10 Secrets of a Super-Connector and How to Use Them for Max

Success

T.A. McCannVP of Product Strategy @Blackberry

Founder of Gist.com T.A. McCann

@tamccann

Why invest in your own social media presence?

• More connections and leads• More credibility• New solutions and tools• New ideas• Fun to know more people• Synchronicity – future things you

cannot predict now

Connect with the connectors

Align your values with others

Share with the community

Experiment with tools, process and content

Make yourself “public”

People want to follow those that seem interesting, but they can’t find you unless you take advantage of the following opportunities to build your

public presence:

• LinkedIn and other social networking sites• Speak at events on your expertise• Volunteer for related organizations

Focus on a few key areas of expertise, supported by your background and content

@tamccann

Optimize your digital environment

• Chrome (tabs)• Rapportive• FullContact• Yesware• Linkedin• Tweetdeck• Followerwonk• Feedly• Re-follow

• Timely• Cardmunch• TextExpander• RivalIQ

@tamccann

Produce social content and give credit

Generate content according to the “5:3:2” rule:• 5 posts about your space/industry/peers –

help make other people smarter• 3 posts about your product/success –

demonstrate the role you play in your industry• 2 personal – give people something to

connect to by sharing your personal side@tamccann

Social

5:3:2@tamccann

Establish yourself as a “thought leader”

Use your content and connections to help people get to know what you’re about and where you can be most helpful:

• Twitter and Twitter lists• Blog (Wordpress)• Video/audio interviews (youtube)• Retweets of other key content

@tamccann

The new influencer

• Usually has a day job, writing for passion

• Well connected and socially enabled

• Selling to other influencers as much as customers

• Easily co-opted with “first looks” and attention

• Leverage your own influence to gain theirs

@tamccann

Influence the influencers

Make valuable introductions

Contacts shouldn’t be hoarded. Everyone benefits when introductions are made, so don’t hesitate to do so when you feel one of your connections could help another.

• Email, Twitter, LinkedIn• Include why and how (contact) and what• understand success – money, jobs, status…• Rely on trust and integrity• For key contacts, join the first meeting

“Connecting people who can benefit each other is the most useful skill you can have […]” via @jaltucher

@tamccann

Go to conferences

How to maximize your participation:• Have a 30-second “elevator pitch” explanation of

your work • Review attendee and press lists so that you can

schedule meetings in advance• Watch and contribute to Twitter streams during the

conference (for example, #WorkConf)• Ask to meet up with interesting people you

encounter (ex - “@tamccann interesting thoughts on #workconf. Want to grab a coffee and chat?”)

• Take key contacts to dinner@tamccann

Experts and Advocates

Customers

Sharing info

Influencers

Sharing info

@tamccann

@tamccann

Bonus Tip – Buy drinks for friends

You know that guy at the bar who’s always surrounded by friends and contacts? Be that guy!• Follow important people on Twitter and when

you are in their towns, invite them out for drinks

• Invite another person who these digital contacts should all meet

• Host a themed dinner (e.g. Defrag dinners) that they’re sure to remember

@tamccann

Learn new thingsExperiment

Have fun