8 Effective Tips for Finding the Right People Online for Your Business
Some obvious and not-so-obvious ones to grow your tribe
The online world is like an ocean filled with amazing and not-so-amazing folks.
And each person might mean different to you, as in the real world. Some could be potential business partners, friends, mentors, colleagues, or random acquaintances you say ‘hi’ to a couple of times a year. Initially, you never know. But as time goes on, your gut tells you which path to take with each of those people.
This is a topic for another post, but how do you find the right folks in this vast sea called the Internet?
Note: If you’re looking to make friends or connect with people for fun, it happens at random, and there might not be a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way. These steps are for you if you’re trying to form connections for a particular purpose (mentors, leads, clients, etc.)
Keep the below points in mind to narrow down the search for building connections online:
1. Have buckets for building connections
It needn’t make sense to anybody else but you. It can be anything like finding leads, clients, friends, or people you want to learn and grow from. It can also bring together a group of folks who love dogs—literally anything.
But having specific different buckets for interacting with people online will make your journey more purposeful and fruitful. Remember, one person can be on multiple buckets too. E.g., one person can be in friend and client buckets, or mentor and friend, because that’s possible in real life!
The person on the other end will exactly know what they’re signing up for when talking with you. And you, too, set subconscious expectations with them.
2. Rule of thumb: 80% of your connections should have this trait
They should be one/two levels above or below you in the hierarchy.
Because that’s where you aim to go, and that’s where you’re pulling people up. Focus on climbing that one step at every stage in your life. Also, people in this criterion are more susceptible to respond to you than higher-ups.
You can either mentor or have people lower than you as clients. You can take mentorships from folks higher than you or become their client.
3. Look for similar posts or accounts on social media. Then drill down to people.
For example, if I wanted to connect with other storytellers, I would search for the #storytelling or search storyteller in the profiles.
There’ll be tons of accounts that pop up. Similarly, do the process for yours.
Next, you need to do a fundamental analysis of the account. Their posts, their work, and values. Do they respond to comments, are they genuine, and interact…the basic stuff. Looking into this will make you understand whether this account will even respond to your message or not. You can plan your introduction accordingly (email, DM, etc.).
Small accounts respond most of the time. Do more digging for large accounts.
4. Most forget this goldmine that’s sitting in their backyard
If you’re relatively active on social media, I’m sure you’ll have X number of connections and followers. When was the last time you looked into it?
I can assure you that 90% of people don’t do it. But it’s the biggest mistake you can make! Last year, I came across this writer’s profile, who I wanted to connect with. And lo behold, he was my classmate from school! It didn’t take long to form a real connection because of the familiarity and context, and it felt fantastic to meet a friend randomly!
The world is a small place. Your followers and connections will already be familiar with your work. Why not check them out?
5. Look out for opportunities where you can interact with strangers
Many overlook this obvious suggestion.
Remember those real-life ‘networking events’ where folks used to move around with ID cards around their necks? Yeah, it doesn’t have to be that awkward anymore.
In the online world, you’ve tons of opportunities. LinkedIn/Facebook groups, webinars, Twitter spaces, Clubhouse meetups, etc., are all fantastic opportunities for you to meet people!
If you find someone interesting, you can give the place as a context to start a conversation through DM. I’m grateful to have met amazing people. Similarly, you should try it too!
6. Start creating content on social media
99% of the world are consumers. Only 1% are creators. When you build in public and impart the lessons learned in your day-to-day life, you’ll automatically attract the right people around you who share your values and goals.
Over time, your inbox and comments section will start filling up with people’s perspectives. Use them wisely. If their comment interests you, I would suggest taking the conversation over to DMs to discuss more on the subject (giving the post as a context)
Remember, you don’t need to be a writer or a content creator to post stuff online. You can be your authentic self and share your thoughts and learnings on what you do in your day to day life (even if you’re working a 9 to 5).
What may seem obvious or dumb to you can change someone’s life.
7. Don’t stick with folks in your niche. Sometimes go with your curiosity
Even though I write about storytelling and building online connections nowadays, I spoke to a stand-up comedian the other day. And you’ve no idea how similar our processes were! I learned so much in that one conversation and got a completely different perspective of how I can approach my craft.
Before having that conversation, I couldn’t have ever fathomed that a conversation with a comedian could be helpful. Even better, he knew someone who needed my help! That’s the power of networking.
Having an open mind and going where your heart takes you helps form relationships with amazing people online. Use your intuition.
8. When you start, put more effort into connecting with people two steps ahead of you instead of 100 steps.
Often, we try to reach out to big brands or people with huge followings without getting any results.
You don’t mingle with seniors in 10th grade in school when you’re in 2nd. You go to the step just above you for any doubts, questions, or friendships. The same concept applies here too.
All you need to learn at every step of your journey is how to climb ONE step. Keep focusing on knowing that, and you’ll succeed.
Also, the probability of the person in the next step responding compared to the 100th step guy is exponentially more. As you keep building credibility, more and more people will get on your radar, and it’ll become an automatic process.
I’m not saying to avoid big accounts altogether. But focus only about 5 to 10% of your time on them. Also, if it happens organically, let it be.
Meeting people online who vibe with you is the best feeling in the world. Sometimes we don’t mingle with people we meet in real life, and our online colleagues, mentors, clients and friends help a lot. I know I mentioned in the headline that this article is for improving your business, and well, it is.
You cannot grow a business with only clients. You need a support group, people you can learn from and impart knowledge to others. That’s how you’ll truly grow.
The Internet has allowed us to meet folks from all around the world and learn from them. So why not use it effectively?
