How do you identify and reach out to influencers or mentors in your industry?
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Before you start looking for influencers or mentors, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how they can help you. Do you want to learn new skills, gain insights, get feedback, find opportunities, or expand your network? What kind of value can you offer them in return? How often do you want to communicate with them and in what format? Having specific and realistic goals will help you narrow down your search and craft your message.
Once you have your goals in mind, you can start researching potential influencers or mentors in your industry. You can use online platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, podcasts, blogs, or industry publications to find people who share your interests, values, and vision. Look for people who have a strong reputation, credibility, and influence in your field, as well as a style and personality that resonates with you. Make a list of your top prospects and learn as much as you can about them, such as their background, achievements, challenges, opinions, and goals.
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Another valuable way is to ask your network who they know in the field you are interested in, certainly if you are looking for a mentor as they might well know or guide you to the right person. Think of the following: we all have about 150 connections we can call upon, who have 150 connections. That means you have access to 22500 people one step away. Reach out to your network.
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To expand on Ilse Noppen's point, in the book "The Startup of You," Reid Hofman, co-founder of LinkedIn, shows the power of 2nd and 3rd connections. "Suppose you have forty friends, and assume that each friend has third-five other friends in turn, and each of those friends of friends had forty-five unique friends of their own. If you do the math (40x35x45), that's 63,000 people you can reach via an introduction. A person with 170 connections on LinkedIn is actually at the center of a professional network that's more than two million strong."
Before you reach out to your prospects, you need to build some rapport and trust with them. A good way to do that is to engage with their content regularly and meaningfully. You can follow them on social media, subscribe to their newsletter or podcast, comment on their posts or videos, share their work with your network, or join their online community. When you engage with their content, make sure to be respectful, relevant, and genuine. Avoid spamming, flattering, or asking for favors. Instead, focus on adding value, showing appreciation, or sparking a conversation.
After engaging with their content and forming a connection, you can reach out to them with a personalized message. Whether you use email, LinkedIn, or any other platform they prefer, make sure to keep it short and simple. Be specific and clear when introducing yourself, explaining what you do, and why you are reaching out. Additionally, be respectful, polite, authentic, humble, value-oriented and curious in your message. Address them by name, use a friendly and professional tone, thank them for their time, don't exaggerate or boast about yourself or your achievements, don't ask for anything right away or make any demands, offer some value such as a compliment or feedback, and ask a relevant open-ended question that shows your interest in learning from them.
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Include phrases like "you mentioned…" or "I noticed that…" or "I'm curious what…" to show the person that you've done your research and you're not simply sending a generic message to dozens of people at the same time. The more specific you can be with your question, the higher the chances of getting a response back.
After you send your message, wait for their response patiently and respectfully. Avoid sending multiple messages or reminders if they don't reply right away. If they do reply, thank them and continue the conversation. If they don't, simply move on to another prospect.
If you manage to connect with an influencer or mentor, it's important to maintain the relationship. You can do that by providing value - such as useful information, resources, insights, or opportunities - helping them with their projects, goals, or challenges, and introducing them to other people in your network who might benefit them. Additionally, you should seek feedback from them by asking for advice, guidance, or feedback on your work, goals, or challenges. Listening to their suggestions and showing them your progress and results is also important. Don't forget to show appreciation for their support by expressing gratitude and recognition for their influence or mentorship. Give positive feedback, testimonials, or endorsements and celebrate their achievements and milestones.
Finding and connecting with influencers or mentors in your industry can be a rewarding experience for your career. By following these tips, you can identify and reach out to them in a respectful, authentic, and effective way.
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