“If you want to go fast go alone… If you want to go far go together” – African Proverb
We make it too hard on ourselves, dude.
Running an online business is hard enough, especially when you’re just starting out. It can get a little lonely behind the computer screen in your PJs and messy bun (ahem).
It doesn’t have to be this way….
Over the last few years (and especially in 2016) I’ve spent a good amount of time off my laptop and at events meeting other incredible entrepreneurs, including a few that could be considered influencers, a handful of which have become great friends.
I’ve gotten Qs about this quite a bit so I put together a video for you with a few tips.
How to Build Relationships with Influencers in Your Niche (to expand your network and grow your business, and have a little more fun while you’re at it)
Are you having trouble figuring out how to get the attention of influencers in your niche?
This can be kind of daunting for some. You might not know quite how to do it without being too pushy. Well, in this post, we'll cover some ways to do it that I’ve found helpful. These three tips will help you expand your network and grow your business.
To start, one of these tips is pretty basic. We'll take inspiration from Gary Vaynerchuk's “jab, jab, jab, right hook.” In this case, our new motto will be “give, give, give, ask.”
1- Give
What is it that you can do for them? Don't think about approaching someone for what they can do for you, but rather what can you do for them. Sometimes I do this without realizing it. Sometimes I'll think of a particular way I can help someone. For example “Oh, these two people should connect,” or, “I have a great idea for this person that I met.” Then I'll just go ahead and reach out to them and make these suggestions or offers. I don't ask, I just offer. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But it never hurts to try.
2- Give Thanks
This is super simple. It could be as simple as a thank you note. It could be as simple as an email. A handwritten thank you note can go a long way. It definitely has for me, and I love it when I receive something like that in the mail. It's so unexpected these days that it goes a long way.
If somebody like a mentor, has given you some tips or has helped you in any way, write them a thank you note. Express your gratitude and be specific. It's super helpful and it'll surprise you just how much they appreciate it.
Example: “Thank you so much for your video on [XYZ] because it helped me do [ABC].”
3- Don’t Expect Anything in Return
This is sort of a condition of 1 and 2 … And I know it may seem counter-intuitive to give and give and give without expecting anything in return. But if you put yourself in that position of giving rather than asking, it will eventually come back around (kinda like karma).
Play the long game. Avoid trying to figure out what ROI you can have on these relationships and keep at it. Trust me on this.
Here are our key takeaways from how brands can engage meaningfully with influencers in their markets. Tailor it to the influencer , so you play to their strengths and create a genuine interesting result. Build real relationships .
Totally agree!