Proven Ways To Get Results From Your Networking

Wednesday 12 September, 2007

by Ricky Nowak

In the same way as we have a marketing or business plan we need to have a networking plan to ensure we maximise the opportunities we have when meeting other professionals. Here are some tips and strategies that will help you network by design, not default!

When meeting people for the first time at an event don't provide any big brochures or business profiles that people would have to carry around with them. Heavy or cumbersome items will get left behind and undervalued. Rather, consider these strategies for follow up options:

Next day

• email
  
• video email
  
• phone call
  
• hand-written note, with a gift of referral or knowledge, card
  
• go and say "hello" personally

One week later

• phone call
  
• send something by mail - an article, quote or proverb, a reminder of something they said or did that has made an impact or difference, an invitation to a site visit that showcases your products or something that is of interest to the client - either personally or professionally. The more outside what is normal for them, usually the better
  
• copy them on an email or correspondence, or mention to them that you've given their name to individuals you had either mentioned or thought they would benefit from meeting

Two weeks later

• instigate a meeting
  
• bring someone else into the picture that can provide value to them
  
• follow-up on the information you sent and see if there is anything else they are looking for
  
• check to see if the references you sent them were of value
  
• invitation to join you at an event or industry party that would be of interest
  
• invitation to join you at an event as a guest "just for fun"
  
• teleconference - bringing people and product together
  
• following up any one of the things you did after one week

Author Credits

Ricky Nowak CSP, Principal Confident Communications works with many of Australia’s top 500 companies as a Key Note Speaker, Facilitator, and Executive Coach. She specialises in Communication, Leadership and Public Speaking. phone: 61 3 9500 9886 web address: www.rickynowak.com. Email: ricky@rickynowak.com; mobile 61 419 83 9994