How can you build a professional relationship with someone you've never met?

I might go overboard but using Google and social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, X, or Facebook, I take what I can find and then 'ask' chatgpt to give me some highlights. If I can get enough data about and from the contact (their own updates), I try to get a baseline for their Myers Briggs personality. Then I can test messaging that will resonate.

Most people do some sort of Googling on a person they've never met, and are interested to engage with on a professional level. But it's important not to judge a book by it's cover. There is adventure in going in with limited knowledge, without expectations and being curious. Relationship building is about being curious to learn about one another. Also, many people are private about their personal lives on social media, and LinkedIn. So, while you can research your contact, be open to exploring and learning the things that may never be on social media to build a deep relationship.

If you're eager to establish a professional relationship with someone you haven't yet met, try initiating contact with a warm and courteous message. Express your admiration for their work and explain what inspires you to connect with them. Engage with their online content by commenting on their posts and discussing mutual interests. Consider requesting to chat with them online to gain more insight into their work. The key is to continue communicating and showing genuine interest in their endeavors, which can go a long way in building a strong work relationship, even without meeting in person.

If we need to build a professional relationship with an unknown person. First of all we know about the purpose of meeting so if we have deep knowledge of the subject then we can easily make professional relations with unknown people. We represent ourselves as friendly and respectable.

Before diving into a conversation with a stranger, delve into their digital footprint. Unearth nuggets about their passions, career trajectory, and accomplishments. Platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter are gold mines for insights. Fuse this intel with your authentic touch for a message that resonates.

Debemos tratar de encontrar puntos comunes con esas personas desconocidas. Es la mejor forma de entablar una conversación relevante. Para ello tendremos que investigar en qué circulos se mueve, qué contenidos publica en Linkedin, cuáles comparte o ante cuales reacciona

It is vital to gather information about the person before meeting. We generally use LinkedIn to do initial research. We explore the profile and see the comments and shares to get insights about them.

Take an interest in their interests. Often, people love to share information about themselves. In my opinion, this is a great way to connect with people we do not know.

Building Strong First Impressions: Be genuine and smile. Ask questions and listen actively. Find common ground and build rapport. Offer help and be supportive. Follow up and stay connected. First Impressions Matter: Build Lasting Connections with Confidence.

Show up where they are. If they are active on LinkedIn, show up - look at what groups they are in, mutual connections. Comment on their content. Learn what interests them. Start a digital relationship.

Generally, it's easy to see a "generic" reply. I "turn off" before I finish the message and quick move to delete. If you're reaching out to someone, it's important to take a moment to understand their professional perspective. Sincerely reference their work or recent posts and link your message to something relevant to this person.

Building professional relationships remotely hinges on personalized messaging and trust. Understand and align your goals with theirs, showing genuine interest in their objectives. Personalization is key; it’s about crafting messages that resonate, based on deep insights into their needs. This builds a rapport rooted in mutual respect. Trust grows through transparent, empathetic communication, proving you value their time and aspirations. Effective connections stem from shared goals, turning every interaction into an opportunity for meaningful collaboration. Always aim for a purposeful connection that benefits both sides

When reaching out to someone new, make it personal and genuine. Reference a specific detail that caught your eye about their work or profile. Speak in a friendly tone, expressing your interest and inviting them to share more. A thoughtful approach can open the door to meaningful connections.

In my view I think the first impression is very important. Especially if it´s online. Having a bot answer could be the way to go but for me if I deal with quality leads I rather have a standard message that I can send to contacts, but them ad some kind of personal touch to it before I send. It will take longer time but clients will like it more.

Plant the seed as a viable connection with insight into various information and solutions. Find common ground, and ask good questions.

I always encourage personalizing a message before you send it, otherwise there's no content for the other person to accept. In business situations, its okay to network with people in many industries, but check out their LinkedIn activity to see if they post, repost or comment. Based on those nuggets, you can personalize your request. If there are no nuggets, just be transparent with why you would like to connect to them in your message. I appreciate people who have researched what I do/what I'm passionate about and note that in their message.

1. Introduce yourself and explain your purpose in a personalized message. 2. Avoid generic or spammy content; be friendly and respectful. 3. Mention something specific you learned about them during your research. 4. Express genuine interest in learning more and invite a response. 5. Include a relevant question, compliment, or suggestion to spark conversation.

