Why You Need A Digital Footprint

You need a digital footprint before you start cold calling and cold emailing prospective clients. For many different reasons.

If you’re like most people in the sales industry, you’ve been taught that the best way to generate new business is through cold calling and cold emailing. And while there’s no denying that this is an effective way to reach new prospects, it’s not always the most effective way to generate new business. 

The reason why is because most salespeople don’t have a digital footprint. A digital footprint is an online presence that demonstrates your expertise and authority in your industry. It’s what allows you to build trust and credibility with your prospects before you even start cold calling or cold emailing them. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why a digital footprint is essential for cold calling and cold emailing prospective clients, as well as how you can use your digital footprint to contact prospective clients successfully.

What is a digital footprint? 

Your digital footprint, or online presence, is the tracks you leave behind as you move through the digital world. It’s made up of everything you’ve ever said, emailed, posted, or uploaded. It includes your website and social media profiles and any online reviews and articles that you have ever created. And it’s not just your own actions. It also includes anything that’s been said, emailed, posted, or uploaded about you. 

How can my digital footprint benefit me? 

There are many benefits to having a strong digital footprint. A good digital footprint can help you build credibility and thought leadership, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and make it easier for people to find and connect with you. 

Your digital footprint can also harm you. Negative reviews or footage about you can ruin your reputation no matter how you have improved yourself or learned from past mistakes. You can also get a bad reputation by being associated with the wrong crowds. Always remember the term “the internet never forgets” was coined for a reason. 

What are some ways to create a digital footprint? 

Some ways to create a strong digital footprint include blogging, being active on social media, participating in online forums and discussion groups, and creating content such as e-books, webinars, and courses. 

You can also participate in noteworthy activities that will warrant e-journalists or relevant websites to write about you. For instance, a Wiki article can document your life’s work and biography. Or a blogger may write about you when they find out about your participation at an award event or sports tournament. You can also write for other people’s blogs for free or for payment. 

If you can afford it, you may write a sponsored article in a digital magazine. Featured content reaches specific niche markets instead of the more general free-for-all audiences you would be exposed to if you were to use traditional media such as newspapers or radio. Your investment will pay out when your name is exposed to warmer audience than when you use organic means of publicity. 

When developing your footprint, be sure to use your real name or a brand name that will benefit you during your client your client outreach. If you choose a brand name make sure it relates to your clientele. Some good ones I’ve come across associate the personality behind them with the business they do. For instance, Wendy – The Oil Lady is lubricant specialist who consults for businesses. Her social media handle helps develop the trust and reveal her personality to those who will work with her within the machine lubricant industry.

Why is an online presence essential for cold calling and cold emailing prospective clients?

When you’re cold-emailing or reaching out to someone you don’t know, the first thing they’re going to do is look you up online. And if you don’t have a digital footprint, you’re going to have a hard time building trust. That’s why, if you want to be successful with cold outreach, it’s important to have a digital track record. This online history creates a connection with your potential clients and makes it easier for them to verify who you are. 

For instance, I use my Instagram to show off my work, what people think of it through reviews and I use my blog to showcase my writing and advertise my services. While I supplement my online presence with LinkedIn and newsletters, Instagram and my blog are the best way for anyone to learn more about me. This way, my prospects find it easier to connect with me when we hop on our first call for either marketing or business development services.

How can I use my digital footprint to cold call and cold email prospective clients? 

When you’re doing cold outreach as a salesperson or a marketer, it’s important to use your digital footprint to your advantage. There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward and making a good impression. 

First, make sure your online presence is up-to-date and professional. This means having a well-designed website and social media profiles that accurately reflect your brand. You should also make sure your online content is relevant and engaging. Relevance is key. You will not go far if you use your baking blog to approach an industrial chemical manufacturing giant. Yet that blog could open doors for you if you approached a food manufacturing plant. An optimized e-commerce site can also do wonders for you if you are in retail.

Second, take advantage of online tools to research your prospects and customize your outreach. You can use your online presence to research potential leads, connect with them on social media, and even build rapport before you even reach out to them. This research will help you personalize your messages and make a more genuine connection with your prospects. For instance, you can use your baking social media profile to follow a food editor on Instagram. After a while, you can reach out to share a tip how to make extra crusty pie if they prefer pies over cakes. This type of connection shows you took your time to know them instead of rushing in with your ask.

Lastly, be sure to follow up with your prospects after your initial contact. This follow-up will help you stay top of mind and increase your chances of making a sale. We get sales messaging all day long. If you do not remind your prospect they may forget you and offer their business to someone else who happened to be more accessible to them in that moment. 

To conclude… 

A digital presence makes cold outreach easier for both you and your prospects as it helps prospects learn about you in their own time. Anyone can claim to be a certain thing in an email or over the phone but having a digital history dating back longer than a day or week helps build trust. 

Over to you, do you feel an online presence is necessary when reaching out to strangers? Please leave a comment below or head over to my Instagram to chat about it.