You are out to build you business. So, It’s time to network. Ok, here you go! Done! That was good! Lots of new people. Looking forward to seeing what comes out this one! Oh, but you have to get back to work. No problem, you’ll grab the cards from your pocket or handbag later and follow-up. A few days or week later…Oh, it’s that time again! Time to network. Got to grab a quick coffee to talk to “your buddy” (not the visitor) you see every other week after the meeting. Oh, you have to get back to the office. You’ll remember to call Susan, she seems like a good lead next week to set up an appointment with her for lunch. Does any of this sound familiar?
Does this look like your month of networking?
Yes, it’s the typical networker. What happens to those cards. They start to pile up. But you have a plan to keep them organized so you won’t lose them. You place a rubber band or a binder clip around them. Oh,You need more desk space…move them over to the edge of the desk. You’ll separate them into piles by event so you will remember what group they were from. Oh no, You just dropped them when you put your mail and boxes on the desk. You don’t have time to sort them now, You’re on your way to another network meeting! Just got back, you have new ones now …You’ll just add them to the stack. You’ll remember who you talked to when you see their card again.
Whew! It’s the end of the month! What a busy month, you’ve done lots of networking to build your business and gave out lots of cards too! Oh where is the card for the lady you were suppose to call last week for that lunch appointment? What was her name? What company was she from? Was it Jennifer or Karen or was it Debby? Oh forget it, she probably wasn’t interested anyway. She would have called me.
Well, this is how a bucket looks… full of water and holes in the bottom. You have to constantly network to keep the bucket filled (so you can think you are building your business effectively) all along you are losing loads of contacts from the bottom end! Yes, you will probably get business here and there. That works if you are fine with mediocracy. If you throw enough stuff on the wall something is bound to stick. Or, you just switch to a large networking group because the group you are in is just “too small” for you anyway and you need more people to make it worth the money for the lunch and/or membership. That group never gave you many referrals for all the time you were going. You have have sold your product to EVERYONE in that group that would buy something, You need to really change and get a new FRESH group so you have more people to sell your big ticket items too.
Note the event AND the date on the card ASAP.
Reality check! Stop the madness! Enough is a enough! I’m sure no one will tell you that you are wasting your time, your money and you would better off not even going to a networking group. You literally would get more done if you stayed in your office and called your small group of current clients to see how life was treating them.
Let say you really want to join me #declarewaronmediocrity! Here are 5 tips to effective Networking Business Cards
1. Carry a gel ink pen AND a felt tip permanent marker with you to write on glossy card.
2. Note the event AND the date on the card ASAP. If you are going to an event where it will be many cards keep an envelope with you that you have already labeled before you enter the event with the event name and date. That way you can out all the cards in one envelope to be filed later.
3. Write some memorable note about the contact on the card ASAP. It may be a common connection, appearance note, or even a possible reason to reconnect.
4. Set-up a “follow-up” block of time after each event. This should be a one for one block. If it was an hour and 30 minute lunch then block an hour and 30 minutes to call each person within 48-72 hours JUST TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME at the event. Recap the highlights of your conversation. This call should be no more than 5-10 mins because you are calling them in the middle of their work day. If it takes longer excuse yourself as polite as possible and explain you don’t want to encroach on their time. If appropriate, mention you would appreciate the opportunity to make an appointment to connect with them when it’s convenient even if it’s weeks later.
5. The money is in the follow-up! This is not cliche! 9 out of 10 people that this person you meet WILL NEVER follow-up. If you do, this alone will make you more memorable to them and be the start of a mutually long-term beneficial relationship.
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Zipporah Singleton Business Development Exec Radiant Purpose Inc 800-980-4085 |