Starting out with your own business is exhilarating yet also nervewracking: how do you set everything up? How do you find your first clients? These are probably several of many questions swimming around in your mind.
One of the things you should start doing after you’ve set your business up is to meet other professionals or potential clients at networking events in your local area. If you live in a rural area or your business is location independent, then start networking online through your preferred social media platforms. Get to know others, talk about your new business, collect business cards/contact information, and then….follow up with these new connections.
This all seems and sounds so simple to do, but we have come across individuals who fail to follow up: either they fail to reach out again after the initial meeting, or they fail to respond to any of our follow up messages. How can others help you with your new business if they never hear from you again?
A follow up message doesn’t have to be overly fancy either:
Hello Charlie,
Great to meet you at the Generation X Networking Event yesterday evening. Interested in hearing more about your company and how we can help one another out. I am available to meet next Thursday at these times: x, x, and x. If you prefer, we can also talk on the phone during those times.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Susan
As you can see in the example above, keep it simple with your follow up and go into more details about your new business/how you can help your new connection at the meeting/phone call.
Our rule of thumb is to follow up with others within a 48-hour timeframe so to keep the connection fresh and to also show that you honor their time by responding in a timely manner.
What other tips do you have for following up with others? Tell us below in the comments!
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