Can you share an example of how you've used social media to build relationships with industry influencers or thought leaders? What was the outcome of your efforts?

Question

Navigating the world of social media influencers can be a daunting task for businesses. This article provides practical strategies for building meaningful relationships with influencers across various platforms. Drawing from expert insights, it offers real-world examples that demonstrate how to create authentic connections and leverage them for mutual success.

Derek Pankaew · Answer

One of the most effective ways I've built relationships with influencers wasn't through the typical "brand deal outreach" approach. Instead, I spent time on TikTok immersing myself in the StudyTok niche—commenting on videos, duetting clips, and stitching reactions in ways that genuinely added value. I wasn't promoting my company, just riffing on their study hacks or sharing my own take on productivity struggles.
What surprised me was how quickly those creators noticed. When you engage on their turf in a way that feels authentic, they actually start responding back. Over time, some of them began DMing me directly, and those casual conversations turned into collaborations. One creator I built rapport with this way ended up posting a short video demo of Listening.com, which drove thousands of new visitors in a single weekend.
The key outcome wasn't just exposure—it was trust. By showing up as part of the community rather than an outsider trying to "leverage influencers," I built real relationships. And that trust is what made their recommendations land with their audience, because it didn't feel like an ad.

Kelsey Farrar · Answer

One of my goals over the past five years has been building a podcast to grow my online presence. Social media has made it incredibly easy to connect with top entrepreneurs and thought leaders, often with nothing more than a simple direct message (DM). The podcast has given me a reason to reach out, a platform to feature them, and a way to build real relationships. Not only have I learned a ton from the insights they've shared, but it has also opened doors to new opportunities, grown my online presence, and built authority, which is crucial in 2025. The key has been offering genuine value first by giving them exposure and a great interview before ever asking for anything in return. That reciprocity has made the relationships authentic and long-lasting.

Vikrant Bhalodia · Answer

We've used LinkedIn mainly as a way to talk with people who shape opinions in our field. Instead of sending connection requests with pitches, we started by showing up in their discussions. Sometimes that meant a short comment, sometimes sharing a small example from our experience. Nothing too formal.
Over time, a few of those interactions turned into real conversations. One of them even led to an invite for a virtual panel where we could share our perspective with a broader audience. That opportunity came because the relationship felt natural, not transactional.
The result was more trust in our expertise and a few warm introductions that turned into client conversations. What stood out to me was this: when we focus less on pushing content and more on joining conversations with honesty, people respond. It is slower than ads, but the relationships last longer.

Erwin Gutenkunst · Answer

Hello,
I've built some of my most profitable industry relationships by ignoring the conventional "cold DM" approach and instead turning public social interactions into genuine collaborations. For example, when a renowned landscape architect posted about struggling to source reclaimed French limestone for a Malibu estate, I didn't pitch immediately. I shared a quick video in the comments showing rare slabs we had in inventory. That one visible, value-first interaction led to a direct message, a site visit, and eventually a six-figure supply contract. The lesson: influence is built in public before it moves to private. By making the exchange useful for everyone watching, you gain both the client's and the crowd's trust, turning one relationship into a pipeline of inbound leads from their network.
Best regards,Erwin GutenkustCEO, Neolithic Materialshttps://neolithicmaterials.com/

Chris Kirshenboim · Answer

I've had great success using Instagram to build relationships with local real estate influencers by sharing behind-the-scenes videos of our property transformations. When I posted a time-lapse renovation of a severely distressed property in St. Louis that we turned around in just 17 days, it caught the attention of a prominent local real estate coach. What started as a simple comment exchange evolved into monthly strategy sessions where we now refer business to each other. He's sent us four motivated sellers this year alone who needed a quick, hassle-free solution rather than a traditional listing.

Nick Elo · Answer

I've found LinkedIn to be my secret weapon for connecting with real estate thought leaders, especially in the Las Vegas market. When I shared an in-depth post analyzing how property renovation costs had shifted post-pandemic, with specific examples from our flips, it caught the attention of a prominent local developer. What started as a comment exchange evolved into regular coffee meetings where we now strategize on upcoming projects. This relationship has directly led to three off-market acquisition opportunities I would have never found otherwise, all because I shared genuine insights rather than just promotional content.

Yunna Takeuchi · Answer

Forging relationships with travel influencers required a shift from mere outreach and promotion to genuine cultural collaboration. (Co-founder/CXO City Unscripted) Instead of typical sponsored content opportunities, I invited these thought leaders to explore authentic neighborhood discoveries alongside our local guides. When approaching Rick Steves about our Florence guide and his extensive experience with artisan traditions, we focused on cultural education benefits rather than marketing assistance. We collaboratively developed an article exploring how our guide deepened our respect for the tribal clan work of traditional leather crafting, to which he had a hereditary connection. By doing so, we ensured that the broad audience reading its pages included any "cultural learning itinerant" attracted not only by exotic destinations but also by journalistic credibility.
This connection grew through regular interaction — I would comment on their long-form pieces about authentic European travel, my comments reflecting deeply thoughtful insights about the importance of stewardship and local community ties. These values subtly aligned with their editorial mission. Instead of making a sales pitch, I shared stories demonstrating how our guides help protect traditional neighborhoods and sustain local artisan families. This approach resonated with influencers seeking travel content with deeper meaning, beyond simple destination promotion. The focus must be on connecting with influencers authentically by contributing reliable advice and subject-matter expertise to their current content. From there, we pitched partnerships aligned with their editorial mission, telling genuine cultural stories that are relevant and relatable to the audiences they inspire, rather than pursuing more traditional marketing collaborations.

