As a financial advisor, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to business growth. One great way to do this is by leveraging Centers of Influence (COIs) in your network. COIs are people and organizations that can help you build relationships with potential clients and create brand awareness in the market. Here are seven quick tips on how to leverage COIs in 2023. 

Tip #1: Research Your Potential Partners

When you’re thinking about partnering with another company, it pays to do your research beforehand. Taking the time to learn more about any potential partners – their values, goals, and target audience – can make all the difference in how successful that relationship will be. Having an understanding of who they help ensure that you’re a good fit for each other and makes sure that your message is tailored to your partner’s target audience. Doing a bit of work beforehand can pay off dividends later by giving you the information you need to start a successful COI relationship.

Tip #2: Establish Trust

When it comes to creating successful COI relationships, trust is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and have an open dialogue about what each person expects from the partnership. At the same time, though, make sure that everyone’s expectations are reasonable and achievable. Plus, if you make any statements regarding your services or products that your partner can’t verify on their own, it’s a good idea to arm yourself with facts and figures to back up your claims. This will help build trust and demonstrate the legitimacy of your offerings.

Tip #3: Utilize Social Media

Social media can be an amazing way to connect with potential clients, so don’t miss out on taking advantage of its powers! To get the most benefit, start by researching which platforms your target audience is active on – there’s no point wasting energy on a platform where no one is listening. Once you’ve set up accounts on the right channels, focus on providing content that resonates strongly with them – avoid generic posts and aim for delightful engagement instead! Plus, remember to check in directly with followers by responding to comments and direct messages – showing off your authentic interactions will build trust down the line. Leveraging social media could just be the key to nailing client relationships.

Tip #4: Focus On Quality Over Quantity

It can feel like the grass is always greener when it comes to leveraging connections. It’s easy to get tempted by flashy, seemingly influential people and organizations with a wide network. But when we take the time to dig deeper, it’s often more beneficial to choose quality over quantity when it comes to forming relationships. Not only should we look for individuals and organizations with strong influence, but also ones that share similar values as our own. In the long run, these are most likely to be the connections that give you the biggest rewards down the line!

Tip #5: Be Consistent And Patient

Building solid relationships takes time, so don’t expect immediate results from your efforts. Be consistent in your interactions with potential partners and continue engaging even if you don’t see immediate returns on investment (ROI). Over time, these small investments will pay off as more people become aware of your services or products through the networks connected to these partners.  

Tip #6: Reevaluate Your Partners Regularly

Reevaluating your partners regularly might not always sound like the most pleasant thing to do – nobody likes change! But it can save you a lot of time and energy by nipping any issues in the bud before they have a chance to snowball. The idea is to check up on whether everyone involved is still on the same page but also keep an eye out for any red flags that may arise. Don’t be afraid to review expectations, communication styles, and other dynamics occasionally – it’s never too late to make adjustments if needed. Don’t wait until there’s already an issue to address it; evaluating regularly will help you protect your relationships for the long term.

Tip #7: Measure Your Results

Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of any strategy is an essential step to accurately track progress over time and determine its effectiveness. As we head into 2023, measuring the ROI from each partnership you use to leverage your centers of influence will help your business model succeed—what works for one company may not work as well for yours, so it’s important to have a thorough understanding of what does work for you. Take some time now to think about the strategies you’ve implemented this year, and measure their effectiveness so you can continue to maximize your ROI in the new year!   

Centers of Influence (COIs) are an invaluable resource for financial advisors seeking new clients or increased brand visibility in 2023. By following these seven tips—researching potential partners, establishing trust, utilizing social media platforms strategically, focusing on quality over quantity, being consistent and patient, reevaluating regularly, and measuring results —financial advisors can leverage COIs effectively for maximum ROI and success. With these steps taken into account, financial advisors will be well-prepared for long-term success in 2023.