If you’re a business owner and want to stand out in the crowd, it can feel a bit like you’re speaking into the void and . But what’s the secret to successfully leveraging your image online and offline?

Back in the day, when social media didn't exist and people were only able to interact offline, they had to build their brands the old-fashioned way — by positioning themselves as experts, making themselves the authority and the voice of reason not just in times of peace but also in crisis.

But over the last decade or so, smartphones have contributed to a blurring of the lines between online and offline channels and to be successful in today's competitive market, you can strongly benefit from a strong brand presence that reaches a large audience. One way to do this is by growing your online and offline presence simultaneously.

Social Media vs Real Life

Today, I view social media as a FREE and powerful tool used by business owners to inspire and position themselves as community connectors and experts in their fields. How awesome is that?!

But here's the catch... In the age of social media, there’s still no substitute for building real-life relationships.

Yes, putting yourself out there online is fast and practical but it doesn't mean that you should overlook "cementing" connections offline. Offline marketing is a great way to get people interested in what you have to offer and create meaningful relationships with like-minded folks. Offline is also when you truly submit that connection, becoming more memorable and powerful in areas and times of negotiation.

How to Make Connections Offline

Here are a few ideas for you to initiate and "cement" connections offline:

Forget drinks. Start your day being productive by having breakfast with people you want to network with.
Let them know you're hosting a monthly or quarterly event they might be interested in or conferences that you are both interested in going to.
Try to connect with people in a consistent way, rather than trying to "hit hard" and sell them on something. We're all social beings – we don't want someone just to connect with us for the sake of selling something.
Networking events can be intimidating if you're new to the networking scene, so try to go somewhere you know will have lots of people from your industry.

Building Your Brand and Cementing Genuine Connections

Keep in mind that genuine connections are built on trust, integrity, and sharing real-life experiences that we can somewhat relate to. The whole point of building a brand and business online and "cementing" them offline is building relationships because those relationships are what will create the foundation and sustainability for your scale over time.

Follow me at @kattorrexo and let's talk about branding, personal development, entrepreneurship, and finding ways to share your voice and story with the world.