Be helpful
Personal Branding: You’ve defined your ideal target – now how do you make a connection?
You’ve defined your unique personal brand, and now you’re focused on your specific target audience: those people who need to hear about you to make you wildly successful. You’ve not only made a list of the general audience, but you’ve written down specific names of those people you want to reach.
I often get asked this question, “ I know exactly who I want to connect with, but how do I do it? How can I connect directly to them? How can I get noticed with my authentic personal brand and build a mutually viable relationship?”
In today’s world, you have all the tools you need to build a relationship directly with that person you want to connect with. Here are 8 things you can do to get started:
1) First, do your homework on google. The internet offers personal information we were never able to access before. Start with a simple google search, and begin to look for common bonds.
• What organizations and groups are they involved in?
• Are they supporting a project you have strengths in?
• What can you learn from their business profiles?
• Do you have common interests? Did they run in the same 5K you just did?
• What topics are they reading, writing about, and commenting about online? What articles do they have “favorited” online?
2) Follow them on Twitter. RT them, and ask them questions. As you build your relationship, you can direct message them, and soon after, they will recognize your name in an email.
3) Join their Facebook Fan Page if they have a business. Don’t just join the group as a spectator. Really listen, and join the conversation with valuable content.
4) Connect on LinkedIn. Always take the time to write a personal introductory note. Comment on a shared interest, group, or a core thread you have discovered. Before writing your note, always ask yourself, “In what ways can I give to this person?” Be genuine, without sounding “salesy.”
5) Subscribe to their blog if they have one and make valuable contributions. You won’t go unnoticed.
6) Join the same organization. What types of organizations and community outreach is this person involved in? If it’s something you share a passion with, get involved in the same group. Go to the next meeting. Volunteer on the same projects.
7) Ask for an introduction. Who do you know who knows this person? Explain to them the value you have to offer, and they may be willing to make a warm introduction.
8) Be helpful. Find a project they are working on, and offer to help – with no strings attached. What would they think if you called and said, “I’m willing to devote a chunk of my time and resources to make this the best fundraiser ever. What’s your greatest need and how can I help?”
The key here is to focus on your target, and be authentic to your personal brand.
There are so many other ways to make a connection. Let’s make the list complete. What can you add?
Photo credit: boodle131
