Following up from Xbiz

We last talked about the business card strategy to help you remember who you have met. Now it is time to hit the follow-up. This may be the most important part of your conference experience.  A good follow-up can actually be more important than a good first impression.

At conferences you meet hundreds of people.  It is likely that a good first impression will get you the next conversation; when you reconnect, will the person really remember that first impression? Chances are they won’t – at least not in any great detail.  Your follow-up needs to be strong, because this is the impression that lasts.

When you get done with Xbiz, email every person you received a business card from within 4 days.  Give people a day after the conference to get their bearings and take care of business – but don’t wait too long. People have short memories; strike while the iron is hot and take that initial connection and try to turn it into something more.

You might ask, what about those who I don’t think will be beneficial? Maybe they are not in your industry, or they don’t have services that you find useful, but that doesn’t matter. You need to connect with everyone. You never know who will be a good connection. Maybe they know someone you want to meet; perhaps they will give you a referral some day.  It does not cost you anything to send them an email that says “Hi! It was great meeting you.”

When you send the email try to reference something from your conversation. Remember those notes you made? They are going to come in handy right about now.  If you can even remember a tidbit of the conversation, by mentioning it you are telling the person that you were invested enough in the conversation to pay attention to what was talked about. They will appreciate the reminder, which will serve to jog their memory.  It also opens up an opportunity to continue the conversation you started, and develop a potentially beneficial connection.

The biggest difference I notice between people who are successful and people who are trying to become successful is how they operate their business. It sounds so simple, but successful people take care of the little things, like following up on business cards.  This not only makes you seem professional but it also puts you out there as someone who is driven and dedicated.  Be that person.