How can you create a network of advocates for your innovative ideas?

There is a whole huge step missing here. Once you have identified your target audience you need to develop relationships with them. You need to select several individuals in your target audience that are accessible to you. By accessible I mean they are not so "LinkedIn-famous" that you will get lost in their comments section or inbox. Next you need to engage with their content in a meaningful way. Don't just like their posts or comment "this is great" and expect them to warm up to you when you hit their DM's. Think of it like a cocktail party. You are not going to just walk up to a group of people and awkwardly stand there expecting them to involve you in the conversation. You have to contribute something meaningful.

One thing that is incredibly helpful is to ensure you can demonstrate your credibility before reaching out to future advocates. This can be through the content you’ve previously written or in the social proof you can provide.

In order to create advocates for your ideas, you first have to demonstrate your willingness to be of service to others. Then you have to show that you are the real deal and that you are not just a taker but a giver. Your ideas should be relevant to those that you are asking for help and what better way to demonstrate your skills then showing how your ideas can help your advocates.

To create a network of advocates for our innovative ideas, we must share our ideas with like minded individuals. People who are positive, and supportive of each other and willing to lift each other up. People that bring out the best in us, understands and believes in us.

In my experience engaging with like minded positive people, can help you on your journey to success to a new business idea. Being able to discuss and get different view points enables you to see potential issues and opportunities.

Before you can every communicate your idea to them you have to develop rapport. I don't know about you but I feel incredibly resentful when people I barely know try to pitch something to me in my DM's. To develop rapport you have to take the momentum you started with engaging with their content and grow it. Aim for having a back and forth conversation in the comments before you decide to DM them. That way DM'ing them feels like a natural extension of the rapport you built up through your interactions with their content. When you DM them take some time to ask questions and care about who they are and what they do. If you start getting short answers from them you've already lost them. Compliment them on content you have gotten value from.

Expressing your ideas is a learned skill that is fundamentally improved by lots of practice and finding some expert feedback: The basic driver is not to find the best words but rather better words (than yesterdays words)

This is all useful advice, but don’t forget to differentiate your tone of voice, make your approach original and try to get your audience to smile!

When you get the attention of someone on LinkedIN, they will often check out your profile. Review profile views regularly. Be sure your profile is ready for them. In the "Featured" section of your profile, you should have items (docs, decks, blogs, videos) you want them to see. The goal is to get them to come to you. It won't always happen this way but ideally when you reach out to a target, they know what you do. A clean profile with information geared to your target is a crucial first step.

Before attempting any form of reach out. Research research research. Does your product already exist and if it does go well is it doing in the market. If not is there a need for your product. If so ….. why? If so…. Why has it not been done already. Question again… is there a need? Get impartial advice from people you trust on the need and viability of the product. Then research some more. Before doing anything you should be able to answer negative pushbacks yourself and challenges before they even exist and come your way. If possible speak to people who would be your target demographic to get their insights too. That’s a great place to start.

This is backwards...you have to nurture the relationship BEFORE you ever communicate your idea otherwise people feel like you are using them.

Alright, so we're basically dating our target audience now? ?? Jokes aside, nurturing relationships is like tending to a garden. If you've planted the seed of an idea, you've got to water it, give it some sunshine, and maybe even talk to it a bit (plants love that, right?). Your approach is spot on – following up, showing gratitude, and sharing value are the 'relationship fertilizers'. And just like in any good relationship, trust and mutual respect are key. So, keep 'dating' your audience, and soon enough, they'll be wearing matching 'Team [Your Idea]' t-shirts!

This is the area you have to ace. I've found knowing how and when your audience likes to be communicated to is perhaps more important than the content. Use a personalization marketing strategy to stand out from competitors and boost effectiveness. I have found mesenger based marketing more preferred than emails and phone calls in some markets. Intuiative CRM automation that detects your audience is thinking about you i.e on your website, opening email or message or on phone to you, not only improves the experience, but also more likely to respond to feedback request or take that nexy step in the customer journey. Content that gives them access to first experiences is powerful and celebrating them using or retailing is gold.

Nurturing your relationships is a two-way street and, as you mentioned, is important to see how you can help your growing network of supporters. If you want people to stand in your corner, it's key to keep them in mind when connecting community partners. As your supporters see that you have their best in mind, they're more willing to help you build your idea into fruition.

In my perspective, nurturing relationships is the lifeblood of building a network of advocates. It's not just about making a one-time pitch; it's about continuous engagement. Following up, expressing gratitude, and seeking their opinions show that you value their input. Keeping them informed and providing value, whether through information or connections, builds trust and mutual respect. When you invest in these relationships, you cultivate a network of advocates who are not just aware of your idea but genuinely invested in your success.

This is such a crappy way of putting this..."leverage them to advance your idea." You might as well say "use them." When you want to leverage your idea with their support the best way to do that is by making it mutually beneficial. What can they get out of it? Design the system you want to use to leverage your idea to be mutually beneficial to both them and you. For example, if you want someone to spread the word about a course you are offering, give them access to the course and let them experience it for themselves. Or offer them a % of your sales by creating a special affiliate promo code that their audience can use to purchase your product.

