How to get Social Mention from an Expert in A field you know nothing about?

[SEODinosaur]

I have read many posts on this. However, the one thing I find challenging is getting an expert to give me a social mention. In many cases they have shared something similar in the past, and in many cases they are too busy. IMO building relationships via forums is the easiest way to find experts who will mention my site. I can engage them in a thread, and eventually take it to a Personal Messages. After building a relationship I can ask for a link or a social mention or to guest post or something.

I have attempted contacting many experts via Blogs, E-mail, Facebook, Google + etc. for many different sites, IMExperince most “Experts” (people with large followings) will not give a noob (new site w/no rankings or new user w/no following) the time of day, nor a social mention. I have read many posts on engaging experts: tag them; send them flowers; like every post; make great comments. My result… bruised lips (from kissing behinds).

I work with an SEO company, and every new site we work on seems to require a unique strategy for ranking. When we work on building relationships in fields we know nothing about, the outcome is weak. Unless we use forums.

What are some strategies that work for you? what approach do you take when you have to build a relationship with someone you cant give value to?

[EGOL]

I agree... don't try to wear the client's hat.  Big mistake.  It doesn't fit.

If you are contacting "experts" they will know that you know nothing before you finish speaking two sentences.  Get your client to schmooze them,.

[Mcarle]

If your looking for networking opportunities for your clients then you have to also educate them about the WHOLE gamut of SEO. SEO is a lot more then on page & link building, it is networking as well you need to make sure that your client knows this. You can't network for your client.

Your client needs to provide the value, you just provide the wrapper...

You make sure your client knows when others contact him/her you will get that value wrapped up tight...

I just wrote an article for an SEO guy who is working with a photography site.

He found my through a media mention & gave me value in trade. Now if I had my own SEO partner I could assign that well written article to him to write along with a heads up that the SEO must be working because people are contacting me. Woot.

Your clients need to be the experts, you just need to get that expert out in front...

[Mark_Jay_Apsey_Jr.]

Donnie-  Great post/question. Over time, what you are doing will generate results........

My grandfather use to tell me"lack of options makes for clear choices." Not a lot of options with this situation. What has worked for me in the past is doing some research in my clients business and in the "experts" area and then writing a solid article that doesn't rely so much on my expertise and experience but the research that I did.,....In the process, it allows me to quote him specifically on the subject and providing him some link juice value in my article as well as my clients (guest blog posting or something similar).  After I publish the article I send him/her a copy and let him/her know that I used his/her quote and better than 50% of the time he or she emails me back with a quick note-either thanking me or giving me more information or asking for something from me. That is my opportunity to establish a mini-relationship and ask for something and I make sure that whatever it is , it is easy for he or she to do.

Hope this helps. Make it happen!