The Follow Up Is Worth It

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

Do the Networking and ALWAYS do the follow up.

Have you ever seen a quote and think how true it is? I was at the gym the other day. Yes you heard me right I was indeed at the gym. Anyway They have quotes that run across the TVs there. I love them and the nerdy networking geek in me totally always relates everything back to networking. Ok so I love networking and I do not look at it as work but I do know a lot of people who have to do it look at it as work. This particular quote said “The Work Is Worth It” So true at the gym. Also so true in networking. If you want the results, the customers, the new clients in my case the COIs Centers Of Influence, you have to not only go to the events, the lunches, happy hours, coffees you have to work the room, talk to the other net-workers and follow up. You have to do the work. You have to do all of the work. How many times a day do you tell your kiddos “Don't do things 1/2 way”? If your house is like mine you say it a lot. Well practice what you preach. Go to the morning coffee. Listen to what the other net-workers are saying that they need. Tell them what you need. I mean really tell them. Don't go there and say I work at a restoration company I need anyone who has had a fire, any water issues or even mold problems. I need to go there and say “ I work for SERVPRO of Western O'Fallon/Wentzville. Yes we will put your property back "Like it never even happened," and I promise you if you send us a friend who has any issues with Fire, Water, Mold, Air Duct Cleaning, or even bio hazard clean up they will thank you and tell you what a great experience it was working with us. But hopefully you or your friends will not need us. What I need from you however is to let all your insurance friends know about us. We hold Continuing education classes for agents as a way for them to get their needed credits. Also as a way for us to help them become an expert for their clients. So I would love an introduction to Insurance agents”. Make sure you get everyone's card from the event. Or at least as many as you can. Make notes as to what people need and somehow mark the cards so you know where they came from.  Now carry on and go to the lunch, do that 1 to 1, hit the happy hour. Now at the end of the day you get back to your office or you go into the office the next morning do your follow up. Sit down at your computer and send out those emails. Everyone has their own ways of doing this. I will tell you how I go about doing this. How you do it is not as important as doing it. You do it your way. You have to make sure you do it. I type up a basic email. Something like this-It was great seeing you today. I wanted to take a minute to recap some of the things I went over. I talked about Continuing Education classes that we do for our Insurance agents. I would also love a warm introduction to property managers.  If you are renting your home or business space I would love for you to send an email introduction to your property manager.  Something like this.-Hello ______- I want to introduce you to Jamie Gittemeier.  I do some networking with her and she works for SERVPRO of Western O'Fallon/Wentzville.  They can take care of any water fire or mold clean up that you may ever need.  I copied her in on this email in order to introduce the two of you.  after I have the basic email typed up I will continue to copy and past that part of it but then based on who I am sending it to I will start off with what it is that they need.Like- Hey Emily it was so great getting to know you better. I belong to a group called Little Black Book. This morning you mentioned that you really need to get out there and meet as many people as possible that you were just getting out there and would love to be introduced to groups that could help you network and educate you. This group would be an amazing fit for you. Check them out at www.womenoflbb.com.The 1st part of my email would be me helping them out in some way. Maybe I don't have anyone to introduce them to at the time. In that case I would just let them know that I heard them. Hey Emily it was great getting to know you better. I know you said you need to meet someone in the hotel industry. I don't really have anyone that I can introduce you to at this moment but I will for sure keep my ears open. (I really do. I am just saying that as an example to you) But you get the idea.The follow up is just as important as going to the event. Make sure you set aside time to do the follow up. The Work Is Worth It!