E239: Creating Real Business Connections with Ben Albert

<p>So you sign into your LinkedIn account – and viola! – your inbox gets flooded with all these annoying automated and unwanted spam messages. But then you also do the same thing with your business and spam everyone. It’s a vicious cycle! (And you’re wondering why no one has ever gotten back to you.)</p> <p>In today’s conversation, Erik Cabral chats with Ben Albert, owner of Balbert Marketing and curator of the Real Business Connections Network, about connecting and building relationships – in strategic ways. Fun fact: Ben and Erik actually met on LinkedIn. They were outside of each other’s circle. But how did the magic happen? Let’s find out!</p> <p><strong>Here are some power takeaways from today’s conversation:</strong></p> <ul> <li>The power of personalizing your messages</li> <li>The concept of more equals more</li> <li>Ben’s eureka moment</li> <li>Living in alignment with your values</li> <li>Using the LinkedIn platform to build your business</li> <li>Podcast launch and guesting strategies</li> <li>How to create valuable content</li> <li>Embracing the F word and holding yourself accountable</li> </ul> <p><strong>Episode Highlights:</strong></p> <p><strong>Human-to-Human Experience vs. Transactional Automated Experience</strong></p> <p>There's nothing wrong with automating a lot of processes. But we get so much automation going on right now that we lose a bit of our humanity. That being said, this sets an opportunity for those people who are willing to take the time to craft a unique, more personal message because they truly want to connect. Therefore, treat relationships like a human-to-human experience, and not as a transactional automated experience.</p> <p><strong>The Concept of More Equals More</strong></p> <p>The concept of more equals more does make sense in certain areas. However, it doesn't work if It doesn't convert. The more you do cold calls or cold emails, the more you’re taking humanity out of it. It’s then much better to connect with fewer people with whom you know you’re going t