Clients and colleagues are continually asking me the same question:
Networking is great and all that, but how do I get influencers to want to connect with me?
I get it.
At the end of the day, building relationships is wonderful but building relationships with the right influencers and decision makers is really our end game.
So how is it that some people can so easily connect with the “big cheeses” and others struggle just to talk to people?
It begins with taking the focus off yourself and putting the focus on what you can offer or bring to these influencers.
Influencers are busy and are being pulled at from a million different directions.
You need 3 basic things to start connecting with them:
1. A desire to be of value to them.
2. Persistence.
3. Confidence (or at least the appearance of confidence).
For number 1, you need to put yourself in the influencer’s shoes and think of some way you can demonstrate being of value – whether it be by sharing their message, supporting their mission/cause, or some other business benefit.
For number 2, you have to be committed and consistent to reaching out and not quitting until you get a firm NO from the influencer. Very often it’s not a no; they are not even aware you want to connect, or they may not be ready to connect right now – but later.
For number 3, it will take digging deep within you and not letting your negative self talk and limiting beliefs have free rent in your head. Everyone, and I mean everyone at every level, has doubts about themselves from time to time. It’s what you do with those doubts that counts.
Once those three attributes are in place, you need the right strategies and tactics.
In this post, I’m going to focus on Linked In as a key strategy for connecting with influencers. Just about everyone in business has a profile on Linked In. And very often, your influencer is personally monitoring his or her Linked In account.
Goodbye gatekeeper!
However, if you’re like most people, reaching out to one of your key influencers cold, or wanting to turn that business card into a real life connection is where you get stuck.
Not to worry.
I’ve gone through all the pain and heartache for you and have created a few proven emails that have helped me connect with amazing influencers.
Building relationships with the right connections is what business is all about.
One roadblock down.
Happy connecting!
P.S. What’s your magical connection story? Who did you meet and how did you do it?
We all want to hear these success stories so please share away!
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