Ao aproximar profissionais nunca antes contatados, é essencial pesquisar sobre suas trajetórias e interesses publicamente disponíveis, para então destacar oportunidades de colaboração mútua em mensagem personalizada. Caso não encontre informações públicas suficientes, uma alternativa é solicitar gentilmente uma rápida chamada para conhecer melhor o trabalho e objetivos da pessoa antes de propor formas de apoio. O importante é transmitir, desde o primeiro contato, genuíno interesse em estabelecer uma relação de benefício recíproco, não unilateral. Pessoas bem-sucedidas recebem muitas abordagens e precisamos nos distinguir com intenção transparente de agregar valor mutuamente.

Crafting a truly personalized message involves going beyond basic details like names and companies. I dive into unique aspects, such as hobbies or insightful articles, demonstrating genuine interest. I offer value rather than making requests, positioning myself as a collaborator. I utilize storytelling for connection and memorability. I keep messages concise, avoiding formal language, and end with a clear call to action, suggesting the next steps. An example is provided, emphasizing specific points of interest, shared connections, and proposing a virtual coffee chat. The key is my genuine interest, offering value, and building a connection for standout and memorable messages.

I always like complimenting something about their work that others probably didn't pay attention (or at least didn't highlight). Maybe it's a particular point they've made, some small thing we have in common, or a way they approach something that I like. Often (not always) that's a good first outreach (and just a kind thing to do). As I see them share other work or as I have questions, I'll reach out. Keep that going, and you've got a good and growing professional relationship!

The biggest mistake people make with networking is not following through. Meeting someone is just the beginning - real, meaningful relationships are built over time. Follow up, follow up, follow up.

Patience is key after sending your first message. Understand that people have busy schedules, and immediate responses may not be feasible. Wait a week or two before sending a polite follow-up, reinforcing your value proposition. Avoid being pushy, but express your continued interest. If they respond, ensure to fulfill any promises you made, whether it's sharing a resource, scheduling a meeting, or offering a referral. Consistency and reliability build trust in professional interactions.

This is the most important part! After sending a personalized message, I like to thank the person for accepting. Don't sell to someone you just met. Build a relationship with them. Find common ground - maybe connections you have in common, and engage in a conversation. It's okay ask if they're interested in connecting on a call/zoom in the near future - just tell them why.

When following up on a lead - I want to give them value and great insights in my second reply. For me it´s all about them and that they can feel that they are happy to sign up for my email list. Don´t write emails every day. Stay consistent, once a week or something like this.

Your words hold no weight unless you show they can be held as concrete pillars of promises. Make statements that you can uphold as well as deliver on. If you say you will be somewhere at a specific time for a meeting or available for a call or e-mail make sure you are. Being able to converse and do business with someone you can trust sets you so much further apart than your competitors more than you would believe. Take accountability and under promise and over deliver.

In my fast-paced world, mastering follow-up is crucial. Patience is key; I give a week or two for responses. I personalize my messages, maintain a positive tone, and ensure I deliver on promises promptly. It's not just about communication; it's about building trust. Using tools like email tracking, I stay organized and adapt my strategy based on individual preferences. I've learned from each interaction, refining my approach for lasting success.

The amount of cold DM’s I get with people out the gate trying to sell is crazy. Even if you had a offer that would be valuable to me, it creates an immediate frame of distrust because you did not take the time to build a mutually beneficial relationship before looking out for your own interests. Social selling is a real skill to master and especially when wanting to build lasting B2B relationships it becomes essential.

Build relationships is about engaging authentically and providing value - whether its business or pleasure. Don't try to sell the person something or have expectations. Go into it curiosity, an open mind, and by following up and through. This all leads to trust over time and a relationship which can benefit both people in many ways - work or personal.

I often hear people talk about building professional and business relationships. But what they often fail to realise is that business relationships are transactional. Part of the Flywheel system I created helps people to have meaningful chats… This helps to build rapport, create trust and consult, not sell.

Its a bit like dating. You don't see someone you like across a bar, walk up to them and propose marriage. So why would you connect and try and sell someone a demo or product. You have to wink at them first, have a conversation, show up when it matters. BUILD a relationship first - then you can engage on a deeper level.

