Many lawyers find networking to be a waste of time. Ditto for networking online, aka Social Media.Â
Some have been at it for a long time with little to show for it. They may have collected 1000 business cards from events they’ve attended, or have thousands of connections on LinkedIn (et. al.), but, their phone isn’t ringing.Â
That’s because it’s not quantity that’s paramount, it’s quality.Â
A handful of high-quality connections can eventually lead to a steady stream of new business for you.Â
What is a high-quality connection?Â
Someone who has influence in your target market. They know people who might need your services (or have clients or customers who do) and will listen to them when they recommend you. Â
In other words, they have the ability to send you referrals or introduce you to business and professional contacts who can do that. Â
That’s the easy part. There are plenty of people who meet that definition.Â
The hard part is finding people who are willing to send you those referrals or make those introductions.
That’s a daunting task when you’re trying to sort through a thousand contacts.Â
That’s why the best networkers don’t show up at events seeking to meet everyone they can. They don’t follow anyone they find on socials, hoping they will follow them back.Â
Instead, they have found that the best way to meet and connect with the right people is to deliberately target them.Â
Make a list of 25-50 of the most influential people in your target market. Contact them, introduce yourself, and find out what you can do to help them.Â
Because helping them is the best way to get them to help you.Â
Here’s how to find and approach influential people in your target market
