The Power Of Influence
Last July, I published an article that offered 10 practical ways to gain an influencer’s attention. To date, that article has been shared nearly 6,000 times.
Why did it strike a chord with so many people?
I think it’s because more and more business owners are beginning to realize the value of influencer marketing.
Simply put, influencer marketing is the process of identifying, targeting, and connecting with individuals that have influence over your target audience rather than trying to reach that audience all on your own.
Influencer marketing is smart marketing.Click To TweetConsider this article the remix. The upgrade.
The eleven new ways to gain an influencer’s attention.
And all without selling your soul.
Get More Traffic with Influencer Marketing: [thrive_2step id=’10095′]get access to a free downloadable PDF[/thrive_2step] with all real-life influencer marketing examples you can follow to grow your audience and traffic.
How to Do Influencer Marketing that Works
The following examples of influencer marketing came from my observations of online marketing world.
Some of them come from brand new marketers doing a lot of things right.
Some of them come from well-established marketers who are influencers themselves. Just goes to show that influencer marketing (human marketing) never ends.
1. Do something no one else would
Have you ever seen anything like this?
Back when I published the original “Be Memorable” post, Martin Shervington left this comment. When I asked him what he meant (surely he didn’t mean what it sounded like, right?), he simply said “I meant exactly what I said.”
Most people would say, “Hey Ana! Great post! I wrote something similar over here -> insert self-promotional link.”
Not Martin. Martin offered to redirect his own article to point to mine because he felt it would benefit his readers.
You better believe that got my attention.
Want to get noticed? Do the things nobody else does.Click To Tweet2. Pay attention, then display expertise
In March, Google’s John Mueller stated that load times over 2 seconds cause Google to limit how much of your site they crawl.
As usual, I immediately reported the news in a Google Plus post.
By the third comment, John Mueller had already chimed in. He pointed to the difference between “page load time” and “server response time,” and then asked if anybody would be willing to write up a post that discusses it.
Look at how quickly MaAnna Stephenson from BlogAid.net jumped on the ball…
Not only did she offer to take John up on that challenge within minutes of it being offered, but she had the entire post written and published within the hour.
You think that made an impression on John Mueller?
3. Add a useful tip to a post
Not long ago, I published a tutorial on how to (and why) to use Periscope.
Since Periscope was already a hot-button topic on Twitter at the time, numerous conversations were taking place around it.
Mark Alves found one of these conversations, brought in my tutorial, and then mentioned me while adding a super-useful tip of his own.
Check it out…
Needless to say, I added Mark Alves’ tip to my Periscope tutorial.
Like I added Jeremy Lesarge‘s tip to this post: HOW TO: Create Your Own Custom Vanity URL for Branding and Traffic.
…and a few other tips throughout various posts at Traffic Generation Café (with links back to tippers, of course!).
The ABCs of Influencer Marketing: Always Be ContributingClick To Tweet4. Find an interesting way to share a post
Learn to think outside the box.
Or, as Ileane Smith did on Instagram, learn to think outside the square.
Check out how Ileane chose to use Instagram to share a Google+ HOA led by Thomas E. Hanna…
Or look at the way that Dennis Seymour from Leapfroggr.com shares just about every one of my Weekly Marketing Skinnies…
I love it! It’s fun, it’s creative, and it’s unique.
And here’s yet another example: Kristin Drysdale tweeting about a Blab with a custom image – she added a great quote by Keith Bloemendaal, interviewed by Mark Traphagen during the blab, to make it more personal and make it stand out.
Being unique gets you noticed.
Influencer marketing tip: being unique gets you noticed.Click To Tweet5. Leave a meaningful comment when no one else does
Martin Beck is a Marketing Land reporter with a very direct writing style. It happens to be a writing style I love.
So when he reported on Facebook’s “topic data firehose” with this article that was met with crickets, I took the opportunity to let him know how much I loved his style.
See the conversation here…
When you are the sole voice in the room, it opens the opportunity for banter. Or drinking, as the case may be.
Cheers!
