The Importance of Following Up
This week’s radio show is with Marie Daniels from Meoutloud. We will be learning about communication and how to present yourself better. Next week’s radio show will be a half hour segment from myself about the concept of Giving to Get (an apt one to consider as it’s just about time for the holidays).
The Importance of Following Up
Whenever I go to a networking event or do public speaking, I always make it a point to follow up with whoever is new the very evening that I’ve met that person. I don’t wait until morning, because chances are if I wait that long I’ll forget to do it and worse that person may not remember me. Afterall with networking you generally only have a few minutes to make an impression. Even with public speaking, or perhaps especially with public speaking it’s important to follow up while someone has a good impression of you. You want to make your impression extend beyond the time that person met you or interacted with you, for as long as possible.
The other day, I was meeting with a potential client and he remarked to me that the main reason he met with me was because I had followed up with him so quickly. My following up with him told him that I cared enough to want to make a connection, regardless of what the outcome of that connection would be. Accordingly he was willing to meet with me and learn more about my business and how it might help him.
Whether you run a business or have written a book, or do anything else, it’s important to follow up. It’s true that with all the social networking sites and email that people get it can be easy to get overwhelmed. And of course you do need to know when to filter out the extraneous emails which aren’t relevent to your business. However, taking time to follow up is important. It can mean the difference gaining some business or fading into the background and letting someone else do business with your potential client. This is also true for authors. I can’t tell you how many times writing back to someone to answer a question really made that person’s day and likely helped me sell a couple books down the line.
No matter what business you are in, the relationships you create in that business are what makes it successful, or makes it fail. Following up can make a big difference and show people that you are reliable and consistent!
Upcoming Teleclass
Setting your Business Goals for 2009
When: December 22nd from 5:30 to 6:30
Where: From the Warmth and Holiday Cheer of your own home!
How much: FREE!!
Register for the course at http://www.imagineyourreality.com/schedule.html or call me at 503-869-0163
It’s coming to that time of year when you evaluate your life and the direction its going in. It’s also an excellent time to evaluate and assess your strengths and weaknesses in your business as well as what goals to set for the new year. In this one hour course we will assess your strengths and weaknesses in your business so that you can set realistic goals for the next year.
WHO is this class for: Anyone who is a small business owner or is someone who offers a service and needs a client base to support that service.
WHY do I want to take this class? Because I will help you get clear on your goals for the year ahead, help you create a vision board, and also provide strategies that get you oriented toward growing your business this coming year.
How do I know this class isn’t a waste of my precious time? You’ve got my three free coffees guarantee. I will buy for you and two of your friends a free cup of coffee if you haven’t learned anything new about setting your goals for your business this coming year.
Register today at http://www.imagineyourreality.com/schedule.html
I agree with you entirely on the importance of following up with your clients and potential clients. This is one of the key aspects of best business practices where you have the opportunity to build new business relationships and strengthen and cement existing ones.