Influence Equals Relationships
The Influence Project
Imagine opening a major business publication – Fast Compay – and encountering a photo with 30,000 business professionals and realizing that you KNOW ONE OF THEM! Check out the 2nd row – 1st person on the left – that’s my friend Ivana Taylor of DIY Marketers.
Actually, I didn’t see it in the magazine, I went to the monthly Akron Blogging Community coffee and one of the members Chris Brown had a copy and everyone was peppering Ivana with questions. How did this happen? How excited are you? What did you do to get so high on the list? Ivana is #21 out of 30,000 people who participated in a recent influence study conducted by Fast Company magazine.
“I don’t know. I saw the contest and I signed up and maybe wrote a blog post or tweeted a couple times, but I have no idea how I scored so high in influence,” our modest Ivana said.
However when the discussion went a little deeper it turns out that Ivana lives and breathes building relationships and community with others, providing value, seeking to connect people with others. Gee, sounds like influence to me.
“It’s all about making it easy for people to help spread the news about your business and doing the same for them,” she said.
Ahh, making it easy and doing for others. Sounds like the perfect formula for building customer relationships and creating a reputation for being the go-to person in her industry.
So think about your network. Are you viewed as a person of influence?
CONGRATULATIONS IVANA for leading the way!
Here is a short documentary on what it means to be an influencer. Great quote – once you get to a certain point in your career you need to indentify others in the younger generation and mentor them to help them grow! Love it.
Thanks Deborah – I really appreciate your kind words and your perspective on this. The more I think about it the more I realize that influence can take many different shapes and strength of relationship is the most powerful – I think.
Ivana, – I agree. It is all about the relationships. Just look at the relationships you have fostered here locally and AROUND THE WORLD, girl! So proud of you!
D
Thanks for sharing this! For businesses, influence and relationships are critical. When companies know how to “influence” and build strong relationships, they succeed. This article (http://www.upyourservice.com/learning-library/customer-service-contact/keeping-in-touch-at-popeyes) points out the value in employees at all levels working hard to build relationships with customers.
“It’s all about making it easy for people to help spread the news” – Right on!
As a customer, if I appreciate a product/service and the business provide avenues for me to share/promote my experience I feel EMPOWERED and IN CONTROL!
Customers can truly be your best marketers!
Thought you might like a look at our customer-service blog too:
http://customerservicethoughts.blogspot.com/