10 Secrets of a Super-Connector and How to Use Them for Max Success

T.A. McCannVP of Product Strategy @Blackberry

Founder of Gist.com

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Being a super-connector is more than just knowing a lot of people...

“…[it’s] all about building relationships, person to person, not person to score.” by @gary_r_lee

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Secret #1 - Make yourself “public”

People want to follow those that seem interesting, but they can’t find you unless you take

advantage of the following opportunities to build your public presence:

• Gist Public Profile• LinkedIn and other social networking sites• Speak at events on your expertise• Volunteer for related organizations

Focus on a few key areas of expertise, supported by your background and content

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Secret #2 – Establish yourself as a “thought leader”

Use your content and connections to help people get to know what you’re about and where you can be most helpful:

• Twitter and Twitter lists• Blog (Wordpress)• Video/audio interviews (youtube)• Retweets of other key content

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Secret #3 – Share your expertise and ideas

Simultaneously make others most successful and brand yourself as an authority figure by freely sharing your insight using the following resources:

• Create content and posts for download (slideshare.net)• Answer questions – LinkedIn Answers and Quora• Contribute guest posts or rich comments

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Secret #4 – Take it offline

Although the internet provides more opportunities for engagement than ever before, nothing beats face-to-face interactions for demonstrating your value.

• Tungle – quickly set up meetings• Skype (if you can’t meet in person)• See if you can do it in :30 vs. :60

“Trust is built more effectively face-to-face.” @marybethmceuen

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I know your time is very important, so in an effort to make scheduling easier and more efficient, I use Tungle. Here is my free/busy info http://tungle.me/tamccann if you want to suggest some times that work well for you or just schedule me. I look forward to connecting with you soon and if you need any more of my contact info, it's on my Gist Public Profile http://gist.com/tamccann, you should consider getting one as well.

(TextExpander)

Secret #5 – Become an active listener

• Start your meetings with “How can I help?”• Ask yourself, “Who in my network can help this person

the most?”• Listen online for opportunities to help

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Secret #6 – Go to conferences

Why go:– Second order connections– Reconnect with

old contacts– Learn something new and

useful

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Secret #6 – Go to conferences

How to maximize your participation:• Have a 30-second “elevator pitch” explanation of your work • Review attendee and press lists so that you can schedule

meetings in advance• Watch and contribute to Twitter streams during the

conference (for example, #WorkConf)• Ask to meet up with interesting people you encounter (ex -

“@tamccann interesting thoughts on #workconf. Want to grab a coffee and chat?”)

• Take key contacts to dinner #WorkConf@tamccann

Secret #7 – Follow up appropriately

Whenever you meet someone new, follow up within 24 hours according to the follow up principles:

– Get them into your system - CardMunch LinkedIn – Send the follow up email – Textexpander– Start a value exchanging dialog – what can I offer – Include specific “logical next actions” – Set reminders for follow-up frequency - FellowUp or Mingly

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Secret #8 – Make valuable introductions

Contacts shouldn’t be hoarded. Everyone benefits when introductions are made, so don’t hesitate to do so when you feel one of your connections could help another.

• Email, Twitter, LinkedIn• Include why and how (contact) and what• understand success – money, jobs, status…• Rely on trust and integrity• For key contacts, join the first meeting

“Connecting people who can benefit each other is the most useful skill you can have […]” via @jaltucher #WorkConf

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Secret #9 – Produce social content and give credit

Generate content according to the “5:3:2” rule:• 5 posts about your space/industry/peers – help make other

people smarter• 3 posts about your product/success – demonstrate the role

you play in your industry• 2 personal – give people something to connect to by sharing

your personal side

“Instagram CEO: Android app on the way: http://bit.ly/uNhSTL”

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Secret #10 – Optimize your digital environment

Use startup scripts and browser tabs (Chrome + Startup) to maximize productivity and facilitate effortless social connections:

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• Gist• Tweetdeck• Summify• TextExpander /

ActiveWords• Linkedin• Quora • Skype

• Timely• Fellowup• Mingly• Tungle• Cardmunch

Bonus Tip – Buy drinks for friends

You know that guy at the bar who’s always surrounded by friends and contacts? Be that guy!• Follow important people on Twitter and when you are in

their towns, invite them out for drinks• Invite another person who these digital contacts should

all meet• Host a themed dinner (e.g. Defrag dinners) that they’re

sure to remember

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Happy to connect, let me know if I can help…Thanks.