I work with consulting, coaching and professional start-ups
as well as those that need to take their practices up a notch.

Networking is a critical element in their success or
failure.

I always ask what they are doing or going to do to scale up
their Networking.

Here are 5 things you can do:

1. Invest
   in a CRM system that meets your needs. There are free ones available on
   line and a host of possibilities to include Outlook that can do part of
   the job but not all of it. If you want an integrated CRM that allows you
   to customize the data you save, check out the product tab at
   www.pixelgigs.me/1118

2. Use
   the CRM system to record contact data, obligations and to schedule the
   follow up actions you need to take. Don’t overlook recording information
   about new acquaintances that doesn’t match up with the common sales
   oriented standards. Think about recording interests, hobbies and
   preferences to allow you to see the person in your mind’s eye when you
   haven’t been together for a while. 

3. Get
   outside your comfort zone. Yes, you need to meet people that are prospects
   and the centers of influence in prospects lives that might send them to
   you but make it a point to meet people in other industries and with other
   tastes and interests as well. This will round you as a person but it will
   give you a singular advantage over most people that network for business.
   It will allow you to use the weak links, indirect connections to the kind
   of people you want to meet that you get to by telling all the people you
   meet the kind of clients you want to work with. 

4. Treat
   every contact with care. Be genuine. I’ve been amused, intrigued and at
   times overwhelmed with how powerful simply caring can be when it is
   genuine. Simply saying thank you for talking to me to someone in a
   handwritten note says you care and builds a relationship that is not soon
   forgotten. I have had contacts I barely remember link me to business I
   never expected to get because of a thank you. Each of us has some skill or
   interest or ability that we care deeply about. Ascertain that cherished
   talent. Make it a point to tap into it if only in conversation.

5. Stay
   in touch. Relational networkers know that networking is not tit for tat.
   It is going past the initial meeting and follow up to a long term
   connection that is positive for both of you. Sometimes you have to be
   persistent. With others it seems to just happen naturally. The key is to stay
   with it. This is where the CRM system can really help. With it you can
   schedule contacts and make sure you follow up. You can keep track of the
   situation and know what is going on. It’s funny how something that simple
   can bring great rewards years later.

Tit for tat or Transitional
Networking does not scale.

Relational Networking will scale. All it takes is using this simple advice.

 Jerry Fletcher is and expert at
Trust-based Marketing at the heart of which is Relational Networking. Learn
more at www.JerryFletcher.com

www.NetworkingNinja.com is where you
can learn more about Jerry’s Speaking Topics and view videos of him in
action.