There are more than 67 million companies listed on LinkedIn.
So, there’s a lot of potential within the platform for B2B social selling and professional networking. But is LinkedIn Sales Navigator the right tool for this?
In this guide, we’ll explain Sales Navigator, how it works, its ROI potential, and some tips and tricks.
So, is LinkedIn Sales Navigator worth it?
What is LinkedIn Sales Navigator?
Sales Navigator is one of LinkedIn’s paid tools designed for sales teams.
Among its key features, you can find…
The origin and evolution of Sales Navigator
Sales Navigator was born for sales professionals to establish and grow relationships with prospects.
Over the years, it has evolved, offering features such as advanced searches, detailed metrics, and insights, and it has included InMail in the deal.
Its evolution reflects LinkedIn’s commitment to empowering sales professionals with actionable insights and meaningful connections.
Free LinkedIn Account vs LinkedIn Premium
While LinkedIn Premium offers a series of very beneficial features, your free LinkedIn account also offers some solid features.
However, they may come up short depending on your need.
We will be looking at four basic features that appeal to everyone:
1. Profile Views
With LinkedIn’s free plan, you generally receive a notification such as this:
Generally, you will not be able to see who has viewed your profile, but you may be able to see where they work or at least in what industry.
However, LinkedIn Premium gives you a detailed report of who has viewed your profile.
This is beneficial if you want to use those views as a stepping stone to reach out to them and expand your network through their previous engagement.
However, if you’re not planning on using that information, it may not be a deciding factor at all.
2. Searches
The amount of searches you do with your free LinkedIn account is limited.
You are only allowed 12-15 searches a month.
On the other hand, with a Premium Account, you can have unlimited searches.
This is beneficial when you’re building a database through LinkedIn searches.
It’s also worth the investment if you are a recruiter or a job seeker, as you can expand your search and find that perfect candidate.
However, if you don’t want to upgrade based on the search amount alone, you can still avoid it.
Go to “Manage my network” where can access some profiles until your searches are renewed. Or invest in an all-in-one tool, such as lemlist, with a built-in B2B lead database.
Check out this video to learn about this new feature! ⬇️
3. Search filters
LinkedIn’s basic search filters are pretty solid. However, they are limited to location, company, previous company, and not much else.
So, to get what you need, you’ll need to have a pretty clear idea of who you’re looking for.
On the other hand, LinkedIn Premium’s search filters are much more expansive, so you can just play around with the filters and get relevant search results.
4. Messages
The LinkedIn free account offers Direct Messages, a system that allows communication between connected members.
On the other hand, with InMail, LinkedIn Premium’s messaging system, you can message anyone outside of your network.
Concerning messages, we do have to admit that LinkedIn Premium kicked it out of the park.
Still not convinced? Read a bit more about the difference between direct messages and InMail.
How Does Sales Navigator Help Business Operations?
The allure of Sales Navigator lies in its premium features, which are tailored to supercharge a company’s sales pipeline.
From advanced search filters to lead recommendations and InMail messages, these features aim to facilitate a more efficient and effective sales process.
Sales Navigator helps businesses keep track of their past and present connections.
Leads can be classified separately from the rest of your network so you don’t have to keep track yourself.
The decision to invest in Sales Navigator should be informed by a clear comprehension of how its features can be leveraged to enhance your company’s sales strategy and the potential return on such an investment.
Sales Navigator’s ROI
When considering the adoption of any new tool, especially one as robust as Sales Navigator, it is crucial to assess its return on investment (ROI).
This assessment helps businesses understand whether the benefits derived from the tool justify the cost associated with it.
How can the Sales Navigator LinkedIn Premium Tool Improve Business Profitability and Efficiency?
To gauge the ROI of Sales Navigator, specific metrics such as lead conversion rates, deal closure times, and sales cycle lengths can be monitored.
Case studies and reviews from various companies provide real-world insights into how Sales Navigator has influenced these metrics.
By analyzing this data, businesses can determine the tangible impact Sales Navigator has on their sales processes and overall profitability.
Many users report increased efficiency in prospecting and a higher quality of leads, which often translates into improved profitability.
These firsthand accounts underscore the potential of Sales Navigator to transform a company’s sales strategy and yield significant returns on the investment.