Learn more about leaving comments that matter in this post by Kevin Duncan:
The Ultimate Guide to Writing Comments That Open Doors with Popular Bloggers
6. Be Proactive
Here’s an influencer marketing tip: influencers have needs that YOU may be uniquely suited to meet.
Influencers have needs that YOU may be uniquely suited to meet.Click To TweetSo keep your eyes open. When you see the opportunity to serve the influencers in your niche (or anyone else for that matter), taking the initiative can pay big dividends.
When I announced the launch of TrafficologyBlueprint.com, one of my first hurdles was to come up with a logo.
Traffic Generation Café reader and Traffic Hacks newsletter subscriber Sourav Saha recognized this.
Check out this email I received…
That’s a great logo, especially from someone who is not even a designer.
Thanks, Sourav!
7. Ask permission to link
Everybody loves to be linked to. After all, part of your goal as a blogger is to create content worthy of earning those links.
So it may sound silly to ask permission to link out to someone, but as far as I am concerned, it’s effective.
Look at how Tony Adams and Neil Ferree did this…
Not only did their politeness make me take notice, but it drew my attention to the content they were creating.
Even better, they essentially told me why it would be valuable to share that material without actually asking me to share it.
The most underutilized tool in your Influencer Marketing Toolbox: asking permissionClick To Tweet8. Send a nice Thank You note
Adrienne Smith takes the time to personally thank everyone who shares her posts on Twitter.
More importantly, she does it in a way that makes you feel like you are the only one sharing her article.
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
Adrienne is a powerful influencer in her own right. One of the main reasons she is so influential is because she takes the time to treat others well – from the blogging beginner to the internet superstar.
Look at how she thanked me for sharing her posts…
She doesn’t just do this with me, either. Look at how she thanked Kurt simply for retweeting a post of hers…
Saying “thank you” is powerful.
Get More Traffic with Influencer Marketing: [thrive_2step id=’10095′]get access to a free downloadable PDF[/thrive_2step] with all real-life influencer marketing examples you can follow to grow your audience and traffic.
9. Offer a sincere compliment
Everybody loves a little flattery, but only when it is genuine and appropriate.
Look at how Kurt Frankenberg from Shoestring 101 managed to connect with an influencer on the scale of Pat Flynn:
Say ‘thank you.’ Engage deeper. Tag an influencer when appropriate. But most of all: be sincere.
Sincerity makes friends.
Influencer marketing tip: sincerity makes friends.Click To Tweet10. Make ‘em look GOOD!
I love what Michel Reibel began doing when I started using Periscope on Twitter.
He didn’t just take a screenshot of me talking. He told me he was taking a photo and then asked me to smile for it.
Then he shared the photo on Google Plus and tagged me in it.
Take a look…
Michel not only took the time to promote me, but he took the time to make sure I looked good when he did it.
Sharing photos of my broadcasts definitely got my attention, but when he started asking me to smile so he could get a good shot?
That’s how he made sure I wouldn’t forget.
Take a look at the following post to find out how this influencer marketing strategy (dubbed ‘Kiss Up‘) worked wonders for a jewelry blog:
11. Tell ‘Em You Love ‘Em!
I always love when somebody shares an article of mine, but I particularly love when somebody tells me (and others) why they choose to follow my blog.
Kurt Frankenberg (Twitter: @shoestring101; blog: ShoeString101.com) and Konrad Sanders (Twitter: @KonradSanders; blog: Creative-Copywriter.net) both do an incredible job of this.
Take a look…
And…
This goes beyond the one-click share. It tells me that what I do is helpful and why.
It only takes a moment, but it definitely earns my attention.
Here’s another example of building a strong relationship: Dustin Stout giving a shout-out to Brian Fanzo.
Hey @iSocialFanz i just wanted to say… pic.twitter.com/gaTHy1Q9du
— Dustin W. Stout (@DustinWStout) June 18, 2015
So tell ‘em you love ‘em, and promote ’em while you’re at it.
Influencer marketing tip: tell ‘em you love ‘em, and promote 'em while you’re at it.Click To TweetThe Influencer Marketing Takeaway
Relationships online are not all that different from relationships in the real world.
