Building a brand or being an influencer on LinkedIn

Honestly I was trying to build a "brand" on LinkedIn so I can do better social selling...


But I've become sick and tired of it. Maybe its because of the people I am connected with but Im tired of seeing a lot of peoples post. Just seems so fake now.


Seems like they are just wannabes, but I suppose I was like that too ha....


#ranting

๐Ÿฑ Off-Topic
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Social Selling
18
TennisandSales
Politicker
9
Head Of Sales
the worst thing i see now is when sale reps try to be sales influencers on Linked In.

i worked with a guy who left and went to Gong and like 3 days after he started he is sharing "my morning routine for sales excellence" i wanted to vomit on my computer screen.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
3
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
#SalesGuru #SalesLeader
TennisandSales
Politicker
3
Head Of Sales
#salesexpert #salesNinja #salesrockstar
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales
hahah yea I see the same thing from my connection. So cringy
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
just the worst. I can appreciate it when ppl tell me WHY i should care about what you have to say when you have been in sales for only 5 years.

maybe there was been something VERY specific that you have done, or are good at but to try to be Gary fucking V is the worst.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
7
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Yeah, not my thing. I can appreciate it if someone is doing it right and genuine, but most of it's fake and annoying.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
For sure, those who take the time to put out real useful content.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
๐ŸฆŠ
Dude I get it. There was one I saw yesterday that was titled he was 42 and living with his Mom. Then it took a turn into how sick she is and blah blah blah. I stopped reading and blocked him.
champchamp
Arsonist
1
Certified Savage
I saw it tooโ€ฆ so fucking sad and annoying.

Like, are you really fucking using your momโ€™s terminal disease for your LinkedIn bullshit?

42 year old scumbagโ€ฆ 47 though, I think he was actually 47 lol.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
๐ŸฆŠ
Yup. He really did. And you are correct about the age. What a tool.
ThatNewAE
Big Shot
4
Account Executive - Mid enterprise
Posting something really unique, creative and your own story / experience is still appreciated, I guess. Posting all sorts of life lessons seem to have gotten to the point of saturation.

I am also someone who is inclined towards building a brand on LinkedIn, but yeah the fight is real as to separate yourself from the 'wannabes'.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
I think the best contents are the ones where you can take action on. Seems like everyone is posting about their daily lives and why they are an AE or SDR, etc
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
3
Sales Rep
It was such a huge push a year ago, but I hardly see it result in a following outside of co-workers liking each otherโ€™s posts
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales
Exactly, I had little to no results and grew tired of it and every wanna be out there lol.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
3
Account Executive
I used to want to develop a large connection base but it feels pointless when I would see no results from actual potential prospects
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales
Yea I feel you there
jefe
Arsonist
3
๐Ÿ
Wayy too much of that is so fake and annoying.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
super agreed
SaaSyBee
Politicker
2
Founder
Yeah, there's a lot of fakeness over there. It can be hard to stomach. But it's honestly worth it if you can get over that. Our team gets so many inbound demo requests through LinkedIn and we connect with our customers a lot over there too.

But like anything, if you don't enjoy it, it'll show and it won't work as well. Do what works for you. Don't feel pressure to be an "influencer" at all. Just sell.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales
Yea I know it works but Im just tired of seeing people post useless content.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
If everyone is doing it, what's the point?

I use LI only to establish connections to people I may need to contact, and to make sure I have a bright fresh CV in front of potential employers and prospective customers.

Nothing wrong with creating great content and sharing it, but influencing for the sake of influencing becomes a giant circle jerk.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
For sure i agree with you there!
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I see nothing wrong with posts about "What I learned today" documenting your evolution as a person and as a sales person.

However, I don't like people with just a couple years (or less) experience telling me what's what. And don't get me started on people "trying to build a brand" for brand building sake. People like that, we all see them like they are Casper.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
I suppose, but I still view that as them trying to build an audience to get followers and be influential. Thats just from my view of course lol
sales7
Politicker
2
Commercial Product Enablement
biggest cringe, my company tries to make people do it when it's clearly making them uncomfortable. This "influencer" trend needs to chill
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
Yea its part of people's cadences for some company ๐Ÿ™„
1.000.000maxi
Politicker
1
BDR (Business Development Rep)
A lot of the people that go viral on LinkedIn have their heads lodged so far up their own ass they canโ€™t see the sun.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
1
Sales
haha
punishedlad
Tycoon
1
๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธ
What I'm mostly curious about is if "building your personal brand" has actually lead to more success in these people's jobs.

I post occasionally and have "creator mode" turned on, but I only post when I think I have something of genuine value/interest to contribute. The big "influencers" seem to be just a huge circle jerk.
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
Yes, there are certain groups where people post their linkedin post and then tell everyone in that group to like their post so it gets views.
punishedlad
Tycoon
0
๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธ
That doesn't really answer my question. I'm more curious if having a built out personal brand leads to more closed deals.
Rallier
Politicker
1
SDR Manager and Consultant
If you sell to salespeople or are looking for a job it can be helpful, but outside of that I wouldn't worry too much about it
Thesamiam13x
Celebrated Contributor
0
Sales
Yea that sounds about right
Error32
Politicker
0
ISR
This just screams that one of the managers didn't like you or saw you as a threat. Which sucks
39
Members only

Should you build a personal brand on LinkedIn?

Question
56
7

Balancing personal brand with prospects on LinkedIn

Discussion
15
Use linkedin for
37% Personal brand only
37% Social selling + brand
26% Personal + socual + company content
97 people voted
10

A sales influencer who is AGAINST a "personal brand"? Finally!

Discussion
26