Sales Navigator is a tool with many useful features. Some are well-used, like the leads search, while others are hidden away—and some are not included in the package you have!
On Sales Navigator, there are 3 levels:
1. Core
2. Advanced
3. Advanced Plus
If you are a Core user, Smart Links is a tool you definitely won’t have seen, or used because you don’t have it. If you’re on one of the Advanced packages, you have it, but you may not have used it, or know what it’s best for.
In this article, I will explain what Smart Links are, outline why you should use them, and suggest seven applications for their use.
What Are Smart Links?
Smart Links are trackable links you can create within which you can bundle up to 15 documents or website URLs into one “packaged link”. The file types you can add include PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel files, and image and video files. This bundling creates a sleek and professional presentation for your prospects.
Why Use Smart Links?
When someone clicks on a Smart Link and they engage with your content, you will receive incredibly detailed engagement metrics, which have the following benefits:
Track Engagement: you will see who views your content and whether they download it.
Gain Insights: Understand what interests your prospects most based on the pages they view and for how long.
Save Time: Create reusable content packages for different buyer personas.
Improve Follow-ups: Tailor your follow-up approach based on the insights from prospect interactions.
Identify Decision Makers: See who else in the organisation views your content if someone shares the link with a colleague.
7 Applications for Smart Links
1. Enhance LinkedIn Prospecting Messages
When sending LinkedIn messages, add value by including relevant content resources via Smart Links. This approach can visually stimulate curiosity and pique interest, positioning you as a helpful resource rather than just another salesperson. Track engagement to gauge interest and tailor your follow-ups effectively.
💡 Smart Links are internal so there is no chance of LinkedIn support wrapping your knuckles for sharing them, which can happen with external links.
2. Add Value in LinkedIn Posts
When creating a LinkedIn post, add additional value by adding a Smart Link to a valuable resource related to the topic. The preview feature will showcase the resource, increasing engagement and click-through rates. You can track which posts perform best and replicate successful resources.
💡 Use the insights gained to refine your content strategy and improve your social selling efforts.
3. Streamline Sales Presentations
Send Smart Links before or after presentations to provide easy access to additional resources. Include your calendar link so your attendees can easily schedule follow-up meetings. This approach ensures that prospects have all the information they need at their fingertips.
💡 Track which slides or resources are most viewed to refine your presentation strategy.
4. Enhance Proposal Delivery
When creating proposals for potential clients, add additional supporting documents in a Smart Link for a professional and comprehensive package. Track when (and which) decision-makers review the content and also check which sections generate the most interest to prepare you for the follow-up meeting.
💡 Include personalised elements to make your proposals stand out.
5. Nurture Leads with Content Marketing
Create Smart Links for different stages of your sales funnel to deliver targeted content. Share relevant resources based on a prospect’s position in the buyer’s journey. This approach allows you to provide value at every stage of the sales process.
💡 Their engagement insights will identify when leads are ready for more direct outreach.
6. Showcase Your Thought Leadership
Bundle your best articles, videos, and resources into a Smart Link to position yourself as an expert. Share this curated content with prospects to demonstrate your knowledge and value. Regularly update your thought leadership hub to keep content fresh and relevant.
💡 Monitor which topics generate the most interest to guide your content creation efforts.
7. Facilitate Team Collaboration
Share Smart Links with your sales team to ensure everyone has access to the latest materials. Track engagement with key accounts across your team for a unified approach. You can also create standardised content hubs for different products or services to maintain consistency.
💡 Use insights gained from the Smart Links to update your team’s sales strategy and tactics.
In Summary
If you’re a Sales Navigator Advanced or Advanced Plus user, try Smart Links. Experiment. Their valuable insights provide you with sales intelligence about your prospects and whether they are ready for the next step.
If you’re a Core user, Sales Navigator Advanced is more expensive, but Smart Links and the other features of upgrading bring other benefits (exactly what these benefits are will vary based on your circumstances). Look into it, or reach out to me.
Smart Links bring knowledge, which is powerful and makes conversations easier. Better conversations lead to better sales results. Sell smart.
Are you using LinkedIn Sales Navigator to its full potential?
