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

Engaging with industry influencers and thought leaders on social media can be a great way to boost your credibility, visibility, and network in your field. However, it can also be challenging to get their attention, build rapport, and avoid being spammy or annoying. Here are some tips to help you connect with the experts and influencers you admire and respect on social media.

1 Identify your goals

Before you reach out to any influencer or thought leader, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from the interaction. Do you want to learn from them, collaborate with them, get feedback from them, or promote your own work to them? Depending on your goal, you will need to tailor your approach and message accordingly. For example, if you want to learn from them, you might ask them a relevant question or share a resource they created. If you want to collaborate with them, you might pitch them a guest post or a podcast interview. If you want to get feedback from them, you might share a project or a challenge you are working on. If you want to promote your own work to them, you might mention how their work inspired you or influenced you.

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Ahmad Yehia

Social Media Manager with +15000 followers | I help businesses get better results by running their social media channels | Community Manager | Social Media Management | Strategy & Creation | Creative Problem Solver
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Engaging with industry influencers and thought leaders on social media involves a strategic approach. Here's a guide to help you connect effectively: Identify Influencers Understand Your Audience Create a Professional Profile Engage with Content Join Discussions Remember, the goal is to establish a genuine connection and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way. Thought leadership is not just about being knowledgeable; it's about being a resource others can rely on for insights and inspiration. Good luck.

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2 Research their profile

Once you have your goal in mind, you need to do some research on the influencer or thought leader you want to engage with. You need to find out what platforms they use, what topics they talk about, what tone they use, and what kind of content they share or create. You also need to look for any common interests, values, or experiences you might have with them. This will help you craft a personalized and relevant message that shows you are genuinely interested in them and their work. You also need to avoid sending generic or copy-pasted messages that might come across as insincere or spammy.

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3 Provide value

One of the most important things to remember when engaging with influencers and thought leaders on social media is to provide value. You need to show them that you are not just asking for something from them, but also offering something in return. This could be anything from a compliment, a testimonial, a recommendation, a referral, a solution, a tip, a resource, or a feedback. You need to make sure that your message is not self-promotional, but rather helpful, informative, or supportive. You also need to respect their time and attention, and avoid sending too many messages or following up too soon.

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Emilie Macfie

Communications | Social Media | Geopolitics, International and Global Affairs
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A good way to start is by commenting on their posts highlighting one takeaway in the post that you found insightful, or surprising and why. This is a compliment to the writer, but adds more value than a simple “Insightful post” or other generic comment would by reflecting feedback back to them.

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4 Be respectful and professional

Another key thing to keep in mind when engaging with influencers and thought leaders on social media is to be respectful and professional. You need to remember that they are busy people who have their own agendas and priorities, and that they might not respond to your message right away or at all. You need to be patient and polite, and avoid being pushy, demanding, or rude. You also need to follow their rules and guidelines, and avoid sending unsolicited messages, attachments, or links. You also need to acknowledge their contributions and achievements, and give them credit and attribution when appropriate.

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5 Build relationships

The final tip to engage with influencers and thought leaders on social media is to build relationships. You need to understand that engaging with them is not a one-time event, but a long-term process that requires consistency, authenticity, and reciprocity. You need to follow up with them, thank them, congratulate them, support them, and engage with their content and community. You also need to look for opportunities to meet them in person, such as events, conferences, or workshops. You also need to introduce them to your network, and connect them with other influencers and thought leaders in your field. By doing this, you will not only gain their trust and respect, but also their friendship and mentorship.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify your goals

2 Research their profile

3 Provide value

4 Be respectful and professional

5 Build relationships

6 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media

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

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Identify your goals

2 Research their profile

3 Provide value

4 Be respectful and professional

5 Build relationships

6 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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