Everything You Need to Know About LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index (SSI)

Did you know that 78% of social sellers outperform those who don’t use social media platforms?

Social selling has become a game-changer for professionals, especially those in B2B sales.

As LinkedIn continues to rise in prominence, understanding your Social Selling Index (SSI) is critical for success.

This article dives into what the LinkedIn SSI is, why it’s crucial for modern sales, and how you can improve it to enhance your sales strategy.

TL;DR: What You Need to Know

• The Social Selling Index (SSI) on LinkedIn measures four key activities: building a professional brand, finding the right people, engaging with insights, and nurturing relationships.
• You can view your SSI score via LinkedIn’s SSI page without needing a Sales Navigator subscription.
• Improving your SSI is a long-term process, integrated with value-based selling rather than just a box-checking exercise.

What is LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index (SSI)?

LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index is a metric designed to quantify your success in using the platform for social selling.

The score is based on four key activities:

1. Create a professional brand
2. Find the right people
3. Engage with insights
4. Build strong relationships

Each of these pillars is scored out of 25, giving you a total possible SSI score of 100.

How is the SSI Score Calculated?

Your LinkedIn SSI score is a composite of how well you perform in each of the four categories:

1. Create a Professional Brand:

• Profile completeness, including profile photo, cover image, and multimedia content.
• Number of endorsements and followers from long-form posts.

2. Find the Right People:

• Number of advanced searches and profile views.
• Prospect views of your profile.
• Days active and leads saved.

3. Engage with Insights:

• Engagement on your posts, including comments and shares.
• InMail response rate.
• Participation in LinkedIn groups and how much you share relevant content.

4. Build Strong Relationships:

• Number of connections and network acceptance rate.
• Internal connections (within the same company) and business leader connections.

How to View Your SSI Score

To check your LinkedIn SSI score, follow these steps:

1. Log into your Linkedly Account.
2. Visit: Linkedly's accounts page.
3. Your score will appear, when you click on any of your added Linkedin Profiles

Why is Your SSI Important?

A high SSI score correlates with several benefits that can significantly boost your sales performance:

• Increased Visibility: A high SSI score makes it more likely for your content to reach a broader audience.
• Better Networking: You can grow a stronger, more relevant network by regularly engaging with industry leaders and prospects.
• Credibility: A high score demonstrates that you’re active on LinkedIn, enhancing your reputation as a thought leader in your space.

LinkedIn has found that sellers with higher SSI scores generate 45% more opportunities and are 50% more likely to hit sales quotas. Your SSI essentially reflects how well you’re using LinkedIn as a social selling tool.

How to Improve Your SSI Score

Improving your SSI isn’t a quick fix—it requires a strategy aligned with value-based selling. Here’s how you can work on each pillar:

1. Create Your Personal Brand

• Complete your profile with a professional headshot, multimedia content, and keyword-rich descriptions of your skills.
• Share long-form posts and industry-relevant insights that showcase your expertise.

2. Find the Right People

• Use LinkedIn’s advanced search tools to find decision-makers in your industry.
• Consider leveraging Sales Navigator for more detailed search options, but even without it, tools like “Connections of” or “Open to” can help you identify the right prospects.
• Engage with people already within your network—many opportunities lie just a few connections away.

3. Engage with Insights

• Comment on posts and participate in discussions within LinkedIn groups.
• Share relevant content that sparks engagement.
• Reply to all comments on your posts, and keep a consistent flow of value-driven content.

4. Nurture Relationships

• Focus on building meaningful connections by engaging with your target audience regularly.
• Tailor your InMail and messages to resonate with your audience’s challenges, and avoid templated, generic outreach.
• Like, share, and engage with your audience’s content to remain top-of-mind.

FAQs About LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index

1. Does SSI Affect My Visibility on LinkedIn?

• Your SSI score itself doesn’t directly affect your profile’s visibility.

However, the activities that improve your SSI—such as engaging with others, building a strong network, and creating a professional brand—can boost your presence on the platform.

2. What Are the Benefits of a High SSI Score?

• Increased visibility: Your activity helps LinkedIn’s algorithm showcase your content more frequently.
• Personal branding: A higher SSI score can position you as a thought leader.
• Expanded network: Social selling helps build a relevant network of prospects, influencers, and partners.
• Competitive advantage: A high SSI gives you an edge over peers who aren’t as active on LinkedIn.

3. Is SSI Relevant for Non-Sales Roles?

• Yes! While the SSI is tailored to social selling, improving your score can benefit any professional looking to build a strong personal brand and network.