Welcome back to Networking Unleashed, Building
Profitable Connections, the podcast where we
uncover the strategies, stories, and systems
that turn relationships into real results. I'm
your host, Michael Foreman, and today we're diving
into a conversation that sits right at the crossroads
of technology and human connection. We're talking
about how AI is transforming marketing, revolutionizing
content creation, sharpening audience targeting,
and taking campaign optimization to the next
level. But here's the big question. Can AI help
us build better relationships, or are we just
risking turning our networks into just another
automated process? My guest today is here to
unpack exactly how business can leverage AI to
stay ahead without losing the human touch that
makes networking so powerful. So come on, let's
grab it. I'd like to welcome to the podcast,
Al Kushner. And I don't want to butcher his background,
so let him tell you a little bit about it. Al,
welcome to the podcast. Thank you, Michael. Glad
to be here and appreciate the opportunity. So
a background. So I am an award -winning author.
My new book is called The AI LinkedIn Advantage.
Not sure if you can see it over here, but it
is a resource for those who are looking to maximize
their presence on LinkedIn and using AI technology
to really elevate your, not only your level of
your presence, but also to make your... presence
impactful on LinkedIn. And that's really what
it sets the, sets it apart from other books on
the marketplace. That sounds great. And really
every listener should pay close attention because
one thing I promote is for business is LinkedIn.
So if this is going to give them a little advantage,
they should really pay attention. Okay. How is
AI transforming the way businesses build and
nurture professional relationships? Does it complement
or compete with the human connection? I believe
it complements it because it's just helping you
to create ideas, to structure sentences in a
way that is compelling to whoever you're going
to be targeting to. So if you have any information
that you'd like to share, this just helps to
enhance that information and provide something
that will be relevant to whoever your target
is. And I think it's going to make a big difference,
particularly on LinkedIn. So what you're saying,
so... What they want to post on LinkedIn and
they use AI, do you suggest that they go over
what they want to say or should they add their
own little personal touch to it? Yeah, of course.
AI is just a tool that you would use to help
you create ideas for content. It's always good
to be yourself and be authentic because that
really is going to make a difference and people
can see that. So if you're talking in a certain
way, it should be conveyed in the... information
that you are trying to relate to people. So it's
always important to provide information that's
of value. When you're on LinkedIn, it's more
about giving than taking. And that's really what
my advice would be to do. Give more than you
receive. Good. That's right in line with what
we're always talking about. In what ways can
AI help marketers and networkers identify the
right people? faster without losing authenticity
in the process. Well, I think the most important
thing when it comes to LinkedIn is to have your
profile optimized because the first thing is
that people are going to look at is your profile
and you don't get a second chance to make a first
impression, simply put. So if you're, for example,
your profile headshot is not. professional or
even your background, that can really impede
your ability to make quality connections. So
you really need to optimize that, make sure it
looks good, make sure your information, your
background is informative. I'd stress a lot of
bullet points because people don't have time
to read long sentences and such. So you really
want to be as concise as possible. Even your
headline, the words that you have in there should
be strategic. almost optimized. So when people
are doing searches, let's say you're an SEO expert,
it should be in your header itself, as well as
other things that help people find you on LinkedIn.
Good. Good. Very good. Okay. With AI -driven
personalization on the rise, how do we ensure
we're not just automating connections, but actually
building meaningful ones? Well, the important
thing is that you want to establish yourself
as a thought leader. In order to do that, you
should create content that's going to be valued
to wherever your target audience is. My example,
I've created newsletters. I have about five different
newsletters on LinkedIn. And when I send out
at least once a week, people look forward to
receiving that information. And what generally
are those newsletters about? It depends. I have
newsletters for referral partners, which are,
let's say, accountants or attorneys or financial
planners. And I would talk about topics about
LinkedIn and how they can make themselves more
impactful, how to, for example, get referrals
on LinkedIn, how to use it in a way to outreach
and not become sound like salesy. So these are
just examples of articles I do every week. And
it really is making a difference. In addition,
I also do videos as well. Videos, I take it,
are more inviting than even just the newsletters.