If you want to get noticed, take the time to be valuable. Be creative. Make the person feel special. Find ways to help them.
On the web, some people will never notice, just like some people never notice in the real world.
But some will. Some will notice and thank you. Others will notice and befriend you. Still others will notice and partner with you.
And there in the mix, you may just discover your Wozniak.
Get More Traffic with Influencer Marketing: [thrive_2step id=’10095′]get access to a free downloadable PDF[/thrive_2step] with all real-life influencer marketing examples you can follow to grow your audience and traffic.
![How to create a vanity shortened URL [TUTORIAL]](https://trafficgenerationcafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Vanity-shortened-URL-1024x576.jpeg)
Hey Ana,
Thanks for this article very helpful, you certainly have imparted more knowledge to me since I started reading your blog. On this article, the most important thing you said here, however, is that writers should learn how to be genuine, just the same point London marketing Academy was trying to make in one of its course.
Being genuine is truly the best takeaway of this post, Joel – glad we agree on that one!
And thanks for coming by.
Hi Ana,
Just found your blog and this is the first article I’ve read. Tons of great info. I have a question though…
I’m trying to drive some traffic to my site for my new app, and I’ve been reaching out tobloggers and influences in the same area via Twitter and email. I’ve had some sucess (my first full lenght guest blog will be published Monday after next!), but not great results.
One issue I’ve seen is that since I’m not a blogger or content creator, it can be hard for me to do the “you pat my back, I’ll pat yous” exchanges that a lot of these tips seem to work off of. Yes, the app is relevant for the audience of the bloggers I’m communicating with, but do you have any tips on how to build that reciprocity when you aren’t writing routine posts?
Thanks!
Andy
Hi, Andy – welcome to Traffic Generation Café!
Great question… here are my thoughts.
First of all, I went to your app web page. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite figure out what the app did. Since it’s too much work for me to check it out through the app store (it’s true, believe it or not – it’s one click too many) or to click on your ‘Learn more’ tab (which by the way, I haven’t even noticed till later), I ended up leaving. I have a feeling plenty of your visitors do the same.
Suggestions: 1. either come up with a better way to describe the app and its benefits to the users on that page, OR 2. create a simple landing page that you could include as a link to drive traffic to where you explain very simply but in more detail why those visitors would want to download the app, sort of like your ‘Learn more’ page.
Now back to your actual question.
Keep building relationships by sharing their stuff, commenting on their updates, blog posts, etc – your goal is to make your name synchronous with being knowledgeable and helpful. Writing guest posts is a great shortcut to do the same faster and with more impact, by the way.
After you feel you’ve built enough of a relationship with a blogger, ask them to check out the app. Tell them why it could be beneficial to them/their business. Listen to their feedback and take it from there.
Hi Ana,
Thanks a lot for all the feedback, and for checking out my webpage. I had gotten some conflicting advice about using splash screens on sites, and after reading your comment I modified my site so that it just shows a landing page with more information. I hope that helps some of the issues you noted.
I’ll keep working on building relationships with bloggers. It’s a long, slow process, but if it were easy, everyone would do it right? At least for the immediate future, I’ll probably focus on getting guest blog posts. My first one (Shameless plug: http://forgingsignificance.com/onanon-app-part1/ ) was a lot of fun to write.
I greatly appreciate your help!
Just came back from the homepage – makes a lot more sense, Andy!
It’s still simply and clean, no info overload, but it helps me to understand the app a lot better. I also like it that (at least on my screen) I can see the Get OnanOn button from just about anywhere on the page.
Also, great work on your first post – I don’t mind your plug one bit! I think I now feel personally vested in your success… see, great job networking with me!!! ? ? Shared the post and left a comment.
Keep it up!
Thank you, Ana, for this thoughtful and thorough piece. You must have been gathering these carefully selected examples over a period of time. If you don’t mind my asking, what did you use to collect the screenshots and your notes about them? Do you use the Evernote clipper or something like that? I would love to know what the “pros” use 😉
Much appreciated, Danielle – glad you found this post helpful. And yes, it took me about 3 years to collect these examples.
