How can building relationships with brand management professionals advance your career?

1 Identify your goals and value proposition

Before you reach out to any brand management professional, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you can offer. Are you looking for a mentor, a partner, a referral, or a feedback? How can you help them with their challenges, goals, or interests? What skills, knowledge, or resources do you have that are relevant and valuable to them? Having a specific and compelling value proposition will help you craft your message, tailor your approach, and establish your credibility.

2 Research and target your prospects

The next step is to find and select the brand management professionals that you want to connect with. You can use various sources, such as LinkedIn, industry events, publications, podcasts, or blogs, to identify and learn more about them. Look for people who share your vision, values, or niche, who have expertise or experience that you admire or need, or who work for organizations that you are interested in. Avoid spamming or reaching out to random contacts. Instead, focus on quality over quantity and target your prospects based on your goals and value proposition.

3 Initiate and nurture the relationship

Once you have your prospects, you need to initiate the contact and start building rapport. You can use different channels, such as email, phone, social media, or face-to-face meetings, depending on the situation and preference. The key is to be respectful, professional, and authentic. Introduce yourself briefly, state your purpose and value proposition, and ask for permission to continue the conversation. Don't be pushy or salesy. Instead, show genuine interest and curiosity, listen actively, and provide value. Follow up regularly, but not too frequently, and keep the communication relevant and meaningful.

4 Seek and offer opportunities

As you develop the relationship, you can seek and offer opportunities to collaborate, learn, or grow. For example, you can ask for advice, feedback, or recommendations, share insights, resources, or leads, invite them to join a project, event, or community, or endorse, recommend, or refer them to others. The idea is to create mutual benefits and trust, and to demonstrate your skills, value, and potential. Don't be afraid to ask for help or support, but also don't forget to express your gratitude and appreciation.

5 Maintain and expand your network

Finally, you need to maintain and expand your network of brand management professionals over time. Don't let the relationship fade away after achieving your initial goal. Keep in touch and update them on your progress, achievements, or challenges. Celebrate their successes and support them in their difficulties. Look for ways to deepen the connection and add value. Also, don't limit yourself to one or a few contacts. Seek to diversify and broaden your network by connecting with different people, groups, or organizations in the brand management field.

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?