Meet Them: How to Get People You Don't Know to Link with You pt. 1

Like many of you who read my blog I get inundated with LinkedIn requests.
I wrote an article about my responses when people blindly try and contact me:
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I was then asked the question, how do I link with someone I don't know who might be able to help me?
Good question.

Here is one idea I use:

Meet them where they are.

Look what groups they belong to. What events they are attending or being a presenter at.
Go to those places and introduce yourself.
Be professional. Be polite. Don't be a stalker.
Know something about them that will get their interest (i.e. I just read your blog about _________. I liked your take on the issue but had a question), know what company they work for or the last company they were with, what groups they belong to, or if we have any common connections.
Get their attention and make them interested in knowing you.

If I meet you casually at a networking event it isn't always enough for me to link with you based on that one meeting, but it does mean I will probably take your call, email, or maybe set up an appointment for coffee.
Any of those methods will work when it comes to seeing how we can help each other.
Give it a try.

Ev
A Heck of A Nice Guy