Often, I take screenshots of something I find interesting, peculiar, or helpful without knowing why or when of if ever I’d use them. Sometimes, they just make sense as a post – like this one. 😉
There are many ways to curate content to future reference. Personally, I store everything in drafts right in WordPress. I found that the easiest way to actually remember where my notes and screenshots are. I have tried tools like Evernote, but… just wasn’t working well for me.
The new organization tool I am very excited about is Trello. I don’t know enough about it just yet, but looks promising. Like Evernote, but a lot easier to navigate.
PS Just got back from your website, Danielle – nice! However, I don’t think you meant to say ‘PRESENTION DESIGN PORTFOLIO’…
Hi Ana – Thank you so much for your reply. Amazing that you should mention Trello! It was highly recommended to me by several of my mastermind mates. After researching several options I opted for Trello and started using it about a week ago. So far I’ve been really enjoying it. It seems very versatile and full of possibilities.
My challenge with Trello (or any similar tool for that matter) is to organize it in such a way that it makes sense to my brain. 😉 I’ll keep playing with it. Let me know if you discover something ‘A-ha!’ about it, Danielle.
Ana, thanks heaps for this article! Often times I get overwhelmed by the digital world and don’t where to begin. But, your article is practical and has strategies I can implement straight away. Cheers for that ??
I know exactly what you mean, Kim – amen to practical!
Thanks for coming by; hope to see you back soon.
Ana
So many helpful tips here. I loved the case studies. It really shows that being helpful in a creative way can reap dividends.
I’ve made some great connections on social media. Many of them started with totally random conversations.
Such as:
– The relevance of quantum mechanics to funny animal videos.
– The difference between boxing and copywriting.
– Whether I’m a ninja or not.
The last one was with a world renowned traffic generation expert, would you believe.
Clement
🙂 Happy to have you at Traffic Generation Café, Clement.
Your comment adds even more merit to letting connections/relationships happen naturally. Forcing yourself to be noticed does work… only it puts you on influencers’ naughty lists.
Thanks for this, Ana, this was really timely for me. I need to get more creative about influencer outeach because everyone is so busy!! I know that many people get 100’s of emails a day. I will definitely try some of these suggestions.
~Katharine
I know exactly what you are saying, Katharine – traditional means of always sharing their stuff or commenting on their blogs simply no longer works. Standing out now takes a more creative approach. Let me know what you come up with!
So glad you found this helpful. Thanks for coming by, Katharine.
Influencers are one of the best ways to amplify your content reach and get more traffic.
But you have to give value first and start engaging before you can ask for something.
Ana, love to know your tactics for growing a new blog.
Hear, hear, Atul.
This is the perfect post for anyone who is looking for the fastest way to get awesome blog traffic for his/her site. I’m totally agree that personal relationships with people online is super important if you want to get noticed. Not to mention, chances that they would help you in the future is far more likely. 🙂
Aside from that, some simple comments like, “thank you for this” or “I find your article really interesting” can work wonders for some bloggers (especially if they’re the types that cherish the small things in life). I mean when I get comments like those, it makes me want to write even more! Thanks for sharing this awesome post, Ana. 🙂 Definitely an eye-opener to be one-of-a-kind when talking with people you admire!
Absolutely, Tiffany.
Building a relationship prior to asking/expecting anything in return is paramount. I’ve seen one too many bloggers who asks first without putting in some work beforehand. 😉
And yes, sometimes the simplest, but sincere comment would make us to go an extra length for someone.
It’s amazing how the influencer marketing model has exploded in the last year.
Just the next ‘in’ thing to talk about, but it’s been there all along.
Great examples of innovative thinking as to how to dominate your niche with establishing great online presence by linking to acknowledged authorities in your field. Feel inspired to try some of these methods, too.
Well thank you, Vanessa.
Awesome collection Ana..great post this is the first time come to your blog but your postings are good informative…keep sharing.
Thank you, Jose.
Hello Ana,
Another amazing article, as a newbie to blogging and as being really excited about the same. I noticed some of the things that most successful bloggers do and your does a great job at understanding how anyone can be memorable when it comes to blogging.
