LinkedIn Voice Messages: How To Leverage Sales Best Kept Secret

Audio is everything at the moment. There is a real explosion of voice-only inspired apps – how can we forget the success of Clubhouse? But voice apps aren’t just great for social networking; they’re also perfect for social selling. Personalization is everything these days, and customers prefer to buy from someone they know, like and trust – which can be a significant hurdle in today’s remote world. That’s why if you keep reading, you’ll discover how to leverage sales best-kept secret – LinkedIn Voice Messages.

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What are LinkedIn Voice Messages?

Salespeople often spend much time following up, touching base and progressing prospects through the funnel manually, through e-mails, direct LinkedIn messages or a simple phone call. 

This method is often time-consuming and largely one-dimensional, with salespeople feeling like they’re bugging customers or prospects. That’s why LinkedIn created LinkedIn Voice Messages, which “give you more ways to have conversations.”

The problem is that a lot of salespeople still don’t know this! Since 2018, we have been able to record and send voice messages of up to a minute to first-degree connections. You need the LinkedIn app and a profile to leave a voice message that works on iPhones, Androids, and the website. Similar to how you would leave a voicemail or send a voice note on WhatsApp. 

Why is this all so great? Learn how to leverage this audio-only feature to personalize your interactions. 

Also read:

• Social Media Selling | The Ultimate Guide to Social Selling in 2021
• Using LinkedIn As A Lead Generation Tool For Sales
• 5 LinkedIn Outreach Tricks To Generate High-Quality B2B Leads

Why use LinkedIn Voice Messages?

Before we delve into creating a LinkedIn Voice Message, let’s recap the benefits we touched upon at the beginning. First of all, speaking is far faster than typing, saving an incredible amount of time you could be using, closing a deal, or finding your next prospect. Second, it’s a far more personable and genuine sentiment than writing an awkward email that lacks tone, which means nothing is miscommunicated. Last of all, leaving a message without directly calling the recipient is a form of asynchronous communication – an excellent method of allowing them to interact on their terms.

How to Create a LinkedIn Voice Message

#1. Select the message icon in your LinkedIn app.
#2. Select the new message icon.
#3. Enter the person to whom you want to send a voice message. When their name appears, select it.
#4. Tap the microphone icon on the bottom right.
#5. Tap and then hold the microphone icon to start recording your message – this is the fun bit!
#6. A timer will appear to show you how much time has elapsed – which of course, is only up to 60 seconds.
#7. If you re-record the voice message, you can cancel it by sliding away from the microphone icon.
#8. When you’re done, release the microphone button. A message will appear to confirm you still want to send the message.
#9. If you do – press the send button.

Examples of an effective LinkedIn Voice Message

The process is simple, but you must structure your approach before leaving this voice message. Ensure you get the outcome you want by using these simple examples of effective LinkedIn Voice Messages below:

1. First touch LinkedIn Voice Messages

• Introduction: “Hey, [First Name]. I’m leaving you a message because you’ve probably got enough texts and emails to deal with at the moment!”
• Hook: “I’m currently helping others with [a problem you help solve], and I was interested to see if this is also something you’ve been facing recently?”
• Call-to-action: “I’d love to schedule a call to go over this issue with you to see if I can help in any way. If so, please reply with your availability. Thanks!”

2. Reminder and follow-up LinkedIn Voice Messages

Are you using too many emails to check in on your prospect? LinkedIn Voice Messages help to humanize long sales processes by giving them that much-needed personal touch. In fact, they also grab your prospect’s attention not once but twice! The first is when you visit their profile, and the second is the message itself. Use the effective follow-up template below to grab your prospect’s attention:

“Hey [First Name]! Just checking in again to see if you need any help with [problem mentioned before]. If you’re the right person to discuss this with, I’d still love to chat! Just drop me a message; thanks!”

3. Last touch LinkedIn Voice Messages

It’s easier to catch bees with honey than vinegar – so if your prospect has gone silent, why not use the novelty of receiving a LinkedIn Voice Message as a surprise tactic? Use this effective example below:

“Hey [First Name]! I hope you’re doing well. I’m checking in one last time to see if we can still help with [problem]? We really think you could [benefit] from [product] that [company/competitor] is using. Let me know what you think, thanks!”

LinkedIn Voice Messages best practices

The above examples are only the fundamentals of what you should include in your LinkedIn Voice Messages. The below best practices will make your messages even more effective:

1. Provide value

Present information in organized short chunks, similar to bullet points. Trying to be too clever can backfire by obscuring the benefits of what you offer and muddling your message. Your goal should be to allow your potential customers to learn what you are selling, who you are selling to, and what benefits your product can offer them in as little as five seconds. You can read our guide on creating an expert value proposition in sales to differentiate and get started!

2. Keep it conversational

You need to be selective about the points you discuss while also paying attention to the exact words you will use to discuss them. Opt for inclusive language in a sales call since it immediately helps to create an attitude of cooperation with your prospect. For example, instead of stating you wish to “talk to” a potential customer about a topic that can imply a forthcoming lecture, it is far better to say you want to “discuss” a business solution. This suggests a two-way conversation. You will also want to ensure that your tone of voice shows friendliness and affability and never shows desperation or frustration.

3. Be personable

One of the most effective ways to be personable is to use the recipient’s name and, probably more critically, know how to pronounce it! It helps you connect with them because they feel heard, and people love the sound of their names. 

4. Give a call-to-action

Last, what do you want them to do with the information you just communicated? Regardless of what you want them to do, you must be very specific to ensure they take action. For instance: “call me back at your earliest convenience”, “please review the notes and let me know we can proceed”, “does this date work for you, or shall I reschedule?” So always ensure you clearly provide an actionable next step your prospect can take.