Build your network: A simple way of keeping in touch with business and personal contacts
Many people know that the secret of networking is "give and take." Every time you meet someone, ask yourself "how can I help?"
With this in mind, you can start to develop a network of people who are interested in helping you because you're good enough to help.
But once you have initiated contact with a new person, how to build a friendship? How do you keep in touch with them, and stay at the forefront of his mind? How ensure that the next time you see an opportunity that would be perfect for you who actually take the phone and call?
The answer is to stay in touch, and as many keys to success may be easier said than done. Keith Ferrazzi is an excellent book on this subject, called "Never eat alone" and I recommend you read it. Refers to each contact with a person like a ping "and mentions that it can take three to five pings with a new person to make the connection.
When to meet face to face with someone several times, which certainly qualify. Or if four or five messages were exchanged during a period of time, it would be a good basis for a relationship. But newspapers pings are obliged to keep in touch with your network.
If you're like me, you never remember to keep in touch with others until you really need something from them, and no is not nothing but a sincere friend that only calls to ask a favor. So I developed a system to remind me same to be in contact and provide value to others on a regular basis. I am sure that many systems out there, and ultimately will have to adopt one that works for you.
Personally, I used a simple excel spreadsheet to keep track of my contacts. Whenever I meet someone new I want to be contacted, I enter their contact information in the worksheet and put in one of three categories. Those in one of the "category", I like to be in contact with at least once a month. If you are in the category of the two, I'd like to reach them at least once per quarter (every three months). And if they are in three categories, I try to reach them at least once a year.
Every month I go through and update the spreadsheet, the capture of the that I have missed.
All this may seem a bit mechanical to develop meaningful relationships with people, and I must admit that I resisted the idea at first. But what I realized is that without a system to help me remember, I was doing a horrible job of being in touch with friends. When he thought back over the years about I met many wonderful people that I had lost contact and never spoke again, which is enough to make me change.
So what I contact them?
Just as when he met them, the question must be asked is "How can I help?" Send to something of value, even if small. Here are some that I like to use:
1. Send a link to an article I read might be interested in
2. Enter someone who can help them (potential customer, a service provider, etc.)
3. Send a song they like
4. Give a copy of a book (or Audio book) that I read and found useful
If all else fails, call or write to say hello. Tell them that you have not spoken in a while and just wanted to get day (which is true). Ask them about their projects and how they go.
Of course, the irony is that once had a spreadsheet in place, keep in touch came to the forefront of my mind. I found myself automatically stay in contact because I knew I had to do at the end of the month anyway. He made me start thinking about others so that every time I read an article, think of someone who would want to read. Whenever I met someone new, I would say that of someone who would love to meet them. And every time she hears a song, I would think someone who would love to hear it.
Do whatever necessary to stay in touch with friends and business contacts. Building your network and social circle is crucial to its success, so if you are not naturally trend stay in touch, it's time to put a system in place.
About the Author
Brian Armstrong makes it easy to learn the secrets of todays top business owners. To discover the “7 Essential Steps to Starting a Business” in his Free Online Course, visit this site now: Business Sucess
Your Personal Touch – Evelyn King
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