Thanks for the same, I will make sure to use this useful tips.
You are so very welcome, Chirag; thanks for coming by!
Hey Ana,
I’m really inspired by the first way, it’s obvious that people would link to an article which is similar to their article for self promotion because they think it’s going to bring them success.
Actually it’s not bringing any success to them as if people are finding every useful tip on a article published on a blog then why would they go to another blog for reading the same thing of worst quality?
-Allan
The point is to link out to complementary information, not the same, of course.
Thanks for coming by, Allan.
Thank you so much for the mention! It made my day to be in a conversation with Pat Flynn (thanks to smart marketer Kurt Frankenburg) and you’ve done it all over again by mentioning me in this post.
These examples are great because so many small business owners want to know how to drive prospects to their site in a direct way and can’t quite understand how powerful social media is for connecting with influencers. Or in fact why they would want to connect with an influencer, or what to say if they did!
You are so welcome, Helen; I enjoyed getting to know you in such an indirect but powerful way.
Thanks for coming by!
Helen,
It made MY day to hear from Pat, and it’s all YOUR fault!
😉
Thanks for mentioning us both in the same breath on Twitter; it was a serious thrill for him to weigh in and say kind words about that USP article. I told everybody in my Internet Marketing Mastermind group that I was never gonna wash my computer again!
Thanks again Helen, and thanks Ana for showing that interaction here. Makes me feel like I’m sitting at the cool table 😉
Keep Stepping,
Kurt
Ana!
So, I was on my way over here to check out your newest post(s) anyway, and then I noticed that Adrienne Smith had linked to this post…
I immediately checked it out.
Let me position this comment by mentioning that I’m only on point three, and I felt the need to add a comment now. But I’ve just been chatting with Martin Shervington through email over the past few days (he’s participating in the same roundup of mine as you are)… and he’s an amazing dude.
Then, I roll onto point two, and you referenced MaAnna Stephenson, whom I also just connected with a week or two ago when she referenced my blog on her podcast. (Obviously knows a thing or two about how to network and create exposure…)
So anyway, these are my thoughts just two points in. I’m sitting here grinning with excitement to read the rest of the post.
Okay!
Back to it.
Thanks Ana!
Reading your content always makes me happy! I leave your blog feeling like I actually learned something I can use!
Sweeeeet! All incredible folks who make it so easy to connect with, don’t they?…
Much appreciated, Brent. All the shares, mentions, shares, comments, shares – all of it.
Hi Ana.
Great, informative post. I found out about you through one of Adrienne Smith’s posts.
I’m still a newbie when it comes to blogging and the more blogs I visit, the more I realize I
still have a lot to learn. I will definitely be returning to check out your other posts.
Have a great weekend…….Chris
Good new/bad news, Chris (depending on how you look at it) – learning never ends. 😉
Thanks to Adrienne for bringing you here and look forward to seeing you around.
Hi Ana,
It is so nice to meet you and to read the great post about influencers. I came across your name in Adrienne Smith’s blog today and while I intend to read all of those she mentioned, your title caught my attention first today.
You have shared so much great advice here. Some of it I am already doing but didn’t realize how very important it is, so I will be continuing and adding some of your other suggestions.
Have a great week and I will be back to visit your blog.
Pleasure to meet you, Monna, and thanks to Adrienne for relentlessly sharing other people’s stuff – another trait of a true influencer. 😉
Look forward to seeing you around Traffic Generation Café!
Hi Ana,
It’s amazing how the influencer marketing model has exploded in the last year. Unfortunately, many need to read your article and heed your advice.
Way too many are really just spamming instead of taking the time to read, engage, share and provide meaningful dialogue and responses.
I really appreciate the time and energy you poured into this article.
Have a great week Ana!
~ Don Purdum
I think more and more people finally realize that ‘being everywhere’ really means knowing enough people who can carry your message everywhere.
Thanks for coming by, Don, and taking your time to share the post. Appreciated.
