Blogalicious provides a space for multi-cultural influencers to connect, collaborate and create content. It’s three-day conference recently hit Atlanta with a powerful lineup of panelists and presenters. This was definitely the place to be if you’re looking to build a successful blogging business.
But, it’s more than that.
Blogalicious left no stone unturned, with tons of topics for attendees to choose from. One presentation, in particular, was led by Jennifer Smith, CEO of PersonalElevation.com. Her tagline: “if you’re so great, how come nobody knows you are?” perfectly sums up her presentation, while seeking to build our portfolios, we must also focus on building our name and our network. From just a short chat, we gleaned five tangible tips to elevate your influence:
Take a personal brand audit
Self-awareness is a critical part of your success. In order to truly grow and evolve you must know where you’re starting from. By asking your inner circle specific questions about how they see you, you can better assess your strengths and weaknesses. If you notice similarities among your circle — you know you’re on to something.
Host a dinner party
Many times when we plan a party, we invite all of our favorite friends. Jennifer suggests trying something different! Instead of inviting people you’re already familiar with, ask a few strangers to attend. Your guest list should include people you want to get connected to.
Survey your circle
You may know tons of people, but how effective is your network? Who do you know and who knows you? Who are your brand ambassadors (the people who are out in the world telling others about you) and do you have a personal board of advisors whose opinion you value? While you’re taking your survey, it’s important to include yourself as well. Really take a close look and find out if you’re adding value to your circle.
Upgrade your influences
If you want to get to the next level, you have to start playing at that level. The best way to do this is by socializing with people who are where you want to be. You can do this by attending conference/networking events, finding a mentor or joining a professional organization.
Create a stakeholder communication plan
In order to truly nurture your new relationships, it’s important to create a communication plan. This is especially important when your goal is to get close to powerful people who are more than likely pretty busy. This way you can easily track who you’ve reached out to, what their response was and when you should reach out again.
One of the worst things you can do is be popular with no power. It’s time to elevate your influence so that you can increase your income! Blogalicious is definitely a must-attend event for aspiring digital leaders.
