What Do I Do Now With All Of These Business Cards I Collected?

How many times do you attend a NetWorking event and collect business cards from other professionals you think may be a great contact (and even those you don't like the 73rd financial advisor of the evening)?  What happens when you get back to your office - what do you do?

All too often I hear from my associates and colleagues about the incredible opportunities that just go wasted.  I've found that some of the most effective NetWorkers I know approach each event from the start as an opportunity to meet:

• Potential prospects
• Potential providers of value-added services to their clients
• Potential long-term providers of referrals.

Some other things that set the really good NetWorkers from the rest is that they:

• Set number goals to either meet so many people or collect so many cards at any given event
• Understand that NetWorking and sales are two completely different sports
• Write important information about the person they meet on the back of their card
• Commit to following up with every person with whom they've collected a card, usually calling to schedule an appointment within 24 hours of the event
• Enter the information from their cards into a Contact Relationship Management System (CRM) like Microsoft Outlook, Goldmine or Act!, often via a business card scanner
• Attempt to meet regularly with their best contacts
• Stay in front of all of their contacts through direct mail, newsletters, etc.
• Continually strive to improve themselves and their techniques by reading books on networking (I highly recommend The World's Best Known Marketing Secret, by Dr. Ivan Misner), joining networking groups that place emphasis on continual coaching and training or taking networking courses like Team RainMaker or the Certified Networker Program (CNP).

Here's to your success!

As one who connects, educates and inspires business, I frequently get questions from my clients and associates as to which networking groups I recommend and/or endorse, I figure it best to do so in this format.  It is my intention to eventually expand the listings over time.
 

Kovitz Enterprises, LLC
Connecting, Educating and Inspiring Business
18 Rockwood Road
Levittown, PA 19056
(215) 945-3411