Networking for Marketing Experts

You know you should network. But you probably don’t know what to say or how to get on people’s radar. Here’s an easy 7-step LinkedIn networking strategy (that anyone can use): 1. The 3 Principles Of Good Networking If you want to network effectively, you need to: - Have a way to reach people - Have a way to add value to them - Have a way to keep the engagement going This strategy does all three! 2. Make A List Of Job-Related Keywords Think of keywords, skills, phrases, and jargon that align with your target role. Ex: If you’re in sales, that might be “sales,” “leads,” “pipeline,” “sales cycle,” etc. Make a quick list of these. 3. Run A “Post” Search On LinkedIn Start with one keyword (or the job title itself). Run a search for it on LinkedIn. From the “Filters” option, select “Posts.” Then change “Date Posted” to “Past Week.” 4. Filter By “Author Company” Click on “All Filters” to find the “Author Company” filter. Add all of your target companies to this filter. This will give you a list of all the posts related to your target role, written by people at your target companies, posted in the past week! 5. Analyze Posts & Authors Scroll through the posts. When you find one that resonates? Click the person’s profile and check to see if they post consistently (at least once / week). If they do? Bookmark their profile in your browser. 6. Leave A Value Driven Comment For each author you find that posts regularly in your target space? Leave a comment on their post recent post that is: - Supportive - Postive in tone - Offers your own take / value - Is more than one sentence Repeat for each author. 7. Rinse & Repeat Daily Every day, click through the author profiles you have bookmarked. See a new post? Leave a new comment. Repeat this process every weekday if you can. But aim to leave at least one comment / week at minimum. 8. Why This Works Content creators love engagement. By cosistently offering that in a positive way, you’re going to get on their radar. And when you’ve done this for a week or two, the likelihood of getting a “yes” to a coffee chat, or even a referral, goes WAY up. Give it a shot today! 📣 Want help turning this 7-step networking routine into a system that turns cold contacts into referrals and interviews? 👉 Book a free 30-min Clarity Call with our team and we’ll walk you through exactly how: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

B2B brands…please, please be careful who you work with on influencer marketing. B2B influencer marketing is NOT the same as B2C influencer marketing and VERY few firms have experience in this realm. As someone who sits on both sides of the table, I have a unique perspective on this. At Zen Media, we’ve been running B2B influencer marketing campaigns for over a decade. Long before it was a thing. And, as an author and keynote speaker, I’ve been tapped as an influencer for multiple brands. I see the good, the bad, the ugly. Here’s how B2B influencer marketing is DISTINCTLY different from B2C influencer marketing. 👉 The pool is smaller and they know each other. Do you know why there isn’t a massive directory of b2b influencers? Because, if you really look at it, there are only a handful of right choices for any given b2b company. And, they all talk. 👉 The best advocates for your brand do not consider themselves “influencers.” They are leaders, authors, speakers, and thought leaders. They have a following but they aren’t amassing followers. Please read that last line again. 👉 They make great influencers because they are trusted sources. I only accept 5% of the companies that ever approach me to partner because my first responsibility is to my community. Most B2B influencers are equally as picky. 👉 Anyone who works in B2B knows it’s a relationship game. You cannot approach B2B influencers in a transactional fashion. When I get a giant pitch deck from a brand laying out their campaign requirements, I immediately know they have never worked with B2B influencers. 👉 Establish a cadence. If you really want to succeed at B2B influencer marketing, look to create a cadence with influencers. The brands we’ve seen the most success with don’t do one-offs. They invite them to keynote, co-create a podcast, fireside chat with their leadership…it is a much more strategic play. 👉 You cannot micro-manage them. You want to leverage their credibility, their reach, their voice. Not have them parrot your corporate script. 👉 It’s still incredibly underrated. It’s one of the few spaces left where you can have outsized leverage. Research shows that B2B clients consider sponsored 3rd-party or co-branded content more trustworthy than content from a vendor. To make this distinction sharper, I propose calling B2B influencers what they are - advocates. Perhaps this distinction will help guide how we approach this very unique type of marketing. #b2bmarketing #b2bpr #influencermarketing #b2binsights #b2binfluencermarketing

Let’s talk about networking events I have been to many of them and conducted a few and here are 5 things people do wrong and can do better - 1. Carrying business cards and giving pitches - I find it extremely rude to just jump to selling. Understand, listen and do conversations - selling can happen later. 2. Trying to say something that’s not true - I have met so many people who in the excitement of networking lie about their numbers which is not at all required. 3. Being everywhere - I see people asking for numbers, emails and LinkedIn link and pinging everywhere, all the time. That’s too much. Just ask for LinkedIn or email to make the person comfortable. 4. Don’t try to prove something - When 2 people of meet, they can have a conversation. Agency Founders usually try to prove how their service, clients and everything is the best without realising it the other person wants to know and be pitched or not. 5. Not being an actual good connection to have - Imagine entering a networking event and helping everyone with something or the other. For example - If I offer personal branding services, I would give an audit cheat sheets (as QRs), some feedback or even a few consultations for after the event. When I am at an event, I want people to remember I helped not that I pitched. Pro tip - I also feel that quick touch cards that can transfer your details to someone’s phone are better than carrying multiple business cards. Hope this helps!

