Influence…What does that have to do with funnels?

A lot.

Because, if you’re not influencing people to engage with your content, and come into your circles, you don’t have clients.

And no clients is no Bueno for your business and then there’s no need for a funnel (which I secretly want you to have a funnel and build a huge platform with it!).

What do you need to do to be more influential and attract in more people to your funnels? I’ll break it down for you, plus at the end, I’m going to tell you the ONE key factor that measures your likeability to your audience (*HINT: This is why we either love or hate influencers and actors and actresses and how you can use it to your advantage in business).

#5 On Influence: Avoid the ‘Call out Culture’ Negativity

You know what’s worse than being caught in the fire of the ‘call out culture’? Being the one that does the call out. Think about this for a minute. Those who do the call-out are, yes, stirring the pot and in some cases, they are getting massive attention. But…they are doing it at a brand/business/person’s expense. There are repercussions to the ‘being right’ in the call out. And the repercussions are not often seen until down the road.

The ‘call-out culture’ to its core is negative. And like attracts like, negativity attracts more negativity. If you stand in your righteousness and call upon others who you perceive as wrong, you’ll attract in people, but the question then becomes…is it the people you want to attract and continue to attract? What makes you right today could make you wrong tomorrow and those people you attracted in can easily (and most likely will) turn on you.

So instead, shift what you ‘call out’ and have it be about a topic with an intention to create positive change. You can be kind by not focusing on an individual and get your point across and create a discussion around the topic. That ends up being more powerful and expansive, than the energy behind the being right of a ‘call out’.

#4 On Influence: Look for the Uniqueness in Others and Praise Them for it

You may be seeing a trend here. Positivity and light wins and here’s something else about humans that can shift you from unnoticeable to influential.

Take time to focus on someone else’s unique qualities and what makes them great and praise them for it.

A common thread for humans is the yearning to be accepted and seen. It’s innate in us. It’s tribal and that has been passed down from generation to generation. We want to be part of the whole…of the tribe.

AND…

We want to be seen for what we bring to the tribe.

If you’re in any leadership position in your life, business, and job and you’re not doing this – you are missing out on one of the biggest assets to influence.

Recognizing and praising someone for what makes them unique, special, and impactful creates a bond and a loyalty with that person. And one single person, can tell several others that you’re one to listen to and to follow.

So, the one becomes the many, and the many expands to more.

#3 On Influence: Build and Share Your Expertise

We are all an expert in something and many of use overlook and undervalue what our expertise is. Being an expert doesn’t happen overnight. Being an expert is a process. It’s a one-step to the next step and then another step after that. We BUILD expertise, just as we would a house. Foundations and structure first, then walls and interior and exterior fixtures (and for anyone who actually builds houses, I acknowledge and praise you for it and also admit that yes I’m certainly missing a step or two in the house build metaphor!).

As you continue to build, you continue to become more and more of an expert. Those who haven’t built their foundations will come to you to help them build theirs. And the best experts are the ones who are only a couple of steps ahead of their clients/followers/audience, rather than the ones who are so far ahead they struggle to relate to where their clients and followers currently are.

Quick trick if you’re wondering what you’re an expert with? Think about what you passionately research and find more information on. While being an expert doesn’t mean you have to have ALL the information, it does require you to be passionate about the information you are consuming.

#2 On Influence: Become a Witness to Others

Some days even I get this wrong. And it’s not because I’m trying to bulldozer anyone, it’s just that I’m chatty 😊 My husband knows this all too well as he has four very chatty females in his house (3 daughters plus one extroverted wife).

In a professional setting, I’m a listener and a keen one. I’m also an observer of body language. I can tell when someone is uncomfortable and when they don’t want to put a voice to something they are thinking.

Those conversations that need my expertise don’t happen with me coming in and talking at someone; they come in with me witnessing the other person and asking good questions so I can observe more. Some call this intuitiveness, others call it being a people person, and I usually refer to it as being present with an individual so you can pick up on their ‘tells’.

With business and influence, this is a must-have tool, as you can anticipate the needs of your customers this way. Yes, on an individual basis, but also on a larger group or even a large platform basis. When people feel heard, and listen to, and you show up as someone as that witness and take action by creating a solution – you’ve increased your influence exponentially.

#1 On Influence: Be a Human and Accept that you are Human

This last one ties into the #1 measure of likeability (maybe you’ve already guessed it?). I’ve often heard people say, just be who you are. And truth be told, there are times and situations where we are being who we are, even if that’s not the best version of ourselves.

I like to frame this differently. Instead of ‘be yourself’ or ‘be authentic’, instead I like to tell people to, ‘be human’ and accept that you are human.

Which means that you’re imperfect and have layers. Putting on an act and trying to be the perfect version of yourself is not only exhausting, but it misrepresents the human side of you. Instead, be open to the possibility that each day, you’re learning and discovering a new version of yourself.

Change is inevitable, and you are different today than you were yesterday because yesterday you had experiences and occurrences that you didn’t have today.

People want to hear, see, and feel the humanness in you. That’s why we love stories, that’s why we love when people show their uniqueness, and that’s why we get inspired when others overcome barriers and succeed despite the odds (the ultimate underdog stories).

And this leads me into the last piece.

The one key factor that measures likeability…

I’ve been researching this for quite some time, and it’s fascinating to understand what makes a person influential and likeable.

The #1 ingredient to likeability (that will help you be more influential) is…

RELATABILITY

Yes, those you influence, you influence by how they relate to you and how you relate to them.

It’s when you aren’t relatable that you lose likeability and influence.

• So… share your humanness
• Become a witness so you can understand how you relate to others you want to influence
• Lead passionately with areas you’re an expert in
• Discover and praise others for their uniqueness
• And be kind and positive more than you are negative.

Seems simple? Yet, this all takes practice. Acknowledge and accept you’re always in process.

How about you? Tell me some ways you either relate to the above keys to influence or even what you’ve found to support building influence in your business and life that wasn’t mentioned.

Till next time (because I can’t keep up with daily articles, lol and that’s the human in me),

Danielle

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Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America’s favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn’t just live, breath, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long lasting businesses in the online space.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser known experts and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses, so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disrupters disrupt and build with authentic influence.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America’s Favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn’t just live, breath, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long-lasting businesses in the online space.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser-known experts and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disruptors disrupt and build with authentic influence.