Concentric Dots
Information is not knowledge
The only source of knowledge is experience

Why you need to connect with online influencers 

If you write write online to attract prospects, then a top level priority will be to connect quickly and convincingly with industry influencers across key online channels like Twitter, WordPress, LinkedIn and Google+. 

This is because influencers make up the small part of the digital population that wields almost all the influence over consumers. And to achieve that goal with any degree of success and speed, you’ll need tools like Klout, Traackr andLittle Bird that measure individuals' social media prowess. These tools have grown fast in popularity to become key services for marketers who seek to identify and target influencers. 

Influencers will help you grow more quickly 

Your influencers will help you by sharing the stories you write with their communities, adding credibility, authority and reach to the best content you publish. The more influential they are, the more impact their stories can have on the success of your business. Remember that 80 per cent of all user generated impressions are made by just 6 per cent of social media users. To understand this social user phenomenon, take a look at Forrester’s Social Technographics Ladder

So what tool is best for spotting and targeting people and organisations with influence? 

Little Bird is my favourite tool because it provides a deeper understanding of people with personal influence on the web and helps me tap into their conversations and forge relationships with them. You can see an example of how I use Little Bird here 

The Many Faces Of Influence

Another helpful tool is Traackr’s Many Faces Of Influence infopraphic which suggests engagement strategies to target the 10 key Influencer Archetypes that range from Celebrity and Authority to Activist and Journalist. 

How to use the influencer tools online and offline 

These three online Influencer Tools each help you find influencers in your industry. Use them to get an endorsement, elevate your message, provide an introduction or help you forge connections, grow your base and propel your content into channels you could not otherwise reach. Use for your offline activities too, like  preparing for a sales call or a client pitch; they’ll give you a quick snapshot, not just of how influential the person you’re going to talk to is, but also how savvy they are. 

What are your tips on finding and engaging influencers online?