How To Build a Better Network For Your Online Business
When I started this business I wanted to make connections with the top people online. There was and still is a ton of advice out there about how to connect with the first-tier people in your topic.
You’re told to be persistent. You’re told you have to stand out and offer to help an A-Lister in some way. The only problem with that advice is everyone else is seeing the same advice and trying to do the same thing.
Think about how many emails an A-Lister gets a day? I’m not an A-Lister and I still average over 100 emails a day. They’re getting hundreds and a lot of those are people trying to connect with them.
Michael Hyatt just released a post that I think sums up how the first-tier is thinking . I’m not saying there’s something wrong with that approach, each of us has to decide what’s best for us. We have to spend our time the way we think is important to us.
What I am saying is that if your strategy is to try to get a top person in your industry to see your book, your product, or your service, and shout you out, it’s not a good strategy. It would bring a lot of exposure quickly but there’s a better way.
Does it happen? Once in a while but if you want this thing to support you there has to be a better strategy in place. If you read this blog, you know our goal is to be different from what everyone else does.
The Third Tier
Now I want to tell you upfront that this idea of the third tier isn’t mine. I first read about it from the guys at Fizzle. I’m telling you about it because it’s a killer idea.
The idea is instead of focusing on trying to get the attention of someone in the first tier, connect and make real relationships with someone in the third tier.
Think about Dave Ramsey, Michael Hyatt, and Dan Miller. They have been friends for over 20 years. They started out together and have helped promote each other throughout all these years.
They started in the third tier and built their own network throughout the years. I don’t know if they tried to reach out to any A-Listers back then, I do know their network is very strong now.
If you’re reading this blog you and I and others have the opportunity to create a network just like theirs. Now I know what some of you might be thinking: What is he going to sell us?
I have nothing to sell you. Thinking about this opportunity has had my brain hurting. We have SO much potential. If you can connect with other bloggers and people online in your industry and form a relationship that’s all about helping each, the sky’s the limit!
Reach out to those in your network, make real connections, and grow your online presence together. Even though you don’t have a huge network and they don’t have a huge network your combined networks can grow together.
What does this look like? Communicate, email a bunch of people who have a similar message to yours, and get to know each other. Ask them what they’re working on and see if you can help them promote that thing.
You can even form a mastermind group. I’m involved in an amazing mastermind group. I’ve learned so much and we’ve helped each other build our networks together. You can do the same with those speaking to your target audience.
When you come from a place of service you’ll reap huge rewards. Talk about that person and eventually a group of people on your website and on social media. They’ll talk about and promote you and that’s how you’ll grow.
A lot of us are here spreading a message of hope, let’s help each other out. Are you willing to help build a strong network together?