Oh, absolutely. In fact, videos are perhaps the
biggest growth I've seen on the platform because
the algorithm loves videos. So if your video
is between 60 to 90 seconds, which is a sweet
spot, that'll make a difference, particularly
if you're posting in groups. And that's my next
thing to talk about. Groups are definitely going
to help you raise your level of awareness and
also make you more connections than you can imagine.
What's a practical example of how AI has helped
you or your clients optimize networking -related
marketing campaigns? I've used it to reach out
to influencers on LinkedIn. A lot of times these
influencers would post at various times on LinkedIn,
and I would... Be alerted when their post is
online and reply back to them, usually in a timely
fashion, because the key thing is they may have
thousands of followers. But what happens is as
soon as they post, the first few posts that are
going to be on there are going to be viewed better
than the ones that are down with the hundreds
of other people. And when you're posting, you
had to be a little bit more than just thanks
for sharing, but also take the information that
is posted and maybe see what ways you can add
to it, add value to the influencers post. questions
that may not have been asked that really complement
what they're doing. And you'll find that not
only you'll get possibly more followers to look
at your profile, but even the influence themselves
may decide to reach out to you because they find
you of value for their post. How do you suggest
getting more? Everybody has a certain amount
of LinkedIn connections, followers, and everything
else. How would you suggest them getting more
LinkedIn connections? The best way, of course,
as I mentioned, is to join groups because you
have an opportunity to connect with people that
are like -minded or looking for the services
that you offer. I would post videos in those
groups because very few actually do post videos
for the most part. And that's going to definitely
raise your game and get you a lot more people
reaching out to you. And that's really what you
want to have is quality connections. So instead
of posting haphazardly. post strategically into
groups and use video as a format that's definitely
made it made a difference for me good good okay
how can small businesses or solopreneurs leverage
ai for smarter networking for smarter networking
and content outreach without needing a huge tech
budget With software like ChatGPT, it definitely
helps you to create ideas for articles. It can
actually help outline your article itself. And
I think it's definitely a good resource where
you don't have to spend a lot of money on hiring
people to do that. You just access that. And
a lot of times I do. On the weekend, I create
my newsletters for during the week, and then
I use LinkedIn's scheduling to schedule in advance
to post at times when people are most likely
to read it and receive it at that time. Okay,
good. So what's your take on the balance between
AI efficiency and irreplaceable value of face
-to -face networking, and where should leaders
be focusing? Certainly, AI does make a lot of
efficiency when it comes to connecting with people,
especially through Zoom and other types of platforms,
because In -person networking has limitations
because you have to be there physically to do
something. And a lot of it is by geographic,
where on platforms like LinkedIn, you can reach
people worldwide for your services. Why limit
yourself? And with AI technology, there's a reason
why you can't use it to create content to reach
your target audience, where normally it would
be almost impossible through traditional ways.
Do you network just through... electronics or
do face -to -face networking? I just speak in
engagements. So when there's an opportunity to
speak in front of associations, I do that. And
I find that to be very important as far as an
outreach, because speaking always is going to
raise your level of awareness. I talk about my
book. I talk about topics that are relevant to
the members of the association. So I think that's
very vital in terms of outreach. Okay, what's
your take on the balance between AI efficiency
and the... I asked you that question already.
Okay, wait, let me go down one more. What makes
you see businesses... What mistakes do you see
businesses making when they try to use AI to
shortcut the relationship going? Very simple.
I see a lot of businesses fail because the first
thing they do as soon as they connect with someone
is they pitch slap them. And that's definitely
something that for me would be a no. And I immediately
usually block these individuals because they
don't understand this is not the way to do it.
They have AI create some kind of elaborate sales
pitch and they think I'm going to fall for it.
And it's not. That's not how you make a connection.
Same thing if you were in person with someone
and as soon as they meet with you and they shake
your hand, they're already pitching you. And
that's not the way to do business. You really
have to do it in a way that it seems natural.
Just get to know the person first. Find out their
interests. Find out what they like about LinkedIn,
for example. For me, a lot of times I provide
an e -book to give them information that may
be valuable to them. And they're usually well
received by those who are interested in connecting.
So give more than you receive is the way to connect.