Build connections when you don’t need them, so they’re there when you do. Networking is a long‑term investment. You never know what can happen tomorrow, whether it’s a new opportunity, an unexpected challenge, or a career pivot. By cultivating relationships early, you turn strangers into allies and potential into possibility. My pro‑tip? Develop your personal value proposition. 
- List your top 3–5 strengths and concrete examples of how you’ve helped others 
- Turn each into an “I help…” statement (for example, “I help marketing teams drive engagement through data‑driven storytelling”) 
- Use these statements to guide every outreach, ensuring you’re always offering value, not just asking for favors Then start from what you know. 1. Choose 5–10 people from your alumni network, former classmates, or close colleagues 2. Send a genuine note, share an article they might find helpful, congratulate them on a recent win, or simply ask how you can support them 3. No agenda. Just curiosity and a willingness to help Next, venture into the unknown. 1. Identify people at companies you admire or in roles you aspire to 2. Do your homework: reference a recent project, article, or speaking engagement 3. Reach out with a clear, value‑first message: “I enjoyed your piece on X; as someone looking to Y, I’d love to learn how you approached Z.” And keep the momentum going. 
- Schedule quarterly reminders to check in, share insights, celebrate milestones, or ask a thoughtful question 
- Track key dates (promotions, product launches, anniversaries) so your messages feel timely Your network matters. When you need advice, an introduction, or anything really, you’ll already have authentic connections. And at the end of the day, already built connections where you can leverage the relationships > dry unknowns ‘Hey, I need help’ messages. #StephSynergy

When I started building Vavo Digital | Influencer Marketing three years back, I had the knowledge and passion for marketing, but the connections I made with influencers, brands, and fellow entrepreneurs really scaled my business. How? Instead of just throwing business pitches at influencers or brands, I took the time to connect with them on a personal level. I engaged with their content, gave genuine compliments, and showed I genuinely cared about their success. The result? They not only became partners but also became advocates, spreading the word about my agency and opening doors to new opportunities. Here's how you can start building meaningful relationships to scale your business: 1/ Forget small talk at networking events! Look for genuine connections with people who share your passion and values. 2/ Always pay it forward. We're all in this together! Success isn't just about personal achievements; it's also about lifting others up. Whether it's offering advice or sharing resources, be generous and help others succeed. 3/ Connect with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It'll broaden your horizons and bring fresh opportunities your way. 4/ Invest in long-term relationships because relationships aren't one-time deals; they're ongoing investments. Take the time to nurture connections with your clients, and team members and always keep in touch not just for business. 5/ Every interaction is a chance to learn something new. Stay humble, stay curious, and soak up knowledge from everyone you meet. There's always something to gain, whether it's from seasoned pros or fellow entrepreneurs just starting out. In short, relationship building isn't optional—it's essential. That's why I have a separate team dedicated to building relationships with influencers and brands. What's your take on relationship building in this space? #influencermarketing #marketing #agency