Eric Elkins · Answer

For a fintech client, we worked to compile a list of thought leaders in the embedded payments industry — both high-level executives at prospect companies and journalists/media/industry professionals on LinkedIn with credibility, a following, and a point of view. When people on our target list posted or published compelling content that was relevant to our client's audiences (decision-makers within certain industries), we would re-share their insights and tag them as sources — showing appreciation for their ideas and expertise while at the same time providing value to our client's LinkedIn followers.
Getting our client on the radar of these thought leaders and influencers by sharing their content led to outcomes like new business leads, cross-promotion, media hits, and invitations to reach out for interviews.

Chris Mignone · Answer

Chris Mignone here. I've built relationships with estate lawyers and financial advisors through authentic Facebook storytelling about complex solutions. When I detailed how we navigated a recent case with heirs stuck in probate court--turning a contested property into cash in under two weeks--it resonated with a prominent estate attorney who messaged me. Now we partner closely: she refers families needing closure to our win-win approach, and we've collectively resolved 22 distressed property cases just this year through this connection.

Anthony Warren · Answer

I actively engage with local real estate thought leaders on Facebook by sharing success stories from my military transition into investing. When I posted about how my Army discipline helped me close 15 deals in my first year, a prominent Tennessee investor reached out to discuss veteran-specific challenges in real estate. That conversation led to me speaking at his monthly meetup, which generated three new wholesale deals and established me as the go-to investor for military families facing PCS moves in the Clarksville area.

Matt Bowman · Answer

For our reputation company, what we do is we select an exceptional customer testimonial (such as one that articulates the true value of the product or service) and then share it on social media, asking for people's opinions. Instead of just sharing the review, we tag a key individual at the company (typically the founder, CEO, or head of customer experience). It is an easy way to respond while also expanding our audience by allowing that individual to jump in and share their feedback with a wider following.
We did this for a client, and the CEO we tagged shared it with a personal note from the customer. One single action, and that post managed to double its reach overnight, sparking a flood of comments by potential buyers with inquiries. This creates a natural loop when genuine customer praise is turned into a public pat on the back for leadership, connecting the brand, the client, and important people in the industry to build trust and get noticed.

Paul Myers · Answer

Instead of chasing individual influencers, I focus on empowering my referral network through social media. I share simple posts in local real estate groups on Facebook, breaking down my 'Triple Dip' strategy, which shows agents how they can earn commission from both sides of a single deal with us. This approach has led to me being invited into brokerages to train their agents, which has become my single biggest source of win-win deals and has built my reputation as a trusted partner in the Augusta community.

Casey Ryan · Answer

Coming from an engineering background, I treat social media as a data source for building relationships. I noticed a key Las Vegas influencer discussing acquisition strategies in a private Facebook group, so I messaged him directly to share some key performance data from our targeted SMS campaigns. He was impressed by the systematic, data-driven approach, which led to a partnership where we now combine his network with my marketing systems to find off-market deals.

Ahmed Yousuf · Answer

We developed a strategic partnership with Jasmine, a well-known influencer in the perfume industry, to enhance our social media presence and industry connections. Our approach involved collaborative content creation where Jasmine provided high-quality visual assets and promoted our brand across her established social platforms. This collaboration significantly increased our engagement metrics and created valuable networking opportunities within the beauty sector. The most notable outcome was the organic ripple effect, where fashion and beauty websites began featuring our products and providing backlinks to our digital properties. This partnership demonstrated the power of authentic influencer relationships in expanding brand reach and establishing credibility within the industry. The success of this initiative has become a blueprint for our ongoing influencer relationship strategy.

Lindsey Wolf · Answer

Over the past two years, I've utilized the Aspire platform as our primary tool for building relationships with beauty creators who have trusted audiences in our industry. The platform has allowed us to be very strategic in our outreach by specifying exact campaign requirements and targeting influencers who align with our demographic needs. We can directly email potential partners through the system and bookmark creators for future collaborations, which has streamlined our entire influencer relationship management process. This approach has proven to be both cost-effective and efficient compared to other methods we previously used. The outcome has been particularly positive as we've been able to establish ongoing partnerships with beauty thought leaders who genuinely connect with our brand values and audience.

Building Relationships With Influencers On Social Media: Real Examples

Building Relationships With Influencers On Social Media: Real Examples

Build Trust Through Authentic TikTok Engagement

Leverage Podcasts to Connect With Thought Leaders

Foster Genuine LinkedIn Conversations for Opportunities

Turn Public Interactions Into Valuable Collaborations

Share Renovation Videos to Attract Local Influencers

Provide Market Insights for Real Estate Connections

Collaborate on Cultural Content With Travel Experts

Amplify Industry Leaders' Content for Recognition

Solve Complex Cases to Impress Estate Professionals

Share Military Success Stories for Investor Outreach

Tag Leadership in Customer Testimonial Posts

Empower Referral Networks With Strategic Training

Use Data-Driven Approach for Influencer Partnerships

Create Visual Content With Beauty Industry Experts

Utilize Platforms for Targeted Influencer Outreach