This is where social media campaigns fall apart. You can’t all of a sudden build trust any time you think you need it. You have to BE trusted. There are really only two ways to do this: High-value permission-based content marketing and co-branding partnerships with historically trusted organizations like well-known nonprofits. Social media marketing is inherently untrustworthy. Users are fed ad content they don’t want in an interruption context. They’re not going to trust anyone they even suspect of being a bad actor. So give up on building trust. Try being trustworthy instead. Better yet, don’t even try. Just be honest. Actually have integrity. Don’t do all the bad things companies do these days. And cultivate social proof of your virtue!

The keys are demonstrating genuine interest in them, finding common ground for rapport, and providing value through knowledge sharing. Consistent effort over time, even remotely, can gradually build a quality professional connection.

In our fast-paced world, I find success in mastering follow-up and follow-through. Patience and personalized, positive communication build trust. I ensure prompt delivery, proactive updates, and go the extra mile. Using technology, I tailor my approach, continuously learning from each interaction for lasting success. Follow-up, to me, is more than a tactic; it's a cornerstone for building trust in professional relationships.

I encourage you to always provide value without expecting anything in return. The true nation of any relationship is they take time to build, and build trust through authenticity and engagement. If you're able to help someone you don't know, do it. Provide the value, because you never know how it will come back around to you. This can be as small as answering a question on a post, or introducing them to someone, or resharing their open-to-work post.

Value and more value. Not every lead or contact will buy from you or even give you something back. But you can give something to them anyway. Give them value and they will remember you and maybe in the future get back to you or recommend you.

Professional relationships flourish on the currency of value. Prior research and recognizing mutual interests pave a smooth path to connection. A genuine intent to contribute meaningfully is paramount—after all, time is precious, and we must honor the time of others by avoiding unprepared and hollow interactions. Let's aim for interactions that enrich, engage, and resonate on both sides

The question often comes up: How do I create value? Well, in an online platform such as LI, it's actually easy, but it might take some awareness. Adding value to anyone's post -- even with those whom we know -- means keeping the focus on what they wrote, not hijacking the content and making it all about us. How? ✔️Noticie what they wrote. ✔️Mention specifics you liked in their post. ✔️Maybe repost their post to your network. ✔️Tag them in one of your own posts. Too often, we immediately jump into what we've done and shift the focus from their post to our stuff. That doesn't add much value IMHO.

Para lograr empatía es fundamental escuchar con todos los sentidos , e identificar una oportunidad donde puedas demostrar que tipo de profesional y persona eres.

We need to provide value and support in time. Show interest in them, for me, it is very important to talk to them from the beginning with the truth. I won some projects without knowing the people and my support was to be sincere and genuine.

Here again, instead of trying to figure out ways to “provide value and support” why not just BE valuable and supportive. It’s not hard. We all know, as consumers, the companies who provide value and support. For example, Apple hardware os ALWAYS a better long-term spend be ause their stuff doesn’t break and ot lasts forever. Enom, in the domain name space, is the only provider who has live native English-speaking tech support. WoolX, a clothing manufacturer, gets $1K-$2K of my money every year. Why? Thy never scree up an order. This isn’t rocket science. It may be moral science. But it ain’t rocket science. There’s a lot of money to be made in integrity.

Value is key. But sometimes, value is manifest as something simple as a "hello" or simple response. The trick is to balance what often becomes a "pick your brain" request to review a business or marketing plan. I'm surprised how quickly a request comes after a connection is made. Sometimes, people have to realize that many of us consult for a living and asking for "free" information can be off-putting.

It is positive to provide something of value though there should be no expectation for feedback, discussion, or relationship of any kind.

If connecting with you don’t know, say over LinkedIn, grow the relationship over time by commenting on their posts, and posting to allow your connections to comment on yours. Ask to meet with time in real life. Create events for a few of your connections.

I’ve been able to build several professional relationships with people I have never actually met just by being a good citizen on #LinkedIn. I’ve found people in similar industries with related passions and skills. Then I’ve consumed their content, thoughtfully commented on it and watched their professional growth. I’ve cheered them on through promotions or challenges and actually become part of the LI circle. I’ve also shared resources that would be of use and interest to them. I’ve invested time in building the relationships. Doing so has helped me build a tight, reliable network and get access to major players after moving to Israel 6+years ago and relaunching my career here.

When people ad me on LinkedIn I always send a message to them to invite them to connect more with me. That´s how I start, some of them actually became my clients later. Ask your new contacts to follow your newsletter, read your blog or anything else is a good start.