Answer to :"Don’t Know What to Post on LinkedIn” :: 1. Define Your Content Pillars: 📌 Growth – Build your network, attract new followers. 📌 Authority – Showcase expertise, position yourself as a thought leader. 📌 Sales – Convert leads into paying clients/customers. Example: 📌 If you're a freelance designer → Talk about branding trends (Growth), share case studies (Authority), and offer design packages (Sales). 📌 If you're a startup founder → Share lessons from your journey (Growth), industry insights (Authority), and how your product solves a major problem (Sales). 📌 If you're a career coach → Post job market insights (Growth), success stories (Authority), and promote your coaching programs (Sales). 2. Create Engaging Hooks: 📌 Growth Hook: "I started with ZERO connections. Today, my content reaches 1M+ people. Here’s how I did it." 📌 Authority Hook: "Over the past 5 years, I’ve helped 200+ businesses grow. Here are the top 3 mistakes they ALL made." 📌 Sales Hook: "How I helped a client go from struggling to get leads to closing $50K/month in sales—without paid ads." 3. Never Run Out of Content Again – Ask These Questions Ask yourself: ✅ What services do I offer? ✅ What mistakes have I made (and learned from)? ✅ What wins can I share? ✅ What do clients frequently ask me? ✅ What industry myths need debunking? ✅ What case studies can I highlight? ✅ What’s a surprising lesson from my journey? ✅ What’s the best advice I’ve ever received? Example: 📌 If you’re a freelancer, talk about how you landed your first client. 📌If you’re in tech, share a behind-the-scenes look at a product launch. 📌If you’re in sales, discuss the biggest objection you hear—and how to overcome it. Your experiences = your content goldmine. 4. Use Proven Content Frameworks Instead of overthinking, plug your ideas into these structures: 📌PAIS Framework (Pain, Agitate, Ideal, Solution) Example: ❌Pain: “Most people struggle to grow on LinkedIn.” 🔥 Agitate: “They post content but get zero engagement.” 💡 Ideal: “Imagine having inbound leads & opportunities daily.” ✅ Solution: “Here’s a 3-step framework that changed everything for me.” 📌Zero-to-Hero Framework Example: "I was rejected by 50 companies. Then I cracked a strategy that landed me a dream job in 3 months. Here’s what I changed." 📌Carousel Post Structure 1️⃣ Hook Slide: “Struggling to get engagement on LinkedIn?” 2️⃣ Context Slide: “Most people make these 3 mistakes…” 3️⃣ Breakdown Slide: “Here’s how to fix it…” 4️⃣ Results Slide: “What happened when I applied this…” 5️⃣ CTA Slide: “Follow for more LinkedIn tips!” 📌 Cheat Sheet Format 🎯 Pick one topic. 🎯 Use simple, actionable tips. 🎯 Keep the design clean (max 2 fonts) 5. Final Tip: Show Up Consistently You don’t need a viral post to win on LinkedIn. You need consistency. Post value, engage with your audience, and trust the process. #linkedin #linkedintips #personalbranding

I did 0 cold outreach in the last 15 months and signed 35+ B2B deals using just LinkedIn (@ $20k+ ACV) Steal my 6-step playbook and you can do it too: 1. Profile Optimization My profile is my nr. 1 landing page. And like all landing pages, I want to clearly state who I help and how I help them. So, I optimized my... ... Headline ... Banner ... Featured Section ... About Me ... to call out B2B founders and executives & show that I can help them achieve their desired outcomes. With an optimized profile, I built the: 2. Content Archetype The Content Archetype is how I generate new post ideas that consistently attract my ideal audience. It's built using 4 pillars: - Tactical: subject-matter how-tos - Aspirational: stories of ICP success - Insightful: analyzing trends/news & adding my 2 cents - Personal: personal updates & BTS A mix of these pillars keep my content authentic, build credibility in my niche, and provide value to my audience. Now I'm ready to ramp up my: 3. Content Engine My Content Strategist asks me Archetype-inspired questions during our weekly content call. He then repurposes this recording into LinkedIn post drafts I edit, approve, and publish. This is how I post 3x/week on my account. 4. Target Engagement My Content Strategist and I brainstorm 10 - 15 thought leaders who attract a similar ICP as I do. I then write insightful comments under their posts every day. This expands my digital surface area and allows me to be seen by more potential clients. Speaking of visibility… 5. Network Expansion I send up to 100 connection requests (the weekly limit) to our ICP list. In my case, that's B2B founders and executives. It increases the likelihood that these people see my content and land on my profile. It also serves as the foundation to go into outreach when needed. And finally (most people forget this part): 6. Account Routine Every day I spend 15-30 minutes going over my: • Connection requests • Profile viewers • Content interactions. If they match my ICP, I ask how I caught their attention (see my previous post for more details.) Often a simple, non-salesy welcome message is all you need to turn attention into conversations, and ultimately conversions. It works like a charm :) -- That's my 6-step LinkedIn playbook. You might not close exactly 35 deals in the next 15 months… …but I promise it'll help you bring in sales opportunities. Without the cold outreach. Anything you'd add? #personalbranding #contentengine #demandgen  

