Last week a friend asked me: “Frank, is AI really going to take over
sales?”
I smiled and said, “Only if you’re still selling like it’s 1999.”
The truth is, sales isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving. AI isn’t here to
steal your job; it’s here to steal your excuses. And LinkedIn? Well, it’s no
longer just a place to park your CV—it’s the world’s biggest sales stage.
So, what’s new? Here are 10 advances in AI and LinkedIn that dropped
just this past month. They’re practical, powerful, and (if you actually use
them) they might just help you book more meetings, close more deals, and even
get home early enough to watch Netflix without your laptop glowing in the
background.
1. Sales Navigator's New Assistant
(Your Digital Wingman)
Think of this as
your personal sales butler. Every morning it politely serves up the best
leads, insights, and conversation starters—without you lifting a finger. No
silver trays, but plenty of golden opportunities.
What this means: You'll spend less time hunting and
more time selling.
2. Account IQ & Lead IQ (Because
Homework Sucks)
Remember those
awkward moments when you hop on a sales call and have no idea what the company does? LinkedIn fixed that embarrassment for you.
These tools pull
together everything you need to know about a prospect or company. It's like
having the world's most thorough stalker working for you—but in a completely
legal and helpful way.
The bottom line: No more starting calls with
"So... tell me about your business."
3. Message Assist (For Those Who Hate
Writing)
If crafting
personalized outreach messages makes you want to fake your own death, this is
your lifeline. LinkedIn's AI writes InMail’s that sound like they came from a
human who actually did their research—not a desperate robot.
Before: "Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this
message finds you in good health..."
Now: "Hi Sarah, Sarah, I saw your
post on renewable energy—let’s connect!”. Quick question about your Q4
initiatives..."
4. Smarter Notifications (The Noise
Filter)
LinkedIn quietly
became less annoying. They upgraded what they show you, which means you'll see
more relevant prospects and fewer updates about someone's lunch.
Translation: More signal, less noise. Finally.
5. LiDDA Attribution (Know What
Actually Works)
This sounds
technical, but it's pure gold. LinkedIn can now track what actually leads to
closed deals. Was it that blog post? Your webinar? That comment you left on
someone's update?
Why you care: Stop wasting time on activities that
feel productive but don't move deals forward.
6. SalesRLAgent (Your Deal Whisperer)
Imagine having a
co-pilot who whispers: "This prospect is 94% likely to buy—don't screw
this up."
Early tests show
this can boost conversion rates by over 40%. It's like having a crystal ball,
but one that actually works.
Reality check: This isn't magic. It's pattern
recognition on steroids.
7. Lumio AI (The Tool Buffet)
Not LinkedIn, but
worth mentioning. This platform lets you test multiple AI tools side by side.
Think ChatGPT for brainstorming, Claude for research, Gemini for data analysis.
The benefit: Stop guessing which AI tool to use
and start using the right one for each task.
8. LinkedIn's Knowledge Graph Upgrade
(The Behind-the-Scenes Magic)
LinkedIn improved
how it connects people, companies, and industries. You won't see this directly,
but you'll feel it through better targeting and richer prospect insights.
What you'll notice: Your search results will be more
accurate, and your content will reach the right eyeballs more often.
9. The 2025 AI Sales Stack (What
Everyone's Using)
The latest roundup
of must-have tools includes everything from Gong to HubSpot to Clari. If you’re
not experimenting with at least one or two of these, you’re basically showing
up to a Formula 1 race on a bicycle.
Frank's take: You don't need every tool. You need
the right tools. Start with one, master it, then expand. (Let me help you and
your team to find the right solutions for your business)
10. The Uncomfortable Truth About Job
Security
Microsoft saved $500
million by using AI in their call centers. Some traditional sales roles are
disappearing faster than free donuts at a Monday morning meeting.
But here's the flip
side: Solution-focused, tech-savvy sellers are more valuable than ever. The
"I'll just build relationships over golf" approach is becoming as
outdated as fax machines.
Don't panic. Adapt. The fastest way to become irrelevant
is pretending this isn't happening.
My Challenge to You
Pick one new AI or
LinkedIn feature this week. Test it. See what happens. Don't wait for your
competition to figure it out first.
Sales have always
been about connecting with people and solving their problems. AI just gives us
sharper tools to do it better and faster.
The game is changing
whether you like it or not. The only question is: are you changing with it, or
are you the person still insisting that email will never replace phone calls?
Ready to get serious
about AI in sales? Check out my workshops and strategy sessions at frankfurness.com.
Let's make sure you're ahead of this curve, not buried under it.
Let me speak at your
next conference or train your team on the latest tools or strategies.
#Innovation #Technology
#Futurism #linkedin #business
