The only other thing I have found has given me great success is saying YES when You are invited to social activities. If every time a person asks You to do something, You have an excuse not to and turn them down, they will stop asking. If on the other hand You say Yes, You will find people will start asking You first.
But it turns out that it's intentional. They want to filter out at the outset those who will terminate the relationship once they figure out what's going on.
This strikes me as similar. I am one of those people who has a visceral (and bad) reaction to someone trying to schmooze me, compliment me, etc.
BUT your tactics will draw in the type of person who is likely to succumb to those tactics, and perhaps that kind of person is easier to manipulate and profit from! So it could well be a good strategy.
In this post, I'm sharing tips I've learned the hard way and by poring over other content around the topic. I hope it helps you!
Also it's just a more enjoyable way to go through life- seeing everyone as a potential ally vs a foe. I noticed when I started being friendlier and liking other people more, people liked me more. It was just a more enjoyable way to navigate life, and I think can be a self-fulfilling prophesy when you assume everyone is interesting, everyone IS interesting in their own way.