You already know that you must follow up with people you meet at business functions. This is Networking 101. But it bears repeating, because no matter how well we understand the importance of follow-up, few people actually do it.
Maybe you think you’re too busy to follow up. Or you lose new business cards (they are tiny and easy to lose) in the piles on your desk. Or maybe you suffer from blank screen/blank mind syndrome.
The fact is, it takes no more than a few minutes to compose a short e-mail to a brand-new contact. Yes, it’s possible that the other person won’t remember what you discussed. He may even have forgotten talking to you at all. But don’t let those "what ifs" prevent you from making contact. When you’re sitting in front of a blank computer screen with a stack of cold business cards, push yourself to make the effort to write a short note. That way, your e-mail address and message will be in the other person’s inbox to jolt his memory.
Set the foundation for follow up while you’re talking. Note anything unusual about the other person or the work he does, any details or specifics that you might forget. As soon as your conversation ends, jot down a few notes on the back of his business card – ideas about what to say when you follow up, the link you promised to send or the resource you want to pass along.
And then say goodbye to blank screen/blank mind syndrome.
[Ed. Note: Networking is one of the best ways to find new clients, meet potential partners, and discover people who can help your business grow. For ideas about how to accomplish your networking - and all your other personal and professional - goals, check out ETR's Total Success Achievement Program.
Marketing expert Ilise Benun is the author of The Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing. Get more self-marketing strategies with Ilise's free e-newsletter, Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.]
Similar Articles:
- Networking Mistake: Labeling Yourself – When networking, one of your goals should be to invite the people you meet into a conversation. But …
- Quick Professional Networking Tip: 3 Simple Steps – I’ve been doing a ton of networking lately – making lots of good connections. Now there’s a pile of …
- Networking Mistake: Using Jargon Without Thinking – If you were at a work-related function in, say, New York or Chicago, would you address people in Por…
- How to Instantly Grab a New Contact’s Attention With Your Answer to One Question – One of the first questions you get when you meet someone at a networking event is “What do you do?” …
- I Shot the Serif – Which group of fonts is better for online marketing efforts: Times, Palatino, and Bembo? Or Verdana,…
- How to Extend the Life of Your Laptop Battery – Business road warriors know all too well that laptop battery life is a precious thing, especially wh…
- Networking the Wrong Way – Networking is a great way to establish personal connections with people in your industry, whether yo…