{"id":34326,"date":"2015-02-03T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2015-02-03T15:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mixergy.com\/?p=34326"},"modified":"2016-06-24T12:46:38","modified_gmt":"2016-06-24T19:46:38","slug":"course-cheat-sheet-connect-with-influencers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mixergy.com\/course-cheat-sheet-connect-with-influencers\/","title":{"rendered":"Master Class: Connect with Influencers – with Selena Soo"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are people who can help you build your business stronger and faster than you could ever build it on your own.<\/p>\n

But how do you connect with them?<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people come to me and say, \u2018I want to connect with influential people, but I have no idea where to start,\u2019\u201d says Selena Soo, founder of S2 Groupe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But once Selena walks them through her process, their success skyrockets. It\u2019s the same process she used to help author Danielle LaPorte get the attention of the editors at Oprah Magazine.<\/p>\n

In her Mixergy course<\/a>, Selena shows you how to accelerate your startup’s growth by connecting with influencers. Here are three highlights from the course.<\/p>\n

1. It\u2019s Not Strictly Business<\/h2>\n

\"\"One of the hardest parts about trying to connect with influencers is that they\u2019re busy people. And everyone wants something from them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll day long they have people saying, \u2018Oh, will you write about me? Put me in your magazine. Will you get on the phone with me, or have a cup of coffee?\u2019” says Selena. \u201cAnd it just becomes another to-do on their to-do list.\u201d<\/p>\n

For instance, Selena pitched a magazine editor at Elle, but didn\u2019t get a response. \u201c[It was] not a big deal because they get hundreds of pitches,\u201d says Selena. But still, this was someone Selena wanted to connect with.<\/p>\n

So how do you stand out and make that first connection?<\/p>\n

Make it personal<\/em><\/h3>\n

Think friend, not business contact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you’re reaching out to anyone, you want to make it feel very personal,\u201d says Selena. \u201cAnd that it’s just not a copy-and-paste that you’re sending to all the influencers that you want to become friends with.\u201d<\/p>\n

For instance, Selena ended up making a personal connection with the Elle editor via Twitter. \u201cShe posted one day, \u2018I’m feeling like going to yoga,\u2019” says Selena. \u201cAnd I just responded, \u2018I’m getting ready for yoga, too.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The editor then checked out Selena\u2019s Twitter profile, which mentions that she writes for Huffington Post and Forbes and that she supports visionary entrepreneurs. \u201c[The editor] said, \u2018Do you want to get drinks?\u2019\u201d says Selena. \u201cIt wasn’t even about work. If you dig deeper and learn something about their personal life or their goals, then always bring it back to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Show Them Your Superpowers<\/h2>\n

\"\"A lot of people make the same mistake when contacting an influencer. They want to add value, so they ask, \u201cHow can I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you’re asking them how you can help them, you’re actually adding another to-do on their list,\u201d says Selena. \u201cYou’re actually taking up their time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also, how do they know you\u2019ll do a good job? \u201cThey’re thinking, can I really trust this person?\u201d says Selena. \u201cIs this going to be a waste of time? Because a lot of times people offer to help me and then they never follow through, or they’ve done a bad job.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s a better way to add value?<\/p>\n

Be proactive<\/em><\/h3>\n

Figure out how you can add value, and just do it.<\/p>\n

For instance, when Selena offered to help Danielle, she didn\u2019t just ask, \u201cHey, how can I help with your book launch?\u201d Instead, she identified connections that would help Danielle promote her book, like Oprah Magazine.<\/p>\n

Then, she took it to the next level. \u201cI put together a care package [for the magazine] with a copy of her book [The Fire Starter Sessions], and I put it in this brown bag with red fire paper bursting out,\u201d says Selena. \u201cI bought some nice stationery…I bought a chocolate fire chili bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Selena forwarded the pitch and a photo of the package to Danielle. \u201cShe sent me an email saying, \u2018Selena, thank you so much. The pitch is impeccable, every single word. You’re so in your zone, and just for the love of god, thank you.\u2019” Then Selena hand-delivered the package to Hearst Magazines.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just showed that I was someone who was proactive,\u201d says Selena. \u201cI already had a plan, I was ready to go…that’s a real way of adding value.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Thank Your Friends<\/h2>\n

\"\"There\u2019s a sure way to burn an influencer…<\/p>\n

\u201c[Someone] had reached out to me, and she described what her dream job would be,\u201d says Selena. \u201cAnd I thought, \u2018I know the CEO of a company…basically, it would be her dream job.\u2019 And so I reached out to the CEO, put them in touch, and I was happy to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, some time later, the Selena saw that the person announced her new job at that company on Facebook.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a little bit of a turnoff because she never really thanked me, and she got a big-deal job,\u201d says Selena. \u201cI’m doing it because I want to help. But…the people who act like they don’t care or just have forgotten, and didn’t take that time to just say thank you in a meaningful way, I usually don’t continue helping them.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s the right way to thank an influencer?<\/p>\n

A simple thank-you will do<\/em><\/h3>\n

Just express gratitude when people help you, maybe even publicly.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times people think, \u2018How can I add value to these influencers and super connectors and mentors?\u2019\u201d says Selena. \u201cThey think it has to be so complicated. But a lot of people just want to know that you appreciate their help…and when someone expresses appreciation, then you actually want to help them more.\u201d<\/p>\n

For instance, Selena\u2019s friend Spencer helped her get an interview in Fast Company. \u201cAnd wow, I got so much attention for that story,\u201d says Selena. \u201cI got new clients.\u201d<\/p>\n

So when Selena shared it on social media, she didn\u2019t just post a link to her awesome article and make it all about her. \u201cI said, \u2018I’m so honored to be in this piece in Fast Company,\u2019 and I gave a shout out to the writer [and to Spencer],\u201d says Selena.<\/p>\n

Written by April Dykman.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are people who can help you build your business stronger and faster than you could ever build it on your own. But how do you connect with them? <\/p>\n

In her Mixergy course, Selena shows you how to accelerate your startup’s growth by connecting with influencers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2370,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[293,295,245],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cheat-sheet","category-course-cheat-sheet","category-courses"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaster Class: Connect with Influencers - with Selena Soo - Business Podcast for Startups<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are people who can help you build your business stronger and faster than you could ever build it on your own. But how do you connect with them? 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