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2. Host events.
former work colleagues, classmates and neighbors that we typically stay in contact with less frequently throughout the years. There are probably more of these people than we initially remember, so use these categories to jog your memory of people you enjoyed meeting, working with or otherwise wished to keep in your circle of friends:
• Teachers, mentors, trainers or other experts we’ve worked with in the past
• Business leaders in related industries, professional associations or trade groups
• Professionals or experts you hire, like your doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.
• Community leaders, social groups, local charities, and political organizations
By collecting your starting database to about 150 people who would “not hesitate to take your call,” you create a solid foundation for people who can work with you, refer you, advise you or otherwise support your career.
Stretch Out. The next layer of your database should consist of “friendly acquaintances” in your sphere of influence. These are people you don’t currently engage beyond a casual conversation. Nowadays you can find a fairly good number of such acquaintances in your social media accounts, but be specific. Don’t just import the whole list of people who have connected with you: Your database should be a carefully cultivated list of relationships that can “matter” to your career. Include contacts who more frequently engage with you, such as those who consistently “like” your postings in Facebook or Instagram, or people who regularly comment on your content. Better still, focus on people who frequently “amplify” your message by sharing or reposting your message to others. They are already inclined to pass along your contributions, in a way already “referring” you casually to their sphere of influence. They may be relationships you can work on to strengthen to a point where they may do business directly with you, or at least refer you professionally as well as personally to their own network of friends.
In fact, social media is a great way to grow your network and generate new contacts for your database, but it’s important to remember that