I’ve had over 20M views on my LinkedIn in the last 18 months. When people hear that, they assume that’s why noticed. has grown so fast. But what truly drove growth were these 3 things we’ve been doing in the background ⤵️ 1/ Launching Creative ABM Campaigns (Every 6 Weeks) Every 6 weeks we sit as a team and come up with creative ideas to get the attention of our ideal clients. That has led to us: - Sending 25 wax sealed envelopes to Monzo - Printing a 7-foot sign and hand delivering it - Or even faking a kidnapping (don’t ask) Some have been out there, others more simple. Either way, these have been massively successful for driving new business. —— 2/ Constantly Retargeting With LinkedIn Outreach Anyone who fits our ICP that: - Views my profile - Engages with content - Views our website (we use RB2B to track this) Gets targeted directly with outreach via LinkedIn or email. The views are great for getting attention, but it's this backend system that has drove a disgusting amount of new clients for us over the years. —— 3/ Going Multi-Channel In 2011, Google released a research study that showed prospects (on average) need 11 touch points across 4 channels before they convert to a customer. Over the last year we focused heavily on increasing our distribution channels to get closer to 11 touch points. Now, we target prospects across 5 core channels: - LinkedIn Outreach - Email - Direct Mail - Ads - Social content Going multi-channel has massively increased the avg. size of our pipeline and been a huge factor in our recent growth. ——— Don’t get me wrong, the views on LinkedIn clearly played a part here. But what really drove our growth has been: 1/ Deeply understanding our ICP 2/ Crafting creative campaigns to get their attention 3/ Targeting them across multiple channels Easier said than done, but this is simply what's been working for us. P.S. Do you find posts like this useful? I'm trying to share more behind the scenes insights into what we're doing. Let me know if it's worth me sharing more.

How Do I Get Noticed by Recruiters Before I Even Graduate? 🚨 Recruiters don’t wait for placement season and neither should you. Your LinkedIn profile is often your first impression, long before you apply for a role or send a resume. The good news? You don’t need a long list of internships or a perfect GPA to stand out. If you want to stand out, all you need is clear, consistent and intentional PERSONAL BRANDING. Because while qualifications get you shortlisted, - It’s your personal brand that makes you discoverable. - It’s your clarity and curiosity that make people remember you. Now the question is: how do you do it right? 🔹1. Optimize Your Headline. Instead of a generic: “Student at XYZ University” Try something like: “Aspiring Marketing Strategist | Final-Year BBA Student | Passionate About Branding & Digital Campaigns” This kind of headline communicates: - Who you are - What you’re studying - Where your interests lie Keep it clear and aligned with your career goals. 🔹2. Make Your ‘About’ Section Work for You. This is your opportunity to go beyond your resume and tell your story. A well-written About section should answer: - What are you currently doing? - What fields or roles are you interested in? - What value or curiosity do you bring? Example: “ I’m a final-year BBA student passionate about the intersection of creativity, consumer behavior and strategy. With a strong interest in brand building and digital marketing, I’ve worked on academic projects focused on market research and social media strategy. I’m actively exploring roles where I can combine data-driven thinking with creative execution to solve real-world marketing challenges. 🔹3. Post Consistently. Posting regularly helps you show up and stay top of mind. Here's what you can share: - Project summaries - Key takeaways from events or webinars - Tools you’re learning - Internship experiences 🔹4. Engage Consistently and Intentionally Before you send a connection, request or ask for guidance, engage with the person’s content. - Leave thoughtful comments - Repost with insights - Ask meaningful questions Remember: People notice people who notice them. Personal branding isn’t about followers, it’s about being findable. Be clear. Be consistent. Build your personal brand today, so opportunities can find you tomorrow. #PersonalBranding #CareerTips #StudentSuccess #LinkedInTips #CareerGrowth #JobSearchTips

Your LinkedIn network looks full But it feels empty. You don’t need more contacts. You need real ones that reply, refer, and root for you. But here’s what most people do: → Connect → Forget → Ghost → Repeat Then wonder why no one shows up when it matters. Truth? Connections ≠ Community Followers ≠ Friendships Likes ≠ Leverage Your network is your real ROI. But only if you nurture it. Here’s how to stop building a ghost town and start building a reputation engine 👇 1️⃣ Show up without pitching ↳ Comment. Celebrate. Ask questions. Not to get—but to give. 2️⃣ Host tiny calls ↳ One honest convo > 10 clever posts. Trust is built face-to-face. 3️⃣ Collaborate for the win ↳ Don’t “network.” Build win-win projects with people who align. 4️⃣ Give value in real-time ↳ Go live. Share frameworks. Teach what you’ve learned—even if it’s messy. 5️⃣ Join smart circles ↳ Find peers, not just prospects. Proximity = perspective shift. 6️⃣ Be the first to help ↳ Before you pitch, ask: “What’s something they need that I can solve fast?” Because reach doesn’t build relationships. Real effort does. Repost ♻️ this to help someone stop ghosting their network. Follow →Muskan Rathod & Maverick Digitals for content that actually helps. Tag someone you'd actually want to reconnect with this week. #DigitalMarketing #LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #LinkedInGrowth #Marketing #Entrepreneurship #ContentStrategy #NetworkingTips