What do you do if you want to connect with influencers and industry leaders on social media?

Before you reach out to anyone, you need to know who you want to connect with and why. Do some research on the influencers and industry leaders who are relevant to your field, goals, and audience. Look at their content, followers, engagement, and values. Make a list of the ones who align with your vision, offer value to your network, and have a genuine interest in your topic

I would always advise you to be careful with "randomly approaching people", that doesn't mean you should not reach out to people, but you need to do it right. Know who you want to connect with and why you want to connect with them. Do your research on the people who are relevant to you and who you might already have connection points with. Also: rather focus on one focus topic and relevant people in that field at a time, than spreading it out too wide. Quality > Quantity!

In my experience, one thing I found helpful is to start by engaging with their content genuinely. Like, comment, and share their posts to build rapport. Personalize your outreach messages, showing appreciation for their work and highlighting how collaboration could benefit both parties. Offer value and establish mutual respect. Networking events and industry conferences are also great opportunities for face-to-face connections. Remember, authentic relationships take time to nurture.

Engage with their content first and foremost. Show you take a genuine interest in what they're doing. This helps to build an initial connection before you reach out to them.

One of the best ways to get noticed by influencers and industry leaders is to engage with their content regularly and authentically. Don't just like or share their posts, but leave thoughtful comments, ask questions, or add insights. Show that you appreciate their work and have something to contribute. Be respectful, polite, and professional. Don't be too pushy, salesy, or self-promotional

Another way to connect with influencers and industry leaders is to provide value to them. This could mean sharing their content with your audience, mentioning them in your posts, giving them feedback, or offering them help. You could also create content that features them, such as a blog post, a podcast, or a video interview. Make sure you tag them, thank them, and link to their platforms. The goal is to show that you respect their expertise, support their mission, and want to collaborate with them

I often observe specialists being hesitant to reach out to influencers, fearing rejection or being ignored. However, these doubts are often unfounded. Most influencers are friendly, approachable, and genuinely open to collaboration. It is important to choose the right platform for communication. It would be odd to discuss your offer on a personal Instagram profile when it would be more appropriate to reach out to the person on LinkedIn, considering the nature of your proposal.

Once you have established some rapport and trust with the influencers and industry leaders you want to connect with, you can reach out to them directly. You can use the social media platform where you have been engaging with them, or you can find their email or other contact information on their website or bio. When you reach out, be clear, concise, and courteous. Introduce yourself, remind them of your interaction, and explain why you want to connect

After you have reached out to the influencers and industry leaders you want to connect with, don't forget to follow up with them. If they respond, thank them, acknowledge their reply, and continue the conversation. If they don't respond, don't take it personally, but don't give up either. Try to follow up after a reasonable time, such as a week or two, and politely remind them of your message and value proposition. Be persistent, but not annoying

The last step to connect with influencers and industry leaders on social media is to maintain the relationship. Don't just disappear after you have achieved your goal, but keep in touch with them regularly. Continue to engage with their content, provide value to them, and support their projects. Show that you are genuinely interested in them, not just in what they can do for you. Be respectful, honest, and generous