This is International Networking Week. Started by BNI, Business Network International, several years ago, International Networking Week celebrates the importance that networking plays in our life.
Last week I was a part of a panel at a networking event and I was asked what my number one networking tip was and I said "Follow Up with the people you meet! Unless you follow up, all those business cards are just ink on paper."
It is a surprising statistic that 48%, almost half, of all sales people never follow up with new contacts or prospects. That only 25% of Sales people make a second contact. This seems amazing since most sales don't happen until more than five contacts were made.
There are several ways to follow up with the new people that you meet. You can email them, you can send a handwritten note, you can a note using Send Out Cards. Choose one and use it consistently. Make the note about them, and not about you. Bob Burg in his book Endless Referrals describes his process for follow up using handwritten notes and he does it every day! Networking Like a Pro Turning Contacts Into Connections by Dr. Ivan Misner, David Alexander and Brian Hilliard has a great way of following up with people and helps you categorize your contacts. The book also has some great examples of notes you can send.
Being effective at networking is a trait that every meeting and event planner needs to have. Have you followed up today with you contacts?
Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/. Follow me on Twitter at @marypam.
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