How C-Suite leaders can boost their influence through creation-driven intentional networking
As an introvert, do you struggle with networking at events and conferences? Do you want to learn how to build real business connections through intentional networking?
As a sales executive, Ben Albert was furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had to find a way to replace his income and continue building his career. As an introvert, he found it challenging to attend networking events and conferences, let alone virtual ones. However, he discovered a solution that helped him overcome his networking anxiety and built real business connections. In this episode, Ben shares his experience and how it helped him build his personal brand and connect with potential clients.
In the episode, Ben discusses the benefits of podcasting for personal and professional growth, the importance of intentional networking, and how to build relationships through content creation and collaboration. Ben also shares tips on engaging with your audience, using podcasting as a marketing channel, and building a personal brand. Tune in to learn more about intentional networking and how it can help you grow your business.
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About Ben Albert
Ben Albert hosts the podcast network “Real Business Connections,” comprising five shows catering to different listening needs. He successfully built his personal brand through podcasting during the COVID-19 pandemic and shares tips on how others can do the same. Ben is passionate about networking and building real business connections, and he overcame his struggles with virtual networking events as an introvert.
Ben believes in keeping things simple and personable in communication and suggests that businesses should survey their current clients to understand their needs and develop solutions accordingly. Through his podcasts, Ben aims to build relationships with guests and learn from their experiences while providing value to his listeners.
Here’s an overview of what Ben had to share:
Build a personal brand through podcasting.
In today’s digital age, establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry is essential for professional success. And one of the most effective ways to achieve this goal is through podcasting. Sharing your expertise and insights through this medium can help you gain credibility, increase visibility, and generate new business opportunities – all while building a personal brand that sets you apart from the competition.
Ben Albert’s story is an excellent example of how podcasting can help you achieve these goals. When he was furloughed from his sales executive job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned to podcasting to stay connected with other professionals in his industry. Through his podcast, Rochester Business Connections, he connected with business owners in his hometown of Rochester, New York, and learned from experienced professionals. This helped him establish himself as a thought leader in the marketing industry and allowed him to gain a following and generate new business opportunities. Eventually, he even launched his podcast network, Real Business Connections.
Podcasting is a fantastic tool for building a personal brand because it provides a platform to showcase your expertise and share your insights with a broad audience. By creating valuable content that resonates with listeners, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and gain the visibility and credibility you need to succeed. Ben Albert’s story is a testament to the power of podcasting, demonstrating how it can be a game-changer for anyone looking to build a personal brand and achieve success in the business world.
Simplify and listen to clients.
Ben’s experience teaches us two valuable lessons: simplify your message and communicate with clients straightforwardly and relatable. Ben’s strength is avoiding jargon and complex language that may confuse his clients. By doing so, he establishes trust and credibility with his clients.
Listening to clients is vital to developing solutions that meet their needs. By surveying current clients and seeking their feedback, businesses can create effective solutions tailored to their clients’ perspectives and needs. This approach fosters better relationships with clients and leads to more successful outcomes.
Podcasting is a fantastic tool for achieving these goals. Through podcast hosting, professionals can connect with their target audience and establish themselves as experts in their field. The conversational approach of podcasting helps to build trust and credibility with listeners. Additionally, podcasting provides a platform for networking and building relationships with industry professionals.
Ben’s story highlights the importance of simplicity and client feedback when building a personal brand and generating business opportunities via intentional networking. Podcasting can be a powerful tool for achieving these goals, allowing professionals to connect with their target audience and establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry. Professionals can create effective solutions and build lasting client relationships with these lessons.
Podcasting is about building relationships.
Podcasting is all about creating relationships, according to Ben Baker, a marketing consultant who emphasizes this point in his podcasting efforts. Ben views podcasting as a sales tool and a platform for showcasing his guests while establishing relationships with them. His strategy has proven successful, as he now has a network of six shows that cater to varying audiences and preferences.
Ben’s philosophy is simple: podcasts should provide value to the listener rather than just promoting oneself. Ben can establish trust and credibility with his audience by creating content centered on the guest and their experiences. This approach works especially well in relationship-based industries where trust and credibility are crucial for success.
Podcasting offers the opportunity to build relationships with both guests and listeners, according to Ben. Podcast hosts can position themselves as industry thought leaders by engaging in thoughtful conversations and providing valuable insights. This can lead to referrals and new business opportunities, as guests and listeners are more likely to recommend a trusted source to others.
