Many times you will know well in advance that you will be attending a networking opportunity, so make it a habit to book yourself out in your diary for an hour after the session, or if more convenient, for a similar amount of time the next morning. Arrange it so that you or your secretary or personal assistant, if you have one, can get back to all your new contacts with thank you notes and the follow ups you committed to send to your new contacts.
If you utilise a contact relationship management program, this is also the perfect time to add these new contracts to your database, and if appropriate, send them a copy of your most recent newsletter. That's assuming, of course, that you have a newsletter. If you don't have a newsletter, you should seriously think about setting one up, even if it merely updates everyone about what you have been up to professionally. A newsletter helps you to reinforce your commitment to your contact and for your own name or your company name to re-appear repeatedly in their minds. A newsletter is a wonderful way for you to stay in touch with your contacts and to let them know you are thinking of them so that when you meet them again they know you have maintained the relationship as you promised. This again creates greater credibility for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment