The #1 Top Single Best Way to Get a Meeting
A free bit of advice to anyone seeking to improve their networking skills, or looking for a true best practice in getting a meeting with someone.
And here it is:
Comment on a blogpost or article that person has written.
Simple. You already intuitively get how that can be powerful, but let’s break it down.
Note: It only works if you’re careful about a couple of items.
First, your comment HAS TO BE SPECIFIC. It has to say something relevant, intelligent and useful about the person’s blogpost or article.
That means you have to know something about who you’re trying to contact. It also means you have to give some thought to what you’re saying.
It also means you probably have to know something about what the person is writing about. Mere fawning and saying ‘great blogpost’ will get you nowhere. In fact, it will just identify you as a cheap SEO-seeking spammer.
But – if you actually ARE intentional about whom you’re seeking to connect with, if you actually DO know something about the subject in question, and if your question actually IS intelligent and thoughtful – then you will get a powerful response back.
Why? Because we all love being noticed – and because being noticed and appreciated is something in very short supply. If you doubt the power of this, just ask yourself:
- how do you feel when you put yourself out there on the webs – and no one responds?
- how do you feel when you put yourself out there on the webs – and you get a meaningful, thoughtful, inquisitive response back?
Everyone’s writing blogposts hoping to get noticed; very few people (Chris Brogan is a marvelous exception) put as much effort into noticing and commenting on others as they do into writing in the first place.
Want to connect? Start by commenting on others. For real.
Charles,
I like this post since it is important to thank the blogger for making you think and then add one point to further the discussion.
My take on why people don’t leave a comment is that it takes some time to read a blog and make a thoughtful comment. It is not that easy. On the other extreme, you also don’t want to upstage the blogger. If you feel you have more to add then write a separate blog and reference the blog post that made you think. I have done this with your posts on few occasions.
Thanks.
Charles,
I like this post since it is important to thank the blogger for making you think and then add one point to further the discussion.
My take on why people don’t leave a comment is that it takes some time to read a blog and make a thoughtful comment. It is not that easy. On the other extreme, you also don’t want to upstage the blogger. If you feel you have more to add then write a separate blog and reference the blog post that made you think. I have done this with your posts on few occasions.
Thanks.