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Networking with a Timely
Follow-up
Let's assume you've just returned from a
MainStreetChamber networking event or some other networking event. You met some
people that could potentially help you accomplish your networking objectives
and have several business cards. Good for you. Now what?
Effective follow up will reinforce the positive
first impression you made on those people and will help you establish some
mutually beneficial networking relationships. Here are some simple strategies:
1.
Send a follow up note
immediately. Indicate you enjoyed your brief chat at the event and will follow
up with a phone call shortly.
2.
An email note is fine —
fast, simple and cheap. But how many emails do you get in a day? Instead,
consider sending a hand-written note card or post card. It's also simple,
cheap, and it really stands out in a stack of snail mail.
3.
Double your positive
impressions — send an email note for immediacy and the snail mail note for
impact.
4.
If you call first, do
three things in the first 15 seconds that most amateur networkers don't do:
Quickly reintroduce yourself and reference where you met. Ask if this is a good
time for a brief chat. Then, most importantly, pause for the person to digest
what you just said and respond.
5.
After that conversation,
suggest another brief call. Don't press for a meeting too early. You're not
sure yet if that would be worth the time. Neither is the other person. Earn the
face time. You'll know when it makes sense.
These simple yet very effective follow up
strategies will definitely reinforce your positive first impression of uncommon
courtesy and class and differentiate you from the pack.
Happy Networking
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Dear Subscriber,
MainStreetChamber™ introduces VIP Membership Fundraising
Program
The
slogan of the MainStreetChamber “Save Money, Make Money, Get Involved” is fully
realized with the VIP Membership fundraising program. The MainStreetChamber VIP
Membership Card is the most complete discount program in the country. It is the
only discount card that works anywhere in the country, has no limitations on
use, and offers the widest array of product and service discounts in the
country.
MainStreetChamber VIP Membership Card:
One card works everywhere One time purchase Discounts at
thousands of local business Online discounts at over 100
national retailers Discounts on prescriptions at over
50,000 pharmacies nationwide Discounts on medical, dental and
vision care New discounts added daily
“The
current economic cycle has forced more people to become value conscious. The
VIP Card is a unique value proposition offering thousands of dollars in
discounts at local businesses all across the country. For schools, charities
and other organizations looking to raise money the value puts this fundraising
opportunity ahead of the traditional cookies, candy and wrapping paper
ideas.” Bob Firestone COO
If you would like detailed
information on how your charity can benefit from our VIP Membership Program
visit mcsVIP.com and click “Fundraising”.
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Meet Our Leadership
President- West Denver, CO
Bob Heary
For the past 25 years, Bob Heary has seen a lot of the
country as well as a lot of change during his career with the Yellow
Pages. Having spent time in 6 states
publishing his own directory in both the Santa Fe
and Taos
communities, Bob developed a real joy working with small-businesses. What started as a Yellow Pages career has now
blossomed into a full media position consulting clients on tools such as search
engine optimization, print and online advertising, and reputation
management. The challenge for small
businesses to figure out how exactly to market themselves effectively requires
a helping hand. Bob has the opportunity to help customers realize the best
path. As your Chapter President and a Senior Account Executive for Yellowbook
360, Bob’s mission is to help individuals achieve their goals and to help
businesses find a “Marketing Plan” with the Leadership and strategic alliances
offered by MainStreetChamber.
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Don't Make This Networking
Mistake
Five tips to avoid a common
disconnect at business events.
By Ivan Misner | February 8,
2011
At a networking event not
too long ago for which 500 people attended, the speaker who was on stage
directly before my presentation asked the audience, “How many of you came here
hoping to do some business today, maybe even make a sale?” The overwhelming
majority of the people in the audience raised their hands. Then he asked, “How
many of you are here hoping to buy something today?” Not one person raised a
hand.
This is what I call networking disconnect. I find it ironic that people are so
“disconnected” about a process that’s intended to be about connecting people.
This kind of disconnect leads to poor results, which in turn leads people to
believe that networking doesn’t work. From what I’ve experienced over the past
26 years, along with the results I’ve witnessed with hundreds of thousands of
people around the world -- networking works just fine.
My
advice: Do not confuse direct selling with networking. Of course, there is
always someone out there who says, “But, Ivan, I’ve made sale before by
attending a networking event.” I’m not saying it doesn’t ever happen, but it
occurs about as often as a solar eclipse. You’re crazy if you think the odds
are in your favor to “sell” at a networking event.
So why go to a
networking meeting? You go because networking is more about farming than it is
about hunting. Sometimes you go to increase your visibility and to connect with people you have never met.
Sometimes you go to establish further credibility with people you know. And
sometimes you may go to meet a long-time referral partner and do some business. In any case, the true master
networkers know that networking events are about moving through the
relationship process and not just about closing deals. Visibility leads to
credibility which, with time and effort, leads to profitability.
In
order to make your networking efforts work, you need to embrace a “relationship
networking” mentality. Here are five things to remember when attending
networking events:
1.
Don’t go there to sell, go there to connect.
2. Have meaningful conversations with people you meet.
3. Follow up with people you found interesting or who you can help in some way.
Don’t follow up to sell them something.
4. Meet these people in a one-to-one setting, learn more about them, and ask
them: “how can I help you?”
5. Go for the long-term relationship, not the short sale.
Ivan
Misner is founder and Chairman of BNI, a professional business networking
organization headquartered in Upland, Calif. Dubbed the "father of modern
networking" by CNN, Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.
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