When I go and I speak at different conferences
or if I go into a company, do a workshop, I always
suggest going to a networking event with a servant's
heart. Okay, so that is so that you're always
giving and not receiving. If you go in, as you
said, give a pitch automatically, you're going
to turn everybody off. But if you go in and I
use something called F -O -R -M, family, occupation,
recreation. and a message that usually puts the
other person at ease. So you have them talk about
themselves, have them talk about their family,
what they really like to do. And what that does,
that lowers that wall between the two of you,
but it raises the trust value. And that's what
really makes it. So networking, know you, you
trust you, they'll do business with you. So that's
all part of the same thing. Okay. How can AI
professionals stay top of mind with their network
in a way that feels personal, not robotic? I
use, for example, newsletters and I reach out
to people and I be as authentic as I can. And
the information I provide being on a regular
basis weekly is ideal. because it's always about
being on top of mind, which is what you want
to do. Create videos of value. So I post videos
into various groups that I'm a part of, and it
gets well received. So it's a combination of
things that you can do for any type of outreach
is to be on top of mind. So create content. provide
value, and also comment on influencers that are
in your field that also help raise awareness,
give things of value to whoever they're posting.
And it's something that will help to move the
needle, I would say. Very good. Okay. What's
one emerging AI tool or trend that you think
will completely reshape how we approach networking
and marketing in the next 12 months? Certainly,
I would say videos are on the rise and a lot
of opportunity there is available. There are
ways that perhaps you can create even an avatar
of yourself with your thoughts and feelings and
doing a video without you doing it yourself.
I think that would be tremendous because a lot
of the information that you have, again, you
can't be in two places at once, but with this
technology, you probably can. And that would
be a game changer, I think. I think you're right.
I think you're probably right. I'm listening
to you and really how successful you've become.
But can you give us one mistake that you've made,
a really big mistake, and how you overcame it?
I think procrastination has always been... following
me most of my life and not really being more
reactive than proactive in responding to decisions
like writing a book, for example, was something
I was debating and whether I should do it or
not. And I decided that a year ago, this is the
opportunity to do it. If I don't take advantage
now, the competition will. And sure enough, I
decided to move forward with this. And I was
really impressed by the work that I've done.
It really gave me an ability to become a thought
leader and something that I don't regret. But
for me, it was always procrastination because
I said, I'll put it off to tomorrow. And that
never works. And you won't succeed unless you
really just take the chance and go for it. Good.
Okay. So let's bring this podcast full circle.
And if you had to give one piece of advice to
someone who wants to use AI to enhance, not replace,
their networking efforts, what would it be? I
would say that try to... Get information on the
services or products that you're looking to do.
Investigate that. I would say not to wait until
it happens. You've got to embrace technology
while it's coming because it's always changing.
And you'll find that if you use it the right
way, it'll be most effective and it will help
your business grow exponentially. Very good.
Yes, that's exactly right. Listen, I'm so glad
that I had you on the podcast. You opened my
eyes, at least up to AI. And I hope everybody
listening would then also have their eyes opened
up and buy your book. But how would somebody
get hold of you if they wanted to ask you a question
or have you coach them or anything else like
that? How can they do it? You can go to my website,
linkedvantage .com. And you can also access a
lot of resources I have available. I have a free
ebook for optimizing a profile. It's also available
on the website as a download. You can connect
with me on LinkedIn. I'm open to anyone who wants
to connect with me, which is fine. Just remember,
when you reach out to me, don't pitch slap me
because I will definitely block you. Other than
that, I'm happy to connect with anyone and looking
forward to helping those out there who need this
resource. I really appreciate you coming on the
podcast, and I hope to speak with you soon. Thank
you. Thanks for the opportunity, Michael. Have
a good one. Well, hold on, folks. Don't go anywhere.
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A huge thank you to our guests for sharing such
insights today. And of course, a big shout out
to you, our amazing listeners, for tuning in
and spending your time with us. If you're interested
in my digital courses, being coached or having
me come and talk to your company, just go to
Michael and fill out the request form. Remember,
networking isn't about being perfect. It's about
being present. So take what you've learned today,
get out there and make some meaningful connections.
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