7 Applications for Sales Navigator Smart Links
7 Applications for Sales Navigator Smart Links
Sales Navigator is a tool with many useful features. Some are well-used, like the leads search, while others are hidden away—and some are not included in the package you have!
On Sales Navigator, there are 3 levels:
1. Core
2. Advanced
3. Advanced Plus
If you are a Core user, Smart Links is a tool you definitely won’t have seen, or used because you don’t have it. If you’re on one of the Advanced packages, you have it, but you may not have used it, or know what it’s best for.
In this article, I will explain what Smart Links are, outline why you should use them, and suggest seven applications for their use.
What Are Smart Links?
Smart Links are trackable links you can create within which you can bundle up to 15 documents or website URLs into one “packaged link”. The file types you can add include PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel files, and image and video files. This bundling creates a sleek and professional presentation for your prospects.
Why Use Smart Links?
When someone clicks on a Smart Link and they engage with your content, you will receive incredibly detailed engagement metrics, which have the following benefits:
Track Engagement: you will see who views your content and whether they download it.
Gain Insights: Understand what interests your prospects most based on the pages they view and for how long.
Save Time: Create reusable content packages for different buyer personas.
Improve Follow-ups: Tailor your follow-up approach based on the insights from prospect interactions.
Identify Decision Makers: See who else in the organisation views your content if someone shares the link with a colleague.
7 Applications for Smart Links
1. Enhance LinkedIn Prospecting Messages
When sending LinkedIn messages, add value by including relevant content resources via Smart Links. This approach can visually stimulate curiosity and pique interest, positioning you as a helpful resource rather than just another salesperson. Track engagement to gauge interest and tailor your follow-ups effectively.
💡 Smart Links are internal so there is no chance of LinkedIn support wrapping your knuckles for sharing them, which can happen with external links.
2. Add Value in LinkedIn Posts
When creating a LinkedIn post, add additional value by adding a Smart Link to a valuable resource related to the topic. The preview feature will showcase the resource, increasing engagement and click-through rates. You can track which posts perform best and replicate successful resources.
💡 Use the insights gained to refine your content strategy and improve your social selling efforts.
3. Streamline Sales Presentations
Send Smart Links before or after presentations to provide easy access to additional resources. Include your calendar link so your attendees can easily schedule follow-up meetings. This approach ensures that prospects have all the information they need at their fingertips.
💡 Track which slides or resources are most viewed to refine your presentation strategy.
4. Enhance Proposal Delivery
When creating proposals for potential clients, add additional supporting documents in a Smart Link for a professional and comprehensive package. Track when (and which) decision-makers review the content and also check which sections generate the most interest to prepare you for the follow-up meeting.
💡 Include personalised elements to make your proposals stand out.
5. Nurture Leads with Content Marketing
Create Smart Links for different stages of your sales funnel to deliver targeted content. Share relevant resources based on a prospect’s position in the buyer’s journey. This approach allows you to provide value at every stage of the sales process.
💡 Their engagement insights will identify when leads are ready for more direct outreach.
6. Showcase Your Thought Leadership
Bundle your best articles, videos, and resources into a Smart Link to position yourself as an expert. Share this curated content with prospects to demonstrate your knowledge and value. Regularly update your thought leadership hub to keep content fresh and relevant.
💡 Monitor which topics generate the most interest to guide your content creation efforts.
7. Facilitate Team Collaboration
Share Smart Links with your sales team to ensure everyone has access to the latest materials. Track engagement with key accounts across your team for a unified approach. You can also create standardised content hubs for different products or services to maintain consistency.
💡 Use insights gained from the Smart Links to update your team’s sales strategy and tactics.
In Summary
If you’re a Sales Navigator Advanced or Advanced Plus user, try Smart Links. Experiment. Their valuable insights provide you with sales intelligence about your prospects and whether they are ready for the next step.
If you’re a Core user, Sales Navigator Advanced is more expensive, but Smart Links and the other features of upgrading bring other benefits (exactly what these benefits are will vary based on your circumstances). Look into it, or reach out to me.
Smart Links bring knowledge, which is powerful and makes conversations easier. Better conversations lead to better sales results. Sell smart.
Are you using LinkedIn Sales Navigator to its full potential?
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