Have you ever met someone at a networking event who would be an ideal client for you? Yet you struggle with how to follow up without seeming "sales-y" or putting any pressure on the person?
Imagine returning home from a networking event and calmly sending an email like this:
Hi ______ (Fred, Anne, John, etc.),
It was great meeting you this morning at the ______ (name of event). I wanted to follow up with some resources about what we chatted about.
You mentioned that _______ has been a challenge for you. Here is a blog post that I wrote about that very problem. It includes some basic information and some suggestions for how to apply it. (#1) You can view the post at _________ (link to the specific post). (#2)
Please let me know if you have any questions! You can reach me at ___________ (phone number). Or feel free to connect with me on ________ (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.).
See you soon,
_________ (your name)
P.S. If the blog post was helpful, feel free to sign up for my weekly updates, from the top right-hand corner of my website. That way you'll see my newest posts with similar information. (#3)
Congratulations! You've just deepened your relationship and shortened the distance between blogging and business.
(#1) Sending helpful information exactly when it's needed creates goodwill with your contact. It also shows that you were listening and that you care. NOTE: At some point during your conversation, you will have needed to ask, "What is your biggest challenge when it comes to ______ (YOUR area of expertise)?"
(#2) Your well-written, focused blog post establishes you as an expert at solving the exact problems this person is dealing with. NOTE: Be sure to provide the permanent link ("permalink") to the specific post, which you can get by visiting your blog, clicking on the blog post title and then copying the URL that appears in the address bar of your web browser.
For example, the permalink of this post is http://www.contentmasteryguide.com/2011/06/how-blogging-can-help-you-follow-up-after-a-networking-event.html - do you see it up there in your address bar?
(#3) Inviting the person to your blog/website gives the person a non-threatening way to find out more about you and your services. NOTE: You can turn your blog into a website (a "blogsite") by adding just a few crucial details. See my simple writing tips for your blogsite pages. ALSO: Be sure there is a subscription form for your email list on every page of your website or blog.
With a mountain of high-quality content on a blog to draw from, following up with new networking contacts is as easy as 1-2-3.
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