There used to be a time when layers of secretaries and executive assistants insulated decision-makers against strangers, including peddlers of services. It was hard to position yourself to meet and impress the boss. Social media — and LinkedIn in particular — have broken down those barriers.

Through an advanced search on LinkedIn, you can build a list of your ideal clients while gaining insights into how best to connect with these hard-to-reach people. The first step is finding them.