What do you do if you want to connect with industry influencers in budgeting and forecasting?

I've made the mistake of picking too broad of a category before when I was looking to connect with finance leaders. Where I was successful was when I picked a smaller niche: FP&A influencers with 20k or less followers. I found this group to be much more willing to comment back to me & even engage if I sent them a direct message. I found that this group helped me with two goals I had: 1. Grow my LinkedIn audience 2. Expand my thinking on FP&A topics Start with why you want to connect with certain leaders & it will help you narrow down which audience you should prioritize!

Developing a solid relationship with social media influencers is crucial to fostering an authentic connection with them. To stay updated with their work and actively participate in discussions, you can start by following their social media profiles, subscribing to their blogs, and engaging with their professional networks. You can show interest in their work by sharing their content and leaving thoughtful comments, which can establish a rapport between you. With time, this can lead to a direct connection and potential opportunities for collaboration.

This is the most important step in the process. Get into a regular habit of commenting on other posts, especially with those influencers you'd like to connect with. Take time to add your insight to their post vs. a generic comment. If you agree with their post, add a story about how you've seen it play out in your career. Comments help them reach a new audience & it shows that you took the time to think about what you wrote. Keep doing this & you'll keep making yourself known to them!

One of the best pieces of advice I've received about reaching out to influencers I want to connect with is to ask for their advice. It has to be genuine though! There's likely a problem you have or something you want to learn more about that the influencer you're reaching out to has come across. Ask them if they'd be willing to share some advice about "xyz" topic. I think this increases the likelihood you get a response, but it also creates an opportunity for you to learn from someone who might be a step ahead!

Building a strong professional network and leveraging existing relationships can certainly help connect with industry influencers. In a world where more of our relationships are becoming virtual or social media-driven, it is always important to explore professional associations related to budgeting and forecasting, which can help expand one's network.

Proactively taking steps to build a lasting professional relationship with an influencer is paramount. Following up after the initial contact is not just a good practice, but a necessary one to maintain the connection. A thoughtful gesture such as sending a thank-you message to express gratitude for their time and insights can help keep the dialogue going. Sharing articles or reports relevant to each other's interests or inviting them to participate in industry-related discussions or events are effective ways to stay in touch and strengthen the relationship. Remember, being persistent yet respectful in a follow-up is always effective and shows your commitment to the relationship.