Charles O. from Fargo here. I've been trying LinkedIn outreach to connect with facility managers and business owners but getting terrible response rates. Most of my connection requests get ignored and the few who accept don't respond to follow-up messages. Anyone have LinkedIn templates or approaches that actually generate leads? I'm targeting manufacturing and warehouse facilities in North Dakota and Minnesota.
LinkedIn outreach templates that actually work?
Charles, Sandra H. from Wichita. LinkedIn can work but you have to be very targeted. I focus on connecting with people who recently posted about energy costs or facility improvements. Always mention something specific from their profile or recent posts. Generic templates get deleted immediately. What industry are you primarily targeting?
Tony V. from Newark. I've had better luck using LinkedIn to research prospects then calling them directly rather than messaging through LinkedIn. Use Sales Navigator to find facility managers, then search for their company's main number and ask to be transferred. People are more likely to take a call than respond to LinkedIn messages from strangers.
Sandra, I'm targeting grain elevators, food processing, and some manufacturing. Most of these rural facilities have pretty basic LinkedIn presence though. Tony, that's an interesting approach - use LinkedIn for research but call directly. Do you mention seeing their LinkedIn profile when you call?
Travis H. from Amarillo here. Charles, for agricultural businesses LinkedIn isn't great. Those guys are more likely at the local co-op or grain elevator association meetings. I've had better luck with direct mail to agricultural operations. They still read physical mail and it shows you understand their traditional business approach.
Bonnie F. from Wichita. Travis is right about ag operations preferring traditional outreach. But Charles, for food processing facilities LinkedIn can work if you focus on plant managers or maintenance supervisors. I mention specific equipment types in my connection requests - like 'saw you manage a facility with ammonia refrigeration systems' then talk about demand charge impacts from compressor cycling.
Lucille W. from Pine Bluff. I've found LinkedIn works better for follow-up after initial contact rather than cold outreach. If someone takes your call but wants to think about it, connecting on LinkedIn keeps you visible when they post or share content. Don't rely on it for initial prospecting though.
Thanks everyone. Sounds like LinkedIn isn't the magic bullet I hoped for, especially in rural areas. Travis and Bonnie, I think I'll try direct mail to grain elevators and co-ops. These facilities run a lot of equipment and probably have demand charge issues. Anyone know typical rate schedules for agricultural operations on Minnkota Power or Otter Tail Power?