Like @BrittaNewly says, the wording here isn't good. "Leverage them," is manipulative. IMNSHO, I do the opposite. Yes, I want to identify my best targets, but then I look for ways I can personally help them right now. Then I reach out to them. When I do, I am transparent about wanting to create a mutually beneficial relationship, but I tell them I will accept first responsibility and make a specific offer to promote them first. I always ask if my offer has value, or if they can think of something better I can do! As Zig Ziglar said, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."

Of course you need to leverage your supporters, otherwise they remain "yes" sayer and thats not enough. Our Advocates deserve to get credit, being part of your project, and vis versa, yes, leverage and utilise them in a way, it adds value to the project. Also they should play a vital role in the future buy in and project promotion. Ensure you keep them up to date, cherish them, but also leverage them.

Agreed with other contributors here that 'leveraging your advocates' is a manipulative way of doing things. Instead we should 'think win-win' and find collaborative ways of working together on the ideas. Every advocate may have their own angles that contribute and there is definitely a piece of cake for everyone (either directly or indirectly) when we work together in a collaborative fashion.

So, after all that 'dating', it's time to put a ring on it and make things official with your advocates! ?? But seriously, leveraging advocates is like asking your best friend to be your wingman/wingwoman. They've got your back, but you've got to be clear about what you need. Whether it's a shoutout, an intro, or some resources, be specific. And hey, don't forget to toast to their successes and return the favor. After all, everyone loves feeling like the MVP of the team. Keep it up, and soon you'll have a squad of advocates ready for any 'mission' you throw their way!

Alright, so we've dated, we've got our wingman, and now it's time to throw the ultimate networking party! ?? Expanding your network is like trying to catch 'em all in Pokémon – the more diverse your collection, the better equipped you are for any challenge. Diversifying isn't just about quantity, but quality and variety. It's like a potluck dinner – the more dishes (or perspectives) you have, the richer the feast. Engaging with other innovators is like swapping recipes. Keep it up, and soon you'll not only have a rolodex that rivals any A-lister's but also a buffet of ideas that's the envy of every innovator in town!

Promote and share your compelling story, ask your advocates also for voices, access to their network. So you leverage both, same minded networks and supporter and getting more people behind your project. Think about a hackathon or something cool, where people want to join and even contribute.

Expanding your network is a pivotal strategy in the journey of advocacy building. By reaching out to new contacts and exploring diverse communities and domains, you expose your idea to fresh perspectives, feedback, and opportunities. Collaboration with fellow innovators and participation in various events enriches your understanding and expands your reach. This dynamic process ensures your innovative idea remains relevant and adaptable, fostering a sustainable and scalable network. It's the essence of progress and evolution in the world of innovation.

Use the messaging feature on Linkedin to share profiles to connected contacts and ask to make an introduction on Linkedin. Likewise, do the same when you want to connect others on Linkedin.

I recently asked a close advocate if they could recommend any potential advocates outside of their exact market yet still in the same industry that could benefit from the idea? Well not even a day later I not only got a list of names but introduction meeting invites to 12 other advocates each one an expert in their own niche and community. I found that within these communities were innovators and creators and technical experts and influencual people all passionate about their industry and bringing their talent to build the community. I was amazed at the talent we could also use such as in photography, acting fashiob, branding, advertising, event management, recruitement and sales opportunities as far as the eye could see.

Trust me, no one is free or gonna take interest in your idea irrespective of its greatness. People buy you first before buying the product. The problem with networking is that people start building it when they need it, however it should be the other way round, build it when you don't need it. Start investing your time in meeting people, adding value in their life with your time, efforts and knowledge. Find the right tribe, if you wish to be in the startup world, start going to meet ups, networking events, try to find enterprising souls around you. Your investment in people's lives will decide how many advocates, advisors, and well-wishers you have when you need it badly. Trust me, you need to start building it today, for tomorrow.

Creating a network of advocates for your innovative idea can be essential for its success. As a writer, political analyst, and businessman, you can use your skills and knowledge to strategically build this network. Here's how: Identify Your Target Audience Develop a Compelling Narrative Utilize Your Writing Skills Build Relationships Offer Value Leverage Social Media Collaborate Public Speaking Engage in Grassroots Outreach Provide Resources Remember, building a network of advocates takes time and effort, but your unique combination of skills can be a powerful asset in this endeavor.

Avoid a vendor's tray and maintain consistency to develop a personal brand (it should be clear who you are and what you offer). This makes it easier for your peers to spread the word - and for prospects to grasp your offer.

Identify the kind of support you thrive with. The people, the character, the community, the action, the environment. When you successfully identify this you are more likely to find a network that you feel safe to be seen and thrive in. This makes it more likely for you to amplify your innovative idea, take confident action, gain support behind it, and most importantly, try again if you fail the first time.

Creating a network of advocates for your creative ideas is hard work. It is a marathon not a race. Have you thought of how to sustain this crucial work if you or others doing it are not around. Investing in a stream of people talent and tech stack automation either in your company or in the network as idea generstors or Network Builders and nurturers is required. SUCCESSION advocate PROGRAM to develop even better advocates to take over from superstar advocates you have now. Be ready for changes in the market where your ideas and advocates and networks are irrelevant.