Use the "Dream 100" strategy to connect with influencers.

If you're only 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, connecting with thought leaders within your own niche should be a cinch. Get connections from your contacts by using the Dream 100 strategy.

Joe Fier of The Hustle and Flowchart Podcast calls it the "Dream 100" strategy, and says it has been crucial to the growth of his network. The idea is simple. Create a Google Sheet listing 100 people who you'd like to be connected with — both low-hanging fruit and longshots. At the top, explain what the sheet is for, who you are, and the best way to connect. Here's Joe's list as an example. Then, link to the sheet from your signature in Gmail or Google Workspace. Joe's link says, "Our Dream 100 list. Know anyone?" Now, the first email that you send someone will display a preview of the sheet prevalently in the email. And since it looks a bit like an attachment, the recipient is likely to check it out. In Joe's case, between two and four people try to connect him with someone on the list every week.