What Is the Social Selling Index on LinkedIn?

Why SSI Matters for B2B Sales

You're visible. But are you influential?

In today's B2B landscape, visibility without trust means nothing. That's where LinkedIn's Social Selling Index comes in—a powerful score that reflects how well you're using the platform to attract leads, spark conversations, and close deals.

If LinkedIn lead generation is part of your strategy (and it should be), your SSI score is the clearest way to know if it's actually working.

What Is the LinkedIn Social Selling Index?

👉 The Social Selling Index (SSI) is LinkedIn's proprietary score designed to measure how effectively you build your professional brand, connect with the right people, engage with insights, and establish strong relationships on the platform.

In simpler terms, it's LinkedIn's way of telling you how "good" you are at using the platform to sell and influence. It's updated daily and ranges from 0 to 100.

SSI is more than a vanity metric, it directly correlates with pipeline velocity, lead generation, and closed deals. Salespeople with a higher SSI score generate more opportunities and are more likely to reach quota.

Why the Social Selling Index Important for LinkedIn Lead Generation

B2B buying has shifted.

❌ Cold calls are ignored.

❌ Emails go unread.

…But buyers check LinkedIn before replying.

Your SSI shows how visible, valuable, and connected you are in your niche. In a world where 78% of buyers prefer to work with someone they trust, SSI is the metric that says, "This person gets it!"

A high score means:

→ Better visibility in search results

→ Stronger reach with your content

→ More inbound messages and leads

→ Increased authority in your industry

What Is a Good Social Selling Index on LinkedIn?

👎 0–30: Low → You're not leveraging LinkedIn at all

✔️ 30–60: Average → Occasional use, but not strategic

👍 60–70: Above average → You're active, relevant, and building influence

🔥 70–100: Top tier → You're an authority. High conversion, high visibility

To find your score, go to 👉 linkedin.com/sales/ssi

How Is the LinkedIn Social Selling Index Calculated?

Your SSI is based on 4 core pillars, each scored from 0 to 25.

• Each of these directly impacts your visibility and lead generation capabilities.

How to Improve Your Social Selling Index on LinkedIn

Want to move from average to top performer? Easily boost each of the 4 SSI pillars with smart, ROI-driven actions!

1. Establish Your Professional Brand

Score Boost: +10 to +25

• Fully optimize your profile

✅ Banner image + clear headshot

✅ Keyword-rich headline (e.g. "CRM Consultant helping startups drive 40% more revenue")

✅ About section = painkiller story + credibility markers

✅ Featured section = proof (case studies, client logos, top content)

• Post weekly content that educates, not just sells

✅ Carousel posts (how-to, mini case studies)

✅ LinkedIn Lives or video posts

✅ Comment on trends (especially in your niche)

Pro tip: Repurpose email content into short carousel posts using tools like Taplio or Canva.

2. Find the Right People

Score Boost: +5 to +20

• Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator or filtered search to reach decision-makers
• Follow key accounts and engage before sending invites
• Download folkX Chrome Extension
• For sales teams of 20-50 people, folk CRM is the best solution to create Smart Lists based on ICP, job title, company size, geography, etc.
• Manage your pipeline with new leads!

3. Engage With Insights

Score Boost: +5 to +20

• Leave thoughtful comments on niche content (2–5/day)
• Ask strategic questions on posts from prospects or influencers
• Share relevant articles or industry benchmarks weekly
• Start discussions via polls or "controversial" takes (respectfully)

🚨 Don't post for the algorithm: Post for the buyer's pain point.

4. Build Relationships

Score Boost: +5 to +25

• Message new connections with value (not a pitch)
• For medium-sized sales teams looking to scale relationship-building, folk CRM is the ideal choice to track touchpoints: who you contacted, when, and why
• Launch warm outreach campaigns with contact enrichment and message templates
• Add prospects to a newsletter or monthly insight email via folk CRM integrations

Ready to accelerate your SSI growth?

👉🏼 Try folk now to build Smart Lists from LinkedIn profiles and organize follow-ups

For B2B sales teams of 20-50 people, folk CRM is the perfect solution to build lists, export LinkedIn profiles, find email addresses, track LinkedIn activity, and engage at scale — all without losing the human touch.

👉 Start folk CRM free trial

Conclusione

The Social Selling Index is more than a number: It's a leading indicator of your visibility, relevance, and sales-readiness on LinkedIn.

B2B decision-makers aren't waiting for your cold email. They're browsing, checking profiles, consuming content, and making silent judgments. A strong SSI means you're the one they remember, trust, and message.

Don't guess. Track it. Improve it. Turn it into deals.

👉🏼 Try folk now to manage contact-based reminders with your team and never miss a follow-up

Domande frequenti

What is the LinkedIn Social Selling Index?

A daily score from 0–100 that measures how effectively a profile builds a brand, finds the right people, engages with insights, and builds relationships on LinkedIn.

How is SSI calculated on LinkedIn?

SSI uses four pillars, 0–25 points each: professional brand, find the right people, engage with insights, and build relationships. Consistent, quality activity raises the score.

What is a good SSI score for B2B sales?

60–70 is above average; 70–100 is top tier and correlates with higher visibility and more opportunities. Aim for steady gains rather than chasing 100.

Does Sales Navigator improve SSI?

Yes. Sales Navigator can raise 'Find the right people' and 'Build relationships' via better targeting and outreach. Results depend on relevant activity. Use folk to track contacts and follow-ups.