combines personal and professional information to craft compelling messages that can capture a decision maker's attention.
2. Create a personalized sales outreach email in Microsoft Outlook from a LinkedIn post: This playbook takes it a step further by creating an outreach email based on a specific LinkedIn post by the decision maker. It leverages the content of the post to create a more targeted and relevant email, demonstrating your genuine interest and engagement with their content.
3. Create a personalized outreach email from a LinkedIn post: For those using different email platforms, this playbook creates a personalized outreach email directly from a LinkedIn post's content. It enriches the outreach process by tailoring the message to reflect the insights or topics discussed by the decision maker in their post.

By automating the initial steps of the outreach process with Bardeen, you can ensure your messages are both personalized and efficient, increasing the likelihood of engaging with key decision makers on LinkedIn.