Combine LinkedIn and AI to multiply your selling potential
Most sales professionals and entrepreneurs are desperate to find new techniques to help them break through the noise and get the attention of high-value decision makers. They want to make fewer cold calls, face less resistance, and have more meaningful conversations. This is why Jeb Blount (the world's most Fanatical Prospector) and Brynne Tillman (the LinkedIn Whisperer) joined forces to create The LinkedIn Edge―the definitive playbook for combining LinkedIn, AI, and proven outbound prospecting strategies to build bigger, better, and more qualified pipelines. In this highly practical guide, you will learn the tactics, techniques, frameworks, and secret shortcuts that transform LinkedIn into a list-building, prospecting, referral-getting, lead-generation machine that will help you sell more, win more, and earn more.
The LinkedIn Edge is not the typical "social selling" book focused on vanity metrics or going viral. There is no fluff or shallow "moon launch" techniques that never really work. This is a step-by-step playbook, written by practitioners. It is about what works in the real world, in the grind of the sales trenches―blending fast prospecting outreach with systematic relationship building sequences to engage prospects with confidence, consistency, and relevance.
After over 40 years as a Sales Professional you'd think I wouldn't be that excited about a new sales book coming out. But whenever Jeb Blount releases something new, I know that I'm going to get a pile of value from the time that I spend reading.
Jeb's new book, co-written with Brynne Tillman, The LinkedIn Edge is another great tool to the Sales Pro's toolbox. Most of us have been LinkedIn users for years but the power of this book it is provides instruction on how to unleash the power of a billion people's profiles to drive sales success.
One of the most powerful tools that Jeb and Brynne teach you is how to effectively structure your messaging. I love a great repeatable structure and theirs for messaging translates not just to selling but to nearly every written and verbal communication you might have: 1. Hook - Get their attention 2. Relate - Demonstrate you understand them and their problems 3. Value-bridge - Connect the dots between the problem and how you can help. 4. Ask - A clear straightforward call to action
The other thing I found so useful throughout this book are the recommendations for using AI to make yourself more productive. In small inserts throughout the book, Jeb and Brynne share very structured prompts that you can use to achieve a specific, successful outcomes from whatever AI tool you use. I love it when you don't have to invent the wheel, someone has invented it for you. (And you can also find more ideas and tools in Jeb and Anthony Iannarino's book The AI edge)
As a college professor, I think soon to be graduates would benefit from a lot of the tools in this book to use in their job hunt. While that is not the expected target audience, finding a job is the most important sales job most students will ever do even if they aren't going into sales.
If you are a true sales pro, you know that you always need to be sharpening your skills and the LinkedIn Edge is just to tool to help you keep your LinkedIn edge sharp.
"The LinkedIn Edge" by Jeb Blount and Brynne Tillman is an absolute game-changer for any sales professional, entrepreneur, or business leader looking to truly leverage LinkedIn and AI. This is not your typical, fluffy "social selling" book—it’s a hands-on, no-fluff playbook written by practitioners who know what works in the trenches.
What makes this book a five-star masterpiece:
Actionable Strategy: The authors provide concrete, step-by-step frameworks for outbound prospecting, lead generation, and building influence. I was able to implement tactics immediately and saw results in my pipeline within the first week.
LinkedIn + AI Synergy: The blending of LinkedIn mastery with practical AI tools is genius. It gives you a legitimate competitive edge by teaching you how to build better lists, streamline research, and write high-converting prospecting messages with efficiency.
Real-World Relevance: They focus on systematic relationship building and consistent outreach, not vanity metrics. It tackles the real problems of breaking through the noise and connecting with high-value decision-makers.
The Pipeline Exploder: If you want to make fewer cold calls and fill your pipeline with more qualified leads, this book is essential. The techniques for multi-threading and penetrating buying committees are worth the price of the book alone.
If you are serious about transforming your digital sales strategy and gaining an almost superhuman prospecting power, stop debating and start reading this book. It's the new standard for professional selling!
Another great book by Jeb Blount. The framework is solid and as always reminds us that LinkedIn is just one channel and tool in the sales process. Yes, it's powerful and can be used both in the quick sale scenario when you need sales now and in the long term game when you build the know, like and trust factor.
I'm looking forward to implementing the ideas and steps and seeing the results.
The only thing that I didn't like in particular were the AI generated phrases. Don't get me wrong. I also use LLMs for content creation and find it's a powerful assistant. I'm just a bit tired of the " It's not this-it's that" phrases.
Anyway. Good book with solid advice. Will definitely be my companion for the next few weeks as I review and update my profile and get into the habit of being present on LinkedIn