Boosting your business can be done in many different ways on social media, from advertising to joining groups and contributing, and from targeting a specific audience to trying to pick up some big names.
Here are some of the things to keep in mind when trying to link up with big names on LinkedIn.
Build a foundation for your business first
You can’t join LinkedIn on behalf of your company and start trying to instantly connect with the big names and famous people. You can try, but you’re unlikely to get very far, and LinkedIn may even try to stop you from connecting with anyone else.
You should spend at least the first few weeks and months building a fan base and customers from regular members of the public and other LinkedIn users. The more your brand is recognized, the more likely you are to succeed with the big names.
Find people with common interests
You can try to target whoever you want on LinkedIn, but remember that those who are most likely to respond and engage with you are those who already have an interest in your industry or niche.
For example, if your business deals with new ways of dealing with waste and pollution, look for well-known activists or politicians who have been heavily involved in these issues.
If you can’t find anything in common with someone on LinkedIn, ask yourself what the value of connecting with them will really be. By finding common interests, you’ll be able to appeal to them more effectively, increasing the chance of meaningful connection and future contact.
Take the time to make it personal
It’s a well-known fact among those who correspond regularly with big names that if you don’t personalize it, you’re unlikely to get a response. If you haven’t bothered to go the extra mile to write to them, why should they bother to respond and engage with your question?
Take a few minutes to research the person beforehand. This allows you to include a couple of relevant details that might interest them or act as a memorable reminder of who you are.
You should also remember or be aware that famous people and well-known industry leaders on LinkedIn get hundreds of requests to connect, and they only connect with brand new requests when they can see a real benefit or something or someone they are really interested in.