Now that you’ve made a connection at the latest networking event, you will want to follow-up to solidify business connections or to create new business. Use these 5 follow-up tips to make yourself more memorable and watch your network grow and flourish.
1. Be Timely
Answer questions and follow-up with people as soon as you can with your introduction and thank you for meeting. The general rule to follow here is two days to establish the connection, even if the answer is that you will get back to someone. Longer than this and most business people will assume that you will lag in business and not turn around projects or follow up with prospects in a timely manner.
2. Knowledge is Power
Take a few moments to research the company you are following up with, and have a way to engage in ongoing business. Make sure that your value proposition fits their business model, and know a little about their strategy. Look at their website, linkedin profile, and media announcements about their company. Talking to them with this knowledge in hand will help them feel as though you understand their business and how you can grow with mutual benefit.
3. Be Willing to Engage
Create a timeline for following up or growing your connection. Find a way that you can outperform your competition and think about ways that you can make a huge impact to their business in little ways. This deep type of understanding will make engagement more effective and more likely to churn out new business.
4. Be Kind and Grateful
Showing that you will be beneficial to their business will make relationships easier to establish. The shared values give the best opportunity for your business and theirs to grow. Make it obvious that you are a value to their business and they are more likely to be of value to yours.
5. Be Patient and Persistent, but Know When to Move On
Many people may see opportunity, but won’t be ready to move on those opportunities at the same time as you. Give them the time they deserve and be respectful of their time. All the while, be aware of signs that it’s time to move on and step away. Not everyone you reach out to is a good relationship. Keeping in touch is much easier than ever, so indicators that you have a low possibility of realizing future business is getting the run-around, not being answered, getting shorter and more vague responses, and items of the like. Finding new prospects may be better for your business than following up on dead ends.
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