Building meaningful professional relationships, especially with those you’ve never met, boils down to a simple yet powerful ingredient: effort. It’s about wanting to connect authentically. Regularly communicate, share your progress, seek input, and identify ways to collaborate for mutual benefit.

Nothing worth doing is worth doing only once. Be consistent. Show up. Especially on social media - it's about being in the right time, at the right place, with the right people, and the right message! That's when magic happens!

1. Stay in touch regularly to maintain the relationship. 2. Update them on your progress and ask for their input. 3. Seek opportunities to collaborate, partner, or co-create. 4. Introduce them to relevant contacts and invite them to events. 5. Join their communities to foster a professional connection.

Cuando estableces una conexión con alguien que no conoces, como por ejemplo a través de LinkedIn, es beneficioso cultivar esa relación a lo largo del tiempo. Una estrategia efectiva consiste en participar activamente en sus publicaciones, proporcionando comentarios reflexivos, y compartiendo contenido relevante que invite a tus conexiones a participar en tus propias publicaciones. A medida que la relación se fortalece, considera la posibilidad de proponer encuentros presenciales para ampliar la conexión más allá del ámbito virtual. La creación de eventos específicos para algunas de tus conexiones puede ser una iniciativa valiosa para fortalecer la relación y fomentar una interacción más significativa.

Today’s world is often times in reverse. We don’t meet people or start a relationship with a handshake. Often times, we initiate relationships with a digital connection and these are some of the most powerful connections that we could have. Unhindered by geography or logistics, these relationships are the linchpin for growth and connectivity in today’s techno-centric world.

The biggest way to create a professional relationship with someone you don't know is trust. Do what you say you're going to do and do it when you say it will get done. If both sides do this and continue to build trust over time, a strong professional relationship can build fro all of that work. But you have to do the work to make it happen.

I’ve been surprised by how many of my AI community formed online through genuine curiosity and solving problems together. There are professional relationships that started online in a forum and later moved to one-on-one over Zoom. In some cases, when the connection is local, we’ve met up in person. Others, located around the world, provide valuable perspective on responsible AI adoption at a time when technology is moving faster than legislation. Relationships form organically if you approach them with respect, support, and good intentions; not from pushing a sale or service.

Don't force it. You must connect with people you have some link with: A common boss The same college A very close common associate or friend Community It's got to be built on some foundational value that's very dear to both. Else there's going to be too big a gap for anything meaningful to happen.

Initiate contact through a polite and concise email / linkedin expressing genuine interest. Mention common interests or mutual connections, and propose a specific reason for connecting, such as seeking advice or discussing shared professional goals. Be respectful of their time and maintain professionalism in your communication.

Once more, you don’t “build” relationships, you relate to people a d give them what they want. How do you find out? Ask them. I challenge ANY company, large or small, to run a campaign at scale that is just a single form field where prospective customers can ask for what they want and see the aggregation of wants in real time—along with real time response from the company and proof that it’s listening. It wouldn’t even be hard to do this. And the first company to try would get so much follow-on PR that this alone would pay for the whole thing.

"There is more pleasure in giving, than in receiving." So, with that in mind, do not prioritise yourself. Start out selfless..... and show interest in the other person. If you get past base one, then let them ask you about yourself, and what you have to offer. Do not put the cart (yourself) before the horse (the other person).

La base fundamental para establecer una relación profesional con alguien desconocido reside en la confianza. Comprométete a cumplir con tus compromisos y hazlo en los plazos acordados. Cuando ambas partes demuestran esta consistencia y trabajan de manera constante para fortalecer la confianza a lo largo del tiempo, es posible construir una relación profesional sólida sobre ese cimiento. Sin embargo, es esencial reconocer que este proceso requiere dedicación y esfuerzo continuo por ambas partes para garantizar el éxito y la consolidación de la relación profesional.

People are extremely busy (and sometimes/often overloaded) today. It is therefore becoming essential for working people to have at least the following professionals for regular consultations today and meetings with these professionals eats up large amounts of time (and cost money) not coming from work time: 1 Career Coach (coaching is for everyone) 2 Therapist (therapy is for everyone) 3 Mindfulness (mindfulness is for everyone) 4 Fitness (fitness is for everyone) Seeing one of each per week accounts for half a day in practice. Prioritizing life for wellbeing is important and not everyone has time for prolonged enthusiastic networking as that takes a lot of time too. Time is generally the most limited resource and therefore most valuable.