So you've been in business awhile and gone to lots of networking events. You collected anywhere from a few to a stack of business cards at each event, and now you have this pile you don't know what to do with. It sits on the corner of your desk, mocking you. "You should have developed a relationship with these people," it says. "Now it's too late," it snickers.
Be of good cheer. Here are 9 things you can do with the snicker pile.
- Hold the pile in your hands and say out loud, "I appreciate all these people who have come in to my life."
- Sort the pile into the following three stacks: people who are in a complementary business (you can easily refer business back and forth to each other), people who are not in a complementary business but who might be a good resource for your clients and friends (plumber, electrician, etc), and everyone else.
- Take each of the three stacks and sort them in to people you know well and people you barely know (You will have a pile of people you know well who are in a complementary business and people you barely know in a complementary business, and so on). When you are finished you should have six stacks.
- Stack of cards of people you know well who are in a complementary business: these people have potential for the greatest number of quality referrals because you share the same target market with them. Send every one of these people a greeting card or email telling them how much you appreciate your connection with them. Ask for nothing-just express gratitude. Three to four weeks later, start inviting them to lunch (individually, or in small groups) to explore how you can work more closely together.
- Stack of cards of people you barely know who are in a complementary business: these people are potential powerful resources for you. Contact each one and invite them to join you for breakfast or lunch (individually, not as a group). Tell them you share the same target market and would like to explore how the two of you could work together for you mutual benefit.
- Stack of cards of people you know well who can be a resource for your clients and friends: contact them and say you would like to send a testimonial greeting card or letter out to your clients and friends on their behalf. Get together and have someone take a picture of the two of you that you will use on the card or letter. Show them a draft of what you want to send out (describing their services) and ask them to make changes or add anything that is missing. See if they can give you a couple short testimonials from other clients to include. Then send out the greeting card or letter to the clients and friends you think are most likely to use this person's product or service.
- Stack of cards of people you barely know who could possibly be a resource for your clients and friends: If the person is in a business not represented in the resource businesses of people you know well, contact them and tell them you are looking for someone in their profession to refer your clients and friends to. Meet for coffee and get to know them and their business a little bit. Refrain from pitching your own business.
- Stack of cards of people you know well who did not fit in the complimentary business or resource group: Send every one of these people a greeting card or email telling them how much you appreciate your connection with them. Ask if there is anything you can do to help their business.
- Stack of cards of people you barely know who did not fit in the complimentary business or resource group: toss the cards.
Sara Blumenfeld, the Nurturing Networker, educates home-based and small business owners and entrepreneurs how to maximize their connections, consistency, and cash. Want more tips on business networking? Grab our free report at http://www.businessnetworkingmistakes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Blumenfeld
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