As a small business owner, you will find that a great deal of your new clients come into your business in various ways. Some may come in directly through a lead generation activity like an Advertisement. Some clients surprisingly come in through what may start out as a coincidental connection.
You can manipulate those chance connections and shorten the learning curve so to speak between your 1st connection with a new lead and eventually transforming that into a professional contractual relationship.
When you meet someone new at a networking event, exchange business cards of course. Within the first 3 days of meeting that person, send a follow-up email. Remind them of your introduction at the event and give some feedback on your conversation OR on the event overall. Remind the person about what you do, how you help people then close with 2 or 3 of the steps below.
1) Offer a session to talk more about what you do, if they think that your services may be a match for their needs. I suggest though that you only do this IF you feel that the person may be an ideal possible client. Also, offer a phone session, 15 to 20 minutes the most.
2) The second thing is to invite them to join your email newsletter list. Place a link in the email where they can sign up easily. Briefly explain the kind of things you will write about in your newsletter. Also, let them know how often they will receive it.
3) Thirdly, ask for referrals. If you have already established, during the networking event that the person may not be your ideal client, skip step 1 and go straight to this step. Even if the person may not be a fit for your services, they may know someone who is.
Have you had any positive experiences from following up with and or staying in touch with new connections for your business? I would love to hear about it. Leave a comment in the box below.
Hi Stephanie, have just come across your blog and love this article. Very simple advice but really powerful if followed. I will share with my list. Thanks!
Hi Cassie. Glad you found the tips useful. Thanks for stopping by.