However, according to Ben, building relationships through podcasting requires patience and dedication as it is a long-term game. The key is to show up prepared, ask thoughtful questions, and provide value to the listener. By doing so, podcast hosts can establish themselves as reliable sources of information and build a loyal audience over time.
In addition to building relationships, Ben stresses the importance of creating a network of shows that cater to different audiences and preferences. This allows listeners to gain value whichever way they prefer, whether through a monologue, a panel discussion, or easy-to-implement business tips. By catering to different audiences, podcast hosts can establish themselves as versatile and knowledgeable sources of information.
Ben’s story highlights the importance of simplifying one’s message and listening to clients when building a personal brand and generating business opportunities. Podcasting can be a powerful tool for achieving these goals, allowing individuals to connect with their target audience and establish themselves as industry thought leaders. By following Ben’s example and focusing on simplicity and client feedback, professionals can build strong relationships with their clients and succeed in their business endeavors.
Build relationships through content creation.
Ben’s podcast is focused on creating relationships with his listeners through content creation. He understands the importance of connection and providing valuable information to his audience. His podcast serves as a platform to connect with guests and reach a wider audience.
Ben’s approach to podcasting is holistic and centers around his audience’s needs. His content is like a delicious buffet, where listeners can choose the most relevant information. By understanding his audience’s needs, Ben creates engaging and informative content that keeps his listeners returning for more.
Ben started his podcast to learn from successful business leaders and gain industry insights. By establishing relationships with his guests, he created a network of valuable contacts that could help him achieve his goals. This approach has proven successful as he continues to attract high-level guests to his podcast.
Ben’s content creation strategy is about building his brand and showcasing his expertise. He positions himself as a thought leader in his industry, providing valuable insights and advice to his listeners. This approach helps him attract new clients and build his reputation as a trusted advisor.
Ben’s success results from his willingness to learn from others and consider their feedback. Each conversation is an opportunity to grow and create resonating content for his audience. He truly understands the importance of delivering value to his listeners.
Overall, Ben’s story is a testament to the power of building relationships through content creation. By focusing on his audience’s needs and establishing relationships with successful business leaders, Ben built a successful podcast and established himself as a thought leader in his industry. His approach to content creation is a valuable lesson for anyone looking to make a name for themselves in their industry.
Engage your audience through call-to-actions.
Engaging with his audience is a crucial aspect of Ben’s approach. He understands that more than creating content alone is required to capture his audience’s attention. Therefore, Ben encourages his listeners to take action and engage with him in different ways. For example, he invites them to submit questions for his podcast or ask for feedback on social media. By doing so, Ben can establish stronger relationships with his audience and create a more dynamic dialogue that keeps them returning.
For instance, Ben utilizes email marketing to gather questions for his podcast. By reaching out to his email list, he encourages his listeners to submit questions that he can answer on the show. This engagement customizes his content to his audience’s interests and allows his listeners to hear their questions answered, creating a loyal following that feels heard and valued.
Moreover, Ben is always willing to ask for feedback and engage with his listeners regularly. He acknowledges that building genuine relationships takes time and effort. Therefore, he proactively reaches out to his audience by asking for feedback on social media or responding to their messages and comments. This approach helps him build stronger relationships with his audience and foster a loyal following that trusts and values his content.
Ben’s approach to content creation and audience engagement provides valuable insights for anyone looking to promote their personal brand and establish themselves as a thought leader. By focusing on his audience’s needs and engaging with them through call-to-actions, he has created a successful podcast and a strong personal brand that resonates with his followers. These principles help content creators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders build stronger relationships with their audience and create more engaging content that keeps their followers returning for more.
Creation-driven networking builds relationships.
Networking expert Ben understands that networking is not just about exchanging business cards but about creating value. He advocates for creation-driven networking involving four key elements: create, content, collaborate, and network. Creating valuable content and collaborating with others allows you to establish meaningful relationships based on shared values and goals instead of superficial connections.
One example of this approach is Ben’s innovative panel format podcast, where he invites experts from different industries to discuss various topics. Through this collaborative effort, Ben builds relationships and creates an informative and engaging platform for his audience.
Overall, Ben’s creation-driven networking strategy is a valuable lesson for anyone seeking to establish themselves as a thought leader or build stronger connections with their audience. By focusing on creating something valuable with others, you can develop deeper connections and create engaging content that resonates with your audience. So, whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to expand your network or a content creator seeking to build an engaged audience, Ben’s approach is undoubtedly worth considering.
Softly suggest sharing with friends.
