When your looking to expand your brand’s message, building relationships with influencers in your industry can help bring credibility to your product or service. These individuals have a comparably small following, usually in the hundreds of thousands, but those followers are loyal on an unprecedented level, giving them a lot of control over buying behaviors.
We asked seven entrepreneurs what they do to get their company product on an influencers’ radar. Check out their responses below:
Invite the Influencer on Your Podcast
We knew that our BiggerPockets Podcast could be used to attract these folks to our brand, and as such, we set out to build a solid audience before pitching key influencers to come on as guests. Once we had the numbers, getting them booked was easy, and took the opportunity to get ourselves firmly on their radar.
– Joshua Dorkin of BiggerPockets
Send a Physical Package
Influencers are hammered with emails, tweets and even phone calls around the clock. If you want to stand out, send them a physical package. The package could include the actual product or just an overview of you and your business. Send it via UPS or Fed Ex and require signature for delivery to ensure they will at least open the package. Your creativity will stand out.
– Johnathan Long of Marketing Domination Media
Promote Them
Whenever you guest blog on an influential site, mention influencers you know and love — and want to meet. If a member of the press asks you for an interview, cleverly plug someone you want to meet. The idea is to be the first extend goodwill first.
– Danny Wong of Blank Label
Connect With Them First
If you aren’t comfortable sending a package out of the blue. First take some steps to build a relationship, by reaching out to them on social media or email. Once you have some rapport with them, it’s easier to introduce them to your product.
– Shawn Porat of Judgement Marketplace
Sponsor an Event of Their Interest
Key influencers pay attention to certain trade events, even hyper localized ones. If you have the budget, sponsors events to gain recognition by and possibly access to these influencers.
– Reuben Yonatan of GetVoIP
Engage Them in Your Product
Have one of your top sales representatives reach out to influencers to do business with them to build a foundation and relationship. You always listen to personal recommendations or something you heard from a friend more so then something you read online.
– Jayna Cooke of EVENTup
Give Back
Getting influencers to back your idea or product isn’t easy, especially when others are vying for their attention. I suggest taking a back-end approach: offer them an in-house service that you might be able to provide as a trade off. By giving them something they are missing, they are far more likely to pay attention to you, and when it comes to asking them for a favor, it won’t be as hard.
– Kumar Arora of Rogue Eyewear
