8 Local Influencers You Need to Know

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You have seen the films featuring 1920s speakeasy bars in Chicago: A small sliding panel opens up. The guy waiting says, “Joe sent me.” The door opens and the newcomer joins the party.

This isn’t 1920s gangland Chicago and you don’t run an underground nightclub, but you want people to show up saying, “Joe sent me.” For this to happen, you need to get the attention of local influencers in your community.

If you were born after 1990, you associate the word “influencer” with social media. It became popular in the 2010s and made it into dictionaries in 2019. This use of the word “influencer” goes back much further, when people sought advice from certain people in the community. These people are still around today. They are at the center of the community. They know people who know people. When a need comes up, you want to be top of mind.

You do not need to establish a formal referral network with these people. They need to know Who you are, What you do and Why you are good.

Your objective is twofold: Get on their radar and stay there. Consider the following example: Your car is out of warranty. You need a good mechanic. You do not know any. Who would you ask for a recommendation? That person is an influencer.

In addition to not running a speakeasy bar, you do not repair cars. Your field is financial services. This involves investing, saving, lending, insurance, financial planning and other skills. Whose radar do you need to be on?

Here are eight types of people you should know.