Everyday you have opportunities to connect, build relationships and get your brand in front of decision-makers. Businesses understand the value of this type of connection. Think about it. Everyday you receive coupons and offers via snail mail or company newsletters via email. Why do they invest time and resources in staying in touch? Simple. They want you to think of them when you need their product or service.
For example: If I need a plumber and the plumber I met at the Chamber of Commerce meeting last March mailed me a note, then a coupon, then another note and enclosed a refrigerator magnet with his logo, website and phone number, odds are good that the magnet is on my refrigerator or at least I will recall his name when I (or a friend) need a plumber.
Starting this year, find or create a system for staying in touch with your network and getting those people to be your brand ambassadors.
How do you get started? Follow the steps below:
1. Create your list.
Who needs to know you? Start small and focus on key influencers. You are not building a mass marketing list. Think of the people you really want to connect with during the first quarter of the year and those you will stay in touch with throughout the year.
2. Make your regular connection all about them.
Whether you craft a note, letter or email (I recommend giving snail mail a try), don’t go on and on about you. Focus on what the person means to you, acknowledge them as a person and thank them for previous projects — you can even share an experience or fun memory you’ve had with them in the past. If appropriate, you can mention what you are doing or ask to connect in person. Don’t send your card, but do add your phone number under your signature or in other appropriate places.
3. Think about your system and how you plan to continue to connect.
A personalized plan is best. Decide how often you will stay in touch. Once per quarter is ideal — more often and you are less likely to actually follow-up (or your contacts may begin to wonder why you have so much time on your hands!). Add holidays, business events and personal events like birthdays or work anniversaries to your systemized plan.
4. Have an impact and make a statement.
This method of connection also helps your network connect with the things that are important to you. Do you run in charity events? You could send a card that also supports that cause. If you are a golfer, send a postcard from your favorite course. Or design a card yourself using your own personal color of ink. My plumber does not send coupons for his services, but rather for purchasing trees to help with reforestation and he sends recipes for his favorite cookies around the year-end holidays. What have I now learned about my plumber?
5. Mix it up.
Don’t always do the same thing — be creative. There are many tools to help you find creative ways to “reach out and touch” your network.
Connecting, nurturing and staying in touch with your network is a necessity. Being known and trusted requires being present. If you wish to leverage your network, you must invest in your network. Personal marketing, building relationships and connecting helps others know you, which in turn, helps your career and your brand. When others know who you are they are able to speak to your uniqueness and value.
Connecting with your network is not just a job search task, it is a career management must. What is your plan for this year? How will you really connect with your network?
In late January, I am hosting a 3-part workshop: Identify, Leverage & Own Your Uniqueness. The workshop is designed to help you quickly identify your strengths and see how others view those strengths, so that you can stand out in the eyes of hiring managers.
If this opportunity speaks to you, drop me an email. I will send you the details and information on how to sign up for the workshop.
Have an amazing week!
Thanks for the reminder, Cindy. While I do a weekly newsletter that focuses on health and fertility, I’ve decided to start with some mailings as well this year, on a consistent basis. I’m excited to try something new, and to see how that goes! Personally, I get a lot more email than snail mail, so I’m hoping having a physical reminder will help promote referrals for my Fertility in Bloom Program. I’ll have to get consistent before I mix it up!