The Art of Social Selling - by Shannon Belew (Paperback)

About the Book

Your customers are gathering together under one virtual roof. Have you learned yet how to maximize the potential of social media marketing?

Book Synopsis

This book presents a detailed methodology for growing sales and expanding their customer base via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and other social media platforms.

Internet marketing strategies have evolved well past the days of purchasing banner space on popular websites and hoping the right customers stumble upon it during their late-night searches. With the explosion of social media platforms, businesses can now tap into specific online communities and be confident that they are communicating directly and regularly with their target audience.

Citing enlightening research and real-world examples, The Art of Social Selling will show you how to:

• Use content and conversations to build online relationships that transition to sales
• Execute realistic sales strategies for each of the major social media platforms
• Spot social media trends that may influence future buying behaviors
• Sell online in B2B and B2C environments
• Turn social shares (likes, favorites, +1s) into social sales
• Set tangible goals
• Use online tools and analytics to track social influencers and identify relevant conversations as they are happening

Complete with a chapter dedicated to capturing mobile sales--a segment currently exploding as the adoption of smartphones and tablets continues to grow--this invaluable guide is a must-have resource for sales professionals in every industry.

From the Back Cover

The sales and marketing process has been forever changed by social media, and with customers increasingly influenced by peers, brands, and even total strangers online, tapping into networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn has become an essential part of any sales strategy.

Featuring case studies of companies that have used social selling to drive traffic, increase sales, and encourage engagement, this book reveals what works and what doesn't when engaging with online communities. You'll learn how to:

- Have persuasive conversations through social media instead of exclusively by phone, email, and face-to-face meetings

- Create powerful first impressions with your online profile

- Turn social shares (likes, favorites, +1s) into social sales

- Use content to build online relationships that transition to sales

- Set tangible goals

- Spot social media trends that may influence future buying behaviors

- Execute realistic, methodical sales strategies for each of the major social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+

- Build social selling into your schedule

- Use online tools and analytics to track social influencers and identify relevant conversations as they are happening

- Sell online in B2B and B2C environments

- Integrate your online and offline sales efforts

Including a chapter dedicated to capturing mobile sales--a segment poised to explode as the use of smartphones and tablets grows--this book provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the various social networking sites available to you as well as a practical plan for integrating social selling into your online sales strategy.

Sales is about relationships . . . and if you don't expand your ability to make them and develop them in the online social arena, you risk falling by the wayside and losing out to competitors. Filled with examples and usable strategies, The Art of Social Selling reveals practical, up-to-the-minute methods for consistently reaching a greater number of high-quality prospects, spreading the word about what you have to offer, and boosting your bottom line.

SHANNON BELEW is a digital marketing advocate and top-selling author of Starting an Online Business for Dummies, All-in-One. She currently manages the online marketing and lead-generation efforts for a global IP telephony company. Her blog, Online MarketingToGo.com, focuses on topics including social media, social selling, mobile strategies, and content development.

Review Quotes

..".provides readers a practical guide with a detailed methodology for growing sales and expanding their customer base using social media." --Examiner.com

..".shows that high performers will do even more business using social media... good resource for sales pros and leaders." --Knights on the Road

"Belew's focus is narrow and deep, thoroughly exploring the role of social media in the realm of sales and selling." --Choice

"If you are a salesperson... make The Art of Social Selling the next book you read." --Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

About the Author

SHANNON BELEW is a digital marketing advocate and top-selling author of Starting an Online Business for Dummies, All-in-One. She currently manages the online marketing and lead-generation efforts for a global IP telephony company. Her blog, OnlineMarketingToGo.com, focuses on topics including social media, social selling, mobile strategies, and content development.