Eric Schmidt, former Executive Chairman at Google, once remarked, “There were 5 exabytes of information created between the dawn of civilization through 2003, but that much information is now created every two days.”

This statement, made in 2011, continues reverberating in today’s digital landscape, where approximately 0.33 zettabytes of data are generated daily. The sheer magnitude of this data deluge underscores information’s pivotal role in shaping our world. From personal interactions to global transactions, data permeates every facet of modern life, presenting both challenges and opportunities for businesses seeking to navigate the digital realm.

In our previous blog posts, we discovered how social selling fits into the modern sales process, what tools, training, and strategies are needed to enable your sales teams to engage in effective social selling, and how you and your sales professionals can navigate the digital landscape most effectively.

Sales professionals no longer rely solely on traditional methods to connect with prospects; instead, they harness the power of social selling to forge meaningful relationships and drive revenue growth. Last week’s blog explained how your sales team can build trust by humanizing your brand and connecting to your audience. 

Yet, amidst the flurry of likes, shares, and comments lies a treasure trove of hard data and insights waiting to be uncovered, offering a strategic approach to leveraging analytics for sales success. Are you seeing and leveraging this information in your organization? If not, you’re missing out on many insights that can inform your content strategy, ABM, and your revenue. 

At ReadyForSocial, we recognize the transformative potential of data in driving social selling initiatives forward. By harnessing the analytical capabilities of our platform, sales teams can gain deeper insights into their target audience’s preferences, behaviors, and pain points. From tracking content engagement metrics to identifying high-value prospects, our analytics empower sales professionals to make informed decisions and tailor their approach for maximum impact.

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Today, you will learn

• what data-driven social selling is.
• how you can leverage its data and insights to your advantage.
• how tools and enablement processes can simplify a marketer’s life.
• why comprehensive tracking capabilities are a must-have.

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What is data-driven social selling?

Data-driven social selling is more than just numbers on a screen; it’s about cultivating meaningful connections and building trust with prospects. By understanding the nuances of their audience’s digital footprint, sales teams can deliver personalized experiences that resonate on a deeper level. Whether crafting compelling content or engaging in meaningful conversations, our platform equips sales professionals with the tools they need to make every interaction count.

Modern sales professionals know that success hinges on more than just product knowledge and persuasion in today’s hyper-connected world. It requires a keen understanding of the digital landscape and the ability to harness data to drive results. With data-driven social selling, sales teams can unlock new opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, and ultimately, achieve greater sales success.

How to use data-driven social selling to your advantage

Many marketers are frustrated with the challenge of implementing various social selling tools without clearly demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) to their superiors. According to a survey by HubSpot, 43% of marketers struggle to prove the ROI of their social media activities. This frustration stems from the difficulty in quantifying the impact of social selling efforts and translating them into tangible results that align with business objectives.

Additionally, social selling results are often fragmented, with individual salespeople operating independently without cohesive integration with the broader sales enablement process. This lack of alignment hampers the ability to aggregate results and measure the full impact of social selling initiatives.

By integrating social selling efforts with the sales enablement process, organizations can streamline data collection and analysis, facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of their social selling strategies. A study by LinkedIn revealed that organizations with well-defined social selling processes experience 32% more revenue growth than those without such processes.

How tools and enablement can simplify data-driven social selling

Social selling tools, such as ReadyForSocial, play a crucial role in aggregating data and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), which are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of social selling efforts. These tools utilize APIs provided by platforms like LinkedIn to gather data on metrics such as the number of clicks on content, reactions, and comments. For instance, research shows that companies that use social selling tools experience a 10.5% increase in revenue compared to those that do not.

Moreover, integrating social selling efforts with sales enablement processes, particularly through Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools like Salesforce, enhances the ability to measure the comprehensive impact of social selling. This integration allows tracking leads and deals influenced or directly attributed to social selling activities.

According to a study by Aberdeen Group, organizations that integrate social selling with CRM systems achieve a 15% increase in win rates. By leveraging CRM data, businesses can accurately assess the ROI of their social selling programs and make informed decisions to optimize their strategies for greater success.

Why comprehensive tracking capabilities are a must for data-driven social selling

Many companies lack complete integration of social selling with their sales enablement and CRM software, resulting in incomplete data for marketers. This gap hampers their ability to fully understand the impact of social selling efforts. However, providers like ReadyForSocial offer comprehensive tracking capabilities, allowing businesses to monitor the entire social selling journey, from shared posts to the volume of deals influenced.

Additionally, ReadyForSocial provides detailed analyses of audience engagement, including insights into company demographics, roles, and individual interactions. Research indicates that businesses utilizing advanced analytics tools for social selling experience a 21% increase in pipeline accuracy and a 36% improvement in forecast accuracy, highlighting the importance of leveraging such solutions for informed decision-making.

Let’s get ready for the world of data-driven social selling!

We know by now that embracing data-driven social selling is absolutely essential for modern sales success. By leveraging analytics and insights, businesses can unlock valuable information about their target audience, optimize content strategies, and drive revenue growth.

As Eric Schmidt’s quote underscores, the volume of data generated daily is staggering, highlighting the need for robust analytics tools to navigate the digital landscape effectively. By integrating social selling into sales enablement processes and CRM systems, organizations can gain a comprehensive view of their social selling efforts, leading to improved ROI and better-informed decision-making. Are you ready to use the power of data-driven social selling to stay ahead of the curve?