You know you’re supposed to “add value” to your network. Everyone says it.
But what does adding value actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon, with a real person, in a real message?
Most professionals get stuck right there. So they either send nothing, or they send their newsletter and call it value.
There’s a better answer, and it fits on one hand. We call it the Five I’s: five specific ways to add value to any professional relationship before you ever ask for anything.
The Five I’s are the engine of the Feeding stage in Greeting, Feeding, Meeting. Master them and you will never stare at a blank message box again.
Why the Five I's Work
People want two things in their professional life: to be seen, and to feel good about what they’re building.
Every one of the Five I’s delivers exactly that. No pitch, no ask, no agenda. Just value, given first.
Do it consistently and something predictable happens: when you eventually ask for a real conversation, the answer is yes. Not because of a clever script, but because you’re the person who has already helped them three times.
1. Information: Send Something Useful for Their World
Share an article, a stat, a tool, or a trend that matters in their industry. Not yours.
The bar: would they find this useful even if they never bought anything from you?
EXAMPLE: “Saw this new report on hiring trends in healthcare and thought of you. The section on retention is worth the five minutes.”
Important: your newsletter is not information. Information is chosen for one person, not broadcast to everyone.
2. Introductions: Connect Them With Someone They Should Know
An introduction is the single most valuable thing a networker can give.
It costs you one message, and it can change someone’s business.
EXAMPLE: “You mentioned you’re looking for a fractional CFO. I know one who’s fantastic with companies your size. Want me to connect you two?”
PRO TIP: Always ask both sides first. A permission-based introduction lands as a gift. A surprise introduction lands as homework.
3. Invitations: Bring Them Into the Room
Invite them to something: an event, a webinar, a podcast episode, a community, a LinkedIn Live.
An invitation says “I want you around,” and that message builds relationships faster than almost anything you can type.
EXAMPLE: “We’re hosting a roundtable on AI for consultants next Thursday. Small group, no pitch, just practitioners comparing notes. Want a seat?”
4. Ideas: Share a Thought About Their Business
Offer a genuine thought about their content, their positioning, or their offer.
EXAMPLE: “Saw your post on onboarding. Have you considered turning that checklist into a lead magnet? It reads like one already.”
Ideas prove you’re actually paying attention, and attention is the rarest currency in networking.
Keep it generous, not corrective. “Have you considered” beats “you should” every time.
5. Identity: See Them
Acknowledge who they are and what they’re building.
Congratulate the milestone. Celebrate the launch. Appreciate the consistency of their content. Notice the work anniversary.
EXAMPLE: “Just realized you’ve posted every week for a year straight. That consistency shows, and it’s paying off. Respect.”
Identity is the easiest “I” of all, and it might be the most powerful. Being truly seen is rare, and people remember who saw them.
You Can't Feed What You Don't Know
Here’s where most people get stuck with the Five I’s: picking the right one requires knowing what’s going on in that person’s world.
This is where research changes the game.
One AI research run on any contact tells you what they do, who they help, what they’ve published, and what they care about right now. From there, choosing between an article, an introduction, or a congratulations takes seconds.
With evyAI, that research is one click on any contact card. You will never send a generic message again.
Make the Five I's a Daily System
Feeding at scale is the “10 direct messages a day” in the 1-5-10-20 method, and those ten messages are what produce your 5 real conversations a day.
Here’s how to make ten value-first messages a day realistic:
- Draft each message in your voice with custom Personas and writing Styles
- Save your best feeding messages as templates, one for each of the Five I’s, and personalize them in seconds
- Organize your key connections into lists so you always know who’s due for a feed
- Run AI research before each message so the right “I” is obvious
evyAI drafts, you review and send. The value is real because you chose it.
Your Five I's Challenge
This week, pick five people who matter to your business. Send each one a different “I”: one piece of information, one introduction, one invitation, one idea, one moment of recognition.
Ask for nothing in return.
Then watch what comes back. Relationships fed this way have a way of feeding you right back.
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