I just got lucky. Wasn’t really trying to be a “teacher’s pet” (remember that comment? LOL)
I’d like to think that I strategized my way to get you to mention me on your post (pats myself on the back) but it really was just a spur of the moment thing 🙂
I still have a lot of room for improvement. I’m still learning, especially from Adrienne on how to build relationships better.
Sharing this out now!
Ps. There’s an error in the earlier part of the article. Look for “As usual, I immediately”
See, that’s the best kind of engagement though – sincere, for the sake of engagement, relationship building, and value. The second it becomes a strategy, most people will see it for what it is.
I’ve always appreciated your awesome shares, Dennis. Keep’em coming!
(and thanks for the heads-up; will see what I need to edit)
Ana, you’re outdoing yourself! Very good points and great examples of some folks that “get it”.
BTW, Michel called it! 😉
So kind of you, Doc, and nice to see you at Traffic Generation Café again!
WOW Ana, thanks for the mentions and especially for capturing that Pat Flynn tweet. Believe it or not, I was soooo busy during the sale of my house that I MISSED it.
In my book, you are always the creme de la creme of influencer “marketing”… “networking”… FRIEND making because of your example.
I not only see you reaching out to others and lending both your encouragement and constructive suggestions… but have also been the grateful recipient of the same 🙂
As I mentioned on Facebook, I think the most important ingredient to this “influencer” equation is choosing well WHO you want to be influenced BY… and then reaching out to those people as if they are real folks. Because the ones that are really worth their salt ARE real people.
Just sayin’.
Appreciate your example and how you put these principles into practice, both on the “influencer” and “influenced” sides. Hope something I do or say some day may be a Wozniak-ish help to you, you have certainly helped me.
Keep Stepping,
Kurt
There are you, Mr. Frankenberg; was about to send out a search party to see if you had to go as a cherry on the cake in the sale of your house. 😉
Well, now you can thank Pat Flynn. And me. Oh wait, you already did that!
And you are absolutely right about being an ‘influencer’ vs ‘influenced’. If you are doing it right, there’s no difference.
Hey Ana,
Another masterpiece if I say so myself Yep, you definitely have shared with people why it’s important to make those connections. The most important thing you said here though is that people need to be genuine.
We get hit up all the time on social media but it’s so obvious why people are doing it. Granted, I get that they want to make those connections as well but they’re just going about it all in the wrong way. You can tell when it’s all about them and not helping someone else or just letting them know you enjoyed what they wrote.
I’ve been told that saying thank you is outdated, that people don’t appreciate it anymore. Guess I showed them didn’t I… LOL!!! You noticed and trust me, you’re not the only one but the real key is because I truly and sincerely mean it. I’m appreciative of those that share my content which is why I love sharing theirs as well. Good stuff deserves to be spread all around.
Loved this post and as you can imagine I’ll be sharing it as well. Thank you again for the mention here, so very flattered. It never gets old! 😉
Have an amazing day and I’ll see you over on Twitter!
~Adrienne
And that’s precisely what I love about your engagement with others, Adrienne – you don’t do it because you are ‘strategizing’, you do it because that’s who you are and that’s how you sincere want to treat people whoever they are.
You are a pleasure to watch everywhere I go, Adrienne. It’s no wonder your blog flourishing when so many fail.
Hey Ana,
I so appreciate you saying that. I remember when I was doing what I was being taught and getting nowhere. The moment I started just being myself is when things started happening. People appreciated being able to relate to me and what I was going through at that time. Because of that I was very appreciative of the interactions I was getting. How can you not feel blessed right!
Just goes to show that when you just let your hair down, good things can happen. Just stay true to yourself and things will start to happen naturally. It’s never a bad thing! 😉
I appreciate you Ana and I hope I tell you that enough. Some people get tired of hearing it but I can’t help but let them know how I truly feel. It means a lot.
Thank you again and enjoy your weekend. Hope your flowers are going strong too. It’s awfully hot here but have had a lot of rain so they are doing pretty good around our complex. Not as pretty as your roses though.
~Adrienne
Music to my ears, Adrienne – on all counts. Honored to know you.