Nick meets with LinkedIn expert Matt Lakijev to explore the power of leveraging LinkedIn for lead generation and business growth. Matt shares his journey from being a professional latte artist to excelling in sales at Zoom, and ultimately launching his own successful business, Seven Figure Creators.

The conversation delves into the importance of personalised connection requests, effective use of LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and the mindset shifts necessary for entrepreneurs to overcome their fears around sales and lead generation. With practical tips and insights, this episode is a must-listen for business owners looking to harness the potential of LinkedIn to scale their operations and connect with their ideal clients.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When sending connection requests on LinkedIn, adding personalised messages that reference mutual connections or shared interests significantly increases acceptance rates. Aim for high relevance to make recipients feel valued.
• Utilise LinkedIn Sales Navigator to build targeted lists of current and past clients, as well as lookalike clients. This tool allows for detailed profiling, helping to identify potential leads based on specific criteria.
• To generate leads effectively, business owners should understand the volume of outreach required. Sending a high number of personalised connection requests (up to 200 per week) can lead to substantial growth in connections and potential leads.
• LinkedIn is a networking platform where genuine connections matter. Avoid aggressive sales pitches in initial outreach; instead, aim to build rapport and trust with potential clients over time.
• Overcoming the fear of rejection and the mindset that leads to procrastination is essential for success in sales and lead generation. Taking action, even if imperfect, is more beneficial than waiting for the perfect moment or message.

BEST MOMENTS

"There's a power when you write yourself and the self-reflection and the thinking stuff that you go through."

"I think most people procrastinate doing lead generation because they think about things for a long time."

"You want to make them feel that you're so far removed from a salesperson."

"If you want to grow, sales is the basic fundamental."

"Perfection is the lowest standard you can have."

GUEST RESOURCES

Matt Lakajev - https://au.linkedin.com/in/mattlakajev

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Scale Your Business Beyond 8 Figures - Watch This Video: https://go.highvalueexit.com/scale-beyond

Exit Your Business For Millions - Download This Guide: https://go.highvalueexit.com/opt-in

Nick’s LinkedIn: https://highvalueexit.com/li

Nick Bradley is a world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert, who works with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to build, scale and sell high-value companies.

He spent 10+ years working in Private Equity, where he oversaw 100+ acquisitions, 26 exits, and over $5 Billion in combined value created. He has one of the top-ranked business podcasts in the UK (with over 1m downloads in over 130 countries). He now spends his time coaching and consulting business owners in building and scaling high-value business towards life-changing exits.

Support the show: https://highvalueexit.com/

Nick discusses growth beyond seven figures for businesses, focusing on the importance of simplification. He shares insights from his experiences with various founders and highlights the common pitfalls of complexity that can stall growth. Nick argues that while hustle and hard work are essential in the early stages, scaling requires a shift in focus towards niching down and refining value propositions.

He provides practical advice on identifying ideal customers, understanding their pain points, and streamlining product offerings to drive growth. Through a compelling story from his time in private equity, he illustrates how simplifying business models can lead to remarkable results.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• As businesses scale beyond seven figures, the focus should shift from hustle and doing more to simplifying operations and offerings. This involves cutting away unnecessary complexity to allow for clearer decision-making and growth.
• After reaching seven figures, it's essential to refine your target market even more. By focusing on a specific ideal customer and their unique pain points, businesses can create tailored solutions that resonate deeply, leading to accelerated growth.
• To effectively scale, businesses should aim to have no more than three core products or services. This helps maintain clarity and focus, ensuring that resources are directed towards what truly drives value for customers.
• A deep understanding of the frustrations, fears, wants, and aspirations of your ideal customer is crucial. This knowledge allows businesses to craft compelling marketing messages that demonstrate a profound understanding of customer needs.
• Continuous measurement of performance and customer feedback is vital. This allows businesses to adapt and refine their strategies, ensuring that growth remains predictable and sustainable as they move towards the eight-figure mark.

BEST MOMENTS

"The secret behind that is not doing more, right? It's not about more hustle."

"If you try and serve too many markets, particularly when you're scaling, your headspace just gets cluttered."

"Being a generalist makes you replaceable, but being a specialist makes you in demand."

"The fastest way to stall your growth is to add complexity."

"The key to growth beyond seven figures is simplification."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Scale Your Business Beyond 8 Figures - Watch This Video: https://go.highvalueexit.com/scale-beyond

Exit Your Business For Millions - Download This Guide: https://go.highvalueexit.com/opt-in

Nick’s LinkedIn: https://highvalueexit.com/li

Nick Bradley is a world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert, who works with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to build, scale and sell high-value companies.

He spent 10+ years working in Private Equity, where he oversaw 100+ acquisitions, 26 exits, and over $5 Billion in combined value created. He has one of the top-ranked business podcasts in the UK (with over 1m downloads in over 130 countries). He now spends his time coaching and consulting business owners in building and scaling high-value business towards life-changing exits.

Support the show: https://highvalueexit.com/

Nick presents a special episode in the company of Jason Horsman, co-founder of Matter, a B2B sales outsourcing and data-driven consultancy. They discuss the evolution of Jason's career, the challenges of aligning sales and marketing in legacy organisations, and the importance of data in modern B2B sales strategies.

Jason shares insights into his business's mission to reclassify business data and the journey of merging with a tech company to enhance their offerings. Nick mentors Jason live, and together they delve into the complexities of scaling a business, the significance of productisation, and the need for operational efficiency as they aim for significant growth and profitability.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Data is crucial for effective sales and marketing strategies, especially as buyer behaviour evolves with the rise of millennial and Gen Z decision-makers. Organisations need to prioritise data to enhance their sales processes.
• Many B2B organisations, particularly in traditional sectors like manufacturing, struggle with cultural shifts and adapting to modern sales and marketing practices. This often leads to misalignment between sales and marketing functions.
• There is a strong focus on transitioning from bespoke services to productised offerings. This shift can lead to improved profitability and efficiency, as standardised products are easier to market and sell compared to customised solutions.
• The need for investment is highlighted as a way to accelerate growth, particularly in developing technology products that can be sold as self-serve solutions. This investment is essential for scaling operations and enhancing service delivery.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think the key challenges in B2B remain misalignment of sales and marketing functions. Data not being at the heart of what organisations are doing."

"We've really tuned into that kind of mindset. The heart of the business really... is an AI market mapping tool."

"I think a lot of organisations are playing catch up on data. It's almost like the rate of change down here with the buyer has overtaken the cultural legacy."

"I think the ultimate problem we see isn't actually with the sales and marketing leaders; I think they get this point now."

GUEST RESOURCES

Jason Horsman LinkedIn - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jason-horsman-b16399b

VALUABLE RESOURCES

FREE DOWNLOAD:

"Exit For Millions Blueprint” - This blueprint will help uncover gaps across 15 danger areas that could sabotage your dream of achieving a life-changing exit.

https://go.highvalueexit.com/opt-in

Nick’s LinkedIn: https://highvalueexit.com/li

Nick Bradley is a world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert, who works with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors to build, scale and sell high-value companies.

He spent 10+ years working in Private Equity, where he oversaw 100+ acquisitions, 26 exits, and over $5 Billion in combined value created. He has one of the top-ranked business podcasts in the UK (with over 1m downloads in over 130 countries). He now spends his time coaching and consulting business owners in building and scaling high-value business towards life-changing exits.

Support the show: https://highvalueexit.com/