One of the most impressive aspects of Ben’s approach is his gentle call to action. Rather than pushing for sales or aggressively promoting his services, he encourages listeners to share his podcast with others if they find it helpful. This refreshing approach helps to build a community around his podcast and establish Ben as a trustworthy source of information and insights.
By urging his audience to share his podcast with friends, Ben can attract new listeners and increase the popularity of his content. This gentle approach to promotion aligns perfectly with Ben’s creation-driven networking strategy, which involves collaborating with others to create valuable content and build deeper connections.
Adopting a gentle call to action and focusing on creating something truly valuable can lead to a more engaged audience and a stronger community. By fostering a sense of community, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and create content that truly resonates with your audience.
Podcasting develops soft skills.
Podcasting is not only a great way to learn new things, but it’s also an excellent tool for developing your soft skills. Whether you’re a host or a guest, it requires clear and concise articulation of thoughts, which helps to improve your communication abilities. But that’s not all.
Speaking on a podcast can also help you polish your public speaking skills in a way that no other medium can. It allows you to practice your delivery, tone, and pacing, which can translate into better presentations and speeches in other settings.
Podcasting is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network and build relationships with guests or other podcast hosts. Not only does this help you improve your networking skills, but it could also lead to new opportunities and connections in your industry.
Brainstorming ideas for podcast episodes is a great way to exercise your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can help you to think more creatively and innovatively in other areas of your life, such as work or personal projects.
Creating a podcast requires discipline, planning, scheduling, and producing episodes regularly. This helps you improve your time management and organization skills and your ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. So, whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or brand new to the scene, there’s always something to learn and ways to improve. In conclusion, podcasting is an excellent tool for developing soft skills and becoming more effective communicators, collaborators, and thought leaders in any industry.
There is no key to success to intentional networking but rather a combination lock.
The podcast episode conveyed a fascinating idea – success is like a combination lock, not a single key. According to the guest, Ben Baker, each person has their unique combination to success, and it’s up to them to figure out what works for them. This metaphor isn’t just applicable to business but can be applied to many aspects of life. It reminds us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to success, and each person has a unique path to follow. This can be incredibly empowering, allowing individuals to focus on their strengths and passions instead of trying to conform to someone else’s idea of success.
Baker stresses the importance of building the right skills and surrounding oneself with mentors. This is a crucial aspect of the combination lock to success. Seeking guidance and learning new skills can help individuals create their unique combination, ultimately increasing their chances of success. By doing so, they can unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.
This message is particularly relevant in the context of podcasting. Podcasts are valuable for learning from experts in various fields and connecting with like-minded individuals. By listening to podcasts and engaging with the content, individuals can expand their knowledge, broaden their horizons, and build their network, contributing to their unique combination to success.
In conclusion, the idea that success is like a combination lock is a valuable reminder that everyone has their unique path to follow. Building the right skills and surrounding oneself with mentors can help create this combination. Podcasts are an excellent tool for developing these skills and building a network, making them an invaluable resource for anyone looking to unlock their combination to success. So explore the vast world of podcasts, and create your unique combination to succeed!
Some areas we explore in this episode include:
- The importance of intentional networking and the power of creation-driven networking
- Overcoming networking anxiety and building real business connections
- Engaging with your audience and building relationships
- Using podcasting as a marketing channel to better understand clients’ goals and needs
- Using podcasting as a relationship-building tool to gain clients
- Building micro relationships and audiences for podcasts
- Building a personal brand through podcasting
- Building your audience through content repurposing and personal branding
- The value of podcasting in building relationships and trust through thought leadership
- Building thought leadership through networking and the benefits of podcasting for personal and professional growth
- And much, much more.
Listen to the episode
Related links and resources
- Check out Real Business Connections
- Learn more from Darin Dawson – Personalized Video Email: How to Craft And Drive Networking Growth
- Learn more from Indus Khaitan – Mastering Tech Spend Reduction with Quolum’s Indus Khaitan: Embracing Curiosity and Persistence in Problem-Solving and Product Direction
- Discover more from Kevin Snow – How to Shorten The Sales Cycle And Drive Growth Easily
- Learn more from Brynne Tillman – Social Selling on LinkedIn: How to Simply Drive Growth Fast
- Check out the article – The Smart CIO’s Guide to Tech Thought Leadership: Boost Your Influence
- Check out the article – 13 Ways Business Leaders Can Grow a LinkedIn Network
- Learn more from Colt Briner – How to Use Purpose-Driven Practices to Drive Sustainable Business Growth
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