LinkedIn is a powerful business tool for Tourism Professionals like you. I reached out to my friend Louise Brogan who is a Certified LinkedIn Expert and asked her to share a good strategy with us. Learning how to connect remotely while our trade shows are still a few months away is a great skill to have!

Have you ever had the following happen?

Someone sends you a connection request on LinkedIn with no message and you have no idea who they are, or why they want to connect with you.

Someone connects with you on LinkedIn and as soon as you accept their connection request, they send you a sales message. Or an automated message.

 

Don’t miss the opportunity to start a conversation

When you connect with someone on LinkedIn without a message, you are missing a huge opportunity.

LinkedIn is the social networking site for business owners and professionals. When you connect with someone, you add them to your network.

In order to build a valuable network full of potential customers, clients, and collaborations, start out with having a conversation with your new contact.

When someone logs into their LinkedIn account and sees a handful of new connection requests – 2 with a message and 3 without, which ones do you think they will look at first?

When you receive a genuine message from a new connection, the usual thing to do would be to reply. Now you have moved beyond one of many connections in the newsfeed, to one to one in the inbox.

How can you add a message when connecting?

• Click on the person’s name that you would like to connect with
• Click on “Connect” on their introduction card (if you are using mobile, click on the three little dots to the right of the ‘connect’ button)
• Select ‘Add a note’
• Write your note and click on Send

Beware: Not all connection messages are the same

Imagine you are at a conference or business networking event. Someone comes up to you, shakes your hand, gives you a business and walks away without saying a word.

Or worse, you meet someone at an event, say hello and they immediately tell you what service they provide at and ask would you like to buy it.

Would this method work with you? What do you think your first reaction might be?

Don’t waste the opportunity to make a great first impression when connecting with someone on LinkedIn.

So what connection request message can you send?

First of all, think about WHY you want to connect with this person. Are they in the same field as you? Have you heard them on a podcast?

Did you see an article they wrote? Will adding them to your network add to the value you get from LinkedIn?

Have a look at their LinkedIn profile – is there something in their profile you can connect over?

What recent posts have they shared? Can you start a conversation about a topic they seem interested in?

Five examples of LinkedIn messages to send when connecting

Here are five examples of messages you can send when connecting with someone on LinkedIn:

1. The person you met at a networking event – try to send this connection request within a few days of meeting someone:

Hi Traci,

‘it was great to meet you at the event today – I’d like to connect so that we can stay in touch’

2. Someone you have heard on a podcast

Hi Martin,

I heard you on the LinkedIn with Louise podcast – I loved what you said about how to manage teams well. I thought it would be good to connect here on LinkedIn’

3. Someone you want to connect to, but haven’t met yet

‘Hi Barbara,

I saw your post on social media marketing and I liked how you wrote about the different platforms needing different approaches. LinkedIn is my own preference and I’d like to connect with you here. Looking forward to seeing more of your content,

4. Someone who might be able to help you in your business

Hi Louise,

I work with a team and we are struggling to get leads on LinkedIn. I heard your podcast about LinkedIn strategy and we’d love to have a chat with you to see if you can help us.

5. Someone you have been referred to

Hi Allison,

I am connected to Martin Huntbach, and he recommended I connect with you as we have a similar audience. Looking forward to finding out more about what you do.

If you received any of the above messages, do you think you would respond?

If the answer is yes, now you are starting a one-to-one direct conversation with someone.

You may not convert the new connection into a lead but when you get to know someone through a conversation, they will remember you and your business. This leads to genuine business relationships which leads to growth and sales.

Bonus sixth connection request message example

Here is a genuine message I received this week in my inbox:

Hi Louise, I’ve been enjoying your posts and would love to connect and have you in my network. Regards, C

Guess what? I replied and we had a conversation.

Interested in learning more from Louise?

You can connect with Louise on Linkedin here. Be sure to click the sound icon next to her name to hear her lovely Irish brogue!

Louise’s course, LinkedIn by Lunch, can be purchased directly from TourismProAcademy.com. Check it out here and enjoy lifetime access to her course!

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Want to practice connecting with a message? Connect with me here on Linkedin or if we are already connected, send me a message about something else you would like to learn on LinkedIn!

How can I help you in 2021?

DMOs/Tourism Organizations:

Are you looking for a way to provide value to your partners during this challenging time? Check out the Online Tourism Training Program with this link. I can help you provide monthly virtual training for you to offer to your partners/members.

Here’s a recent testimonial from Sarah Anne Rhodes of the Georgia Department of Economic Development: Sally was wonderful to work with to support our Georgia Tourism partners. We were able to have two education group sales webinars with Sally as our presenter. We received fantastic survey results mentioning her approach and the action items they were ready to get working towards.

We found Sally to be a great trainer and speaker to work with on our educational sessions. During discussions of content, she was always aiming to make content actionable, accessible, and inclusive for all tourism partners. She spoke about the reality of the markets and helped prepare our partners whether brand new to group sales or having focused on it a long time. Many thanks and kudos are in order for Sally Davis Berry.

My team will take care of registration, reminders, and even a post-webinar survey! Let me know what topics your partners need help with and we will develop impactful training. I am booked through the end of May but am booking new clients starting in June 2021. Prices start at just $995 for each training. Click here to email me and we can set up a time to talk!

Looking to increase your Tourism knowledge and skills?

Then check out Tourism Pro Academy.  I created this platform in 2019 as a one-stop-shop for Tourism Professionals like you!  You can check out free resources, courses, and other ways to work with me. I am adding new offerings this month. Click here to see what’s available- including Louise’s LinkedIn course!