You can flip through G2 or Capterra and read the many reviews posted about Sales Navigator to help you make an informed decision.
Tips and Tricks for LinkedIn Sales Navigator
With the right strategies, businesses can tap into the advanced features of Sales Navigator to pinpoint ideal prospects and cultivate valuable connections.
Advanced Features for Focused Lead Generation
The power of Sales Navigator lies in its advanced search capabilities that allow for precise targeting of leads.
These features require understanding the specific filters and search criteria that align with your business goals.
By refining searches to include industry, company size, function, and even seniority level, Sales Navigator enables users to create a highly focused list of potential leads, making the outreach process more efficient and effective.
Use TeamLink to Align Your Sales Team and the Company’s Networking Objectives on LinkedIn
TeamLink is a standout feature of Sales Navigator that extends the reach of your network by leveraging your team’s collective connections.
This tool can help you reach prospects through your team’s networks, facilitating warmer introductions and increasing the likelihood of successful engagement.
Aligning your sales team’s efforts through TeamLink can significantly enhance your overall networking strategy on LinkedIn.
Source: LinkedIn
Follow these steps to find TeamLink referrals:
- Go to the Lead Search Tab in Sales Navigator.
- Select your accounts in “Account Lists”
- Under the spotlights filter, add “with TeamLink intro.” Don’t forget to apply the “removed viewed profiles” filter so you don’t get the same people constantly.
- Save your new list to a search. Remember to review it every continuously.
- Add the new leads to your CRM using CRM sync.
- Add the contacts to an Outreach sequence.
Draft Engaging Interactions with Potential Prospects on Your LinkedIn Profile
Engagement is at the heart of social selling, and Sales Navigator can help craft compelling messages that resonate with your prospects.
If you need some help coming up with compelling multichannel campaigns, we’ve got you covered at lemlist. With your subscription, you can access the Template section from your dashboard, and gain access to plenty of multichannel campaigns, emails, landing pages, schedules, and more.
By using insights gleaned from Sales Navigator’s rich data on user activities and interests, personalized messages can be tailored to each prospect.
This personal touch can greatly increase response rates and foster meaningful relationships that lead to sales opportunities.
Sales Navigator’s Challenges
While LinkedIn Sales Navigator is designed to streamline the sales process, users may encounter certain challenges that can impact its overall effectiveness.
It is crucial to understand these potential obstacles and how they can be overcome to ensure the success of your social selling initiatives.
Analysis of Common Criticisms
One common criticism of Sales Navigator is its cost, especially for small businesses or individual users.
PlanPriceSales Navigator Core$99.99/monthSales Navigator Advanced$149.99/monthSales Navigator Advanced Pluscustom price
While the investment may seem substantial, the advanced features and targeted lead generation capabilities often justify the expense for those who use it effectively.
Additionally, some users find the platform complex and challenging to navigate. However, with proper training and regular use, the learning curve can be overcome, unlocking the tool’s full potential.
Integrations and Customizations to Enhance Your Sales Navigator Account
To maximize the value of your Sales Navigator account, it’s beneficial to utilize its integration capabilities with other software, such as CRM systems.
This can streamline workflows and maintain a centralized database of prospect interactions.
Customizing alerts and preferences within Sales Navigator can also keep you informed about potential opportunities and ensure you’re always prepared to engage with prospects at the right time.
You can also bookmark your alerts so you can save them and go back to them whenever you need.
Identifying Solutions
Efficiency is key when using any sales tool, and Sales Navigator is no exception.
It’s important to adopt usage strategies that don’t waste time and focus on high-value activities.
This includes setting aside dedicated time for prospecting, using saved searches to monitor key accounts, and scheduling regular reviews of your Sales Navigator usage to refine your approach continually.
Key Takeaways
-> LinkedIn Sales Navigator improves the efficiency of your sales outreach with its advanced search capabilities, personalized algorithm, and InMail features.
-> LinkedIn Sales allows you to identify high quality leads as you can filter the results by industry, company size, seniority level, and more.
-> TeamLink helps you reach out to more high-quality leads by leveraging your team’s collective connections.
-> To make the most out of Sales Navigator, you should use its integration capabilities with other software, such as CRM systems.
-> You can identify high-quality leads outside of LinkedIn with lemlist’s lead B2B database. Give it a try through its 14-day free trial – no card required.
