Should I use a calendar to keep in touch with my network?
I have heard that the best professional networkers reach out to each person in their network just often enough to keep connections from getting stale. How often should I do this, what should I send, and does anyone have experience with this kind of thing? What if they are acquaintances (for example, on LinkedIn)?
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Oct 17, 2014
Business is about relationships. People do business with people they trust. The purpose of networking is not to compile a big list of acquaintances or to gather a big pile of business cards, but rather to establish and strengthen relationships. A brief chat at a networking event will not accomplish this. You should be trying to turn your acquaintances on LinkedIn and elsewhere into people you trust enough to recommend to others, and who trust you enough to recommend their contacts to you. You do this by following up, offering help when you can, and being of real use to your contacts.
Stay in touch with everybody you can; how often will vary from person to person. Restart "lost" contacts. Contact them whenever you can somehow help them or inform them of something useful. Send holiday greetings when appropriate. Meeting them face-to-face is most effective for building relationships, though it's impossible to meet with everybody. Keep track of every time you contact some one so you know when it's time to do it again. Be the person that is there when they need something, and you will be at the top of their contact lists.
Oct 17, 2014
Great advice Jeff and right on point. I will incorporate your followup tips into my weekly activities. Thanks!
Oct 17, 2014
Hi Geoff
Good question, because it forced me to reflect on how we used to keep in touch with our contacts before social networks. In short, we did a very poor job! Social networks are fantastic at keeping in touch with people BUT you need to drive it because your network won't.
Before giving you some tips to get you thinking, I have two rules of thumb:
1. You have to be in contact with someone four times before they remember your name; and
2. You have to be in contact with someone 10 times for them to remember you.
Some questions to get you thinking...A. "What is the objective you wish to achieve by reaching out to your network?" Is it to keep in touch, or is it to promote your brand? Answering this question will provide a guide.
B. "Have you researched how others use social networks and how respond and react to each different style?" Answering this question will give you some insight into your implementation strategy.
Based on your research and your objectives, draft a plan. I suggest you keep it brief. Less than a page.
Start reaching out
Analyse your results. Most networks provide data on opens and likes. Learn from the data and improve your approach over time.
Contact me if you want to learn more.
Mark Thomas
Inspirational Leaders
Oct 18, 2014
Here is the theory that I abide by...If you have just been in more direct touch with a subset of your network (event, putting on seminar or webinar, etc.), you calendar simple follow-ups (email or phone or other message) once within 24 hours, once within 48 hours, 96 hours, 144 hours and 192 hours. You might even add one inside of the first 24 hours, and you are continuing to remind them of whatever call-to-action you are focused on.
Given than statistically only 3% of prospects are actively seeking the product or service you provide at any one moment, it is imperative that you stay in touch with ALL of your network regularly. They are not thinking about you all the time, and you have to keep your name in front of them by providing regular 'touches' of value. This could be a blog, newsletter, video, 'quote of the day', etc. Some people subscribe to the theory that you should actually do this once a week. I personally feel that is too much, and I aim for once every 2 weeks.
I never fail to get some response from my network from each touch effort. I forget the actual statistics, but it is something like, it takes an average of 12-14 touches before someone will engage with you, but most of us quit after 2.
I hope this makes sense and is a response to what you are asking.
Oct 17, 2014
Inbound marketing is about sharing not selling. It's about engagement on the social networks and sharing content that is of value to your target market. You can schedule out posts and tweets with tools like TweetDeck, HootSuite and SocialBro as well as automate sharing of content from trusted sources who consistently put out quality content of interest to your target market. Use HootSuite or TwitterFeed to do that.
It's takes a solid strategic plan, a tactical plan, persistence, perseverance and patience, but it works.
Here's a video that explain how it all works together: What is Inbound Marketing: http://youtu.be/5qoHtUVLhjc
Giselle
AZSocialMediaWiz
Oct 18, 2014
network or calendar for network is only technical approach but not special and core idea which you should share (your network)
if you have a lot of "tasty" ideas for your network every day = you are welcome to share
but if you share daily with useless comments (text) it is not good and you can destroy all your communications
so first of all is your inspiration or production of your useful context for other people
as for me here (in this social net) I post not often bcs routine affairs prevent sometimes to be at 100% with head and heart in my advice so sometimes it is better to stay silent, sometimes silence is also useful but you need feel it (appropriate time) also as you can feel that it is maximum insight to help and be useful for your clients (network)
practical advice = try to see with your clients' eyes (if you would like to receive this what you would like to send and receive often or maybe opposite way - precious news but rarely)
wish you and your business good luck!
Marina.
Oct 17, 2014
Use not only social network but also sms and daily tips by e-mail this type of relation have agood charm...
Oct 18, 2014
Absolutely, even the sharpest minds forget things in passing, don't they? It's human nature.
Personally I use a Daily Journal approach, a two page style, appointments/ things to complete on one page and the description of the results on the other, as well as record keeping, mileage, vehicle repairs, particularly important phone numbers, I even constantly use the charts and lists to calculate imperial to metric and back. Dozens of tasks made so much easier, try a 7x10 zippered Day Timer series. I also have a large Monthly Calendar Desk blotter, always filled with notes/ sticky notes. I refer to it as my kayos contained and managed. Lol Last words as I leave the office, "Don't touch that desk, I kill you!
Oct 18, 2014
It is very crucial for the professional networkers to design and schedule of the meeting to get the maximum mileage from that network. You always need to felt your presence and not over-throwing yourself. Yes, maintaining a calender is mandatory, to keep you updated.
Oct 18, 2014
It used to be every 6 months that I called on an account that had possibilities and I would guess that would still hold...AS you become closer maybe every quarter...
Oct 20, 2014
I have two calendars the old fashion paper based and my digital calendar. I could not do business without a calendar, how do you schedule appointments.
Oct 31, 2014
How to use Calender? Is there any URL to share with me?
Thanks Jeff! Very Helpful.