Do you have a drawer full of business cards stacked in piles or put in a shoe-box after every networking event? Not sure what to do with all those fancy cards? Do you pull them out of the drawer now and then and try to remember where it was you met these people?
Use these simple tips for maximizing who you meet at networking events using LinkedIn. You’ll love this!
1. Immediately send a connection request to each of the people you meet. This will ensure you stay in touch long after the networking event. I like to send a message within 24 hours of the event. Make it a standard operating procedure, you won’t forget, and your face will be fresh in their minds.
2. Send her a private message. Customize the message. Remind her where you met, and what you talked about. This is no time to get salesly, you want to start the relationship. Another benefit is having a history in your message box of when and where you met each contact, and what you talked about. This is useful for future conversations.
3. Attach an article that you wrote, or one you found that is helpful to your new connection. You don’t have to do this right away, you can do it in a follow up message. It shows that you are interested in supporting her business and gives her value.
4. Make an introduction. It’s really great when you meet someone and can bring them value by making an introduction to someone she needs to meet. It could be she’s looking for an accountant, a business coach, or an insurance person. Make this connection and everyone wins.
5. Endorse your connection. Endorsements help connections increase their credibility in the field they work in. It’s different than a recommendation which is another word for testimonial, I do not recommend this unless you’ve actually worked together. An endorsement is appropriate.
If you want to build influence and maximize the connections you meet, using LinkedIn is one of the best ways you can make this happen. It’s easy and it’s impressive. Stand out from the rest of the crowd and use LinkedIn to grow your relationship.
If you don’t have a customer relations management system (and even if you do) and, you didn’t ask permission for your connections to be added to your email marketing list, this is an excellent system for you to manage with ease.
(If you don’t know you are supposed to do ask permission and get someone’s opt-in to be on your email marketing list, start doing it now because it’s required by the FCC, click here to read more:)
Want help building a Rockstar Profile? Send an email to Jennifer@DarlingCoaching.com, in the subject write: Rockstar Profile. I’ll help you get to All-Star status so you can generate positively successful sales!
Want to learn my #1 way to build influence? Click here to get your free gift!
About the author: Jennifer Darling is your Positively Successful Sales Coach. She has worked with 1,000s of businesses in strategic planning to increase their revenue. She provides sales, marketing, personal development and business consulting for small to medium businesses, corporations, nonprofits, and groups. Jennifer possesses 20 years experience for companies such as NBC, CBS, FOX, and Comcast. She holds a Master’s Degree in Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising & Promotion.