Don’t Be Scared Of Meeting People
Remember middle school (or even high school) dances when the guys sat in one corner of the gym and the girls sat on the other. Then there were the 2 popular and good looking kids dancing in the middle and everyone envied them, but were too shy to do anything about it.
I was a guy on the bleachers. But that was then. You know me know.
The point I wanted to make, was that the people having fun took action. They weren’t scared. That put it all out there.
This same middle school strategy applies to online businesses. In fact, its actually a really large part of how many people online succeed. The relationships and the people you meet along the way will help you much greater than any Google Ads or SEO results (although that does help). A few partners, some new ideas and new voices will go a long way.
This past week I connected with 3 new people that are going to change my business. Not new business models, but partners that can help answer questions. People I can run ideas across with. Someone that I am going to co-launch a huge product with. Someone that can hook me up with a beer (or 3) in exchange for some marketing advice. Someone that interviewed me for 30 minutes about cool stuff like business and lifestyle.
The key ingredient all 3 people had? They hit send and got in touch with me. It’s really can be that easy. But if you never make the effort, you can never get the reward (or insert the Gretzky quote here).
The hard part is adding value to your new contacts but that’s another story for another day. Today I want you to contact one person that can help you out. And I want you to add value to them.
Here is a paraphrased version of one of the emails I got:
“Hey Greg, your site and message are awesome. I want to see if I can fly you out to “insert cool location” and help me launch a product. We can split it and make it the biggest launch ever in this niche.”
Wow - that got my attention. Now you might not be able to fly them around the world, but you have something that you can offer. Maybe its an interview to introduce them to your audience or a guest post that may be valuable for their audience.
Think about your strengths and go do it. Right now. Then come comment here and tell me who you hit up, why and what value you are bringing into the table.
-Greg
Top photo by WanderingtheWorld
My problem is finding these people, that are knowledgeable, but also not playing around and are a good match. Any ideas help?
Greg,
I feel pretty cool to have been mentioned in your blog! Thanks man!
As far as meeting people, I make it a point to try to reach out to someone daily. It is a fundamental part of growing your business as well as your mentors, that also, affect your bottom line. For example, I am in the works of putting together a new product for the workout community, particularly athletes and body-builders. Now, this is a terrain that I have yet to step into. Making key connections such as this, allows me to form partnerships, bounce ideas off people and reciprocate knowledge and expertise that Greg, just for example sake, does not have.
Ace: my advice to you is look to do interviews. Interviews are great for a few reasons. They allow you to get to know a person, learn key information maybe you wanted to know anyways, give publicity and expert status to the person your interviewing and then, in return, give that great knowledge to your readership. It’s a win-win. Be confident. Be excited. Have a vision and then send the email.
Ciao!
I take that approach as well. I love reaching out to other entrepreneurs and those just getting started with a startup. The longterm results of these relationships are incredible and really open many doors.