Networking Insight

How Do You Follow-Up with New Contacts?

After you meet someone at a networking event, you need to follow-up in a timely manner.  If you fail to follow-up within a couple of days, then you may be forgotten.  Prompt follow-up demonstrates that you care about building the relationship.

Most people never follow-up so stand out and be the first one to follow-up with your new contact. The other person will be appreciative of you taking action. Most people get too busy and forget to follow-up. By taking this serious, you have a better chance than most to build new relationships.

So, how should you follow-up?  Should you follow-up with a phone call or email? It all depends on your previous discussion. If you said that you would send your new contact some information or a connection, then email is a good technique.  

Also, email is a good technique because you are empowering the other person to get back to you when available.  Email is less intrusive and you can send it anytime.  Email is good for setting up the next meeting or phone call. 

At the same time, phone calls are nice because they don’t happen as much as email. If you are someone who likes to talk on the phone, then give the new contact a call. He/she should not be bothered. Sometimes phone calls are easier because the other person then doesn’t have to respond to an email. Every day, we get many emails so one less email to respond to can be nice.

What is your follow-up technique?

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Business Networking Humor

3 Tenets of Savvy Networking by Susan RoAne (video)

EFactor Presents: Chi-Town Tech Talk

Below is information about an upcoming entrepreneur event in Chicago that I co-organized.

EFactor Presents: Chi-Town Tech Talk 

Date: August 23, 2011

Time: 6-9pm

Location: TechNexus, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago

Host: EFactor

Cost: Early bird special: $10 (ends 8/5), regular: $15, door: $20

More Information / RSVP: www.efactor.com 

With so many tech companies on the rise in recent years, there are still a great number of them upstaging one another, competing for authenticity and marketing innovation. In this EFactor event, we will feature three companies from Chicago that have made waves in the tech industry, across the country. 

Speakers:

• Ross Kimbarovsky, CEO of CrowdSPRING
• Igor Fedulov, CEO of Intersog
• Aashish Dalal, CEO of ParkWhiz.com
• Desiree Vargas Wrigley, CEO of GiveForward

Topics discussed include

• How to create a successful dual-sided market that caters to a variety of customers
• When creating new concepts, how to change user behavior
• How to add value to the current market with new technologies 
• How to service customers in a new and more efficient way
• How to raise awareness for your company, new technology or service

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9 Ways to Stay in Front of Your Network

In order to build long-term relationships, you need to find ways to stay in front of your network. You want to stay top of mind.

Below are 9 ways to stay in front of your network:

1. Create an e-newsletter or email that you send out regularly
2. Develop a blog that you write to frequently
3. Set up a Twitter account and tweet every day
4. Organize and host your own events from time to time
5. Find speaking opportunities at other events
6. Write articles or guest blog posts
7. Connect on LinkedIn and Facebook and frequently update your status
8. Attend various events every month
9. Connect people in your network on a regular basis

The more visible you are on a frequent basis the better for building a solid network.   Most people don’t involve themselves in enough activity.  Be proactive and stand out.

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Act Professional in All Conversations

Your reputation is a critical element of your personal brand. Therefore, you should do whatever you can to maintain a positive personal brand.  Each week, you should be meeting new people at events, your office, online, or through introductions. 

Regardless of the situation, make sure that you act professional in all conversations, especially in public. It is not a good idea to get too comfortable with someone (at least at first) and say or do things that you would only happen with close friends.

The last thing that you want is someone to take you the wrong way.  So, be careful not to bring up controversial subjects. You don’t want to upset anyone that could lead to an argument. Also, don’t swear during conversations because you could offend someone.

Lastly, don’t drink too much at an event because this could change your behavior in a negative way. You want people to only think positively about you. Act professional and consistent in all of your interactions with others.

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Chicago Pitch Bootcamp - by the Founder Institute - Less Than 2 Weeks Away!

Below is information about a workshop that I have organized in Chicago for the Founder Institute, which is a global network of startups and mentors that helps entrepreneurs launch meaningful and enduring technology companies.

When: July 28 - 6:00 - 9:00pm

Where: Bank of America, 135 S. LaSalle, 43rd Floor, Dining Room, Chicago

The Founder Institute will be hosting a free "Pitch Bootcamp" to help you articulate your startup business ideas. In just three hours, you will refine your idea, improve your pitch, and find a cofounder. 

This hands-on, intensive workshop will be led by David Culver, Co-Founder and CEO of Extraordinary Success, LLC and George Deeb, Managing Partner of Red Rocket Partners. Space is extremely limited.

For more information and to register, go to Chicago Pitch Bootcamp.

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Social Networking Humor

Mobile Technology - Breaking New Grounds - Entrepreneur Event 7/14

Below is a final reminder for an event that I will be moderating on 7/14 for Chicago technology entrepreneurs.

Mobile Technology - Breaking New Grounds

Date: July 14, 2011 
Time: 6-9pm 
Location: TechNexus, 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago 
Host: EFactor 
Cost: regular: $15, door: $20 

More Information / RSVP: www.efactor.com

What makes a mobile app successful? Our phones now have the power to provide us all sorts of content anywhere and everywhere we go. With thoughts of different apps in the marketplace, what makes a certain kind popular and lucrative? 

In this special EFactor event, we’re showcasing groundbreaking companies from the Chicago area, that have taken innovative mobile apps to the next level.

Speakers

• Ashish Rangnekar, Co-Founder of BenchPrep
• Kilton Hopkins, Co-Founder of The App House
• Alex Bratton, CEO of Lextech
• Rafiq Ahmed, CEO of Demibooks
• Jason Shahh, VP Products of Mediafly

Topics Covered

• How to build interactive mobile apps that ride on the height of usability and eye-catching design
• Methods of marketing mobile apps for your company
• How to reach your target audience by making apps that are fun and more “human”
• How to build inventive apps that have high-valued content while leveraging the power of technology and social collaboration
• How to create the smartest and most convenient apps for every iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry

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Book Review: Managers, can you hear me now? by Denny F. Strigl

Managers, can you hear me now? was written by Denny F. Strigl who is the former CEO and President of Verizon Wireless and has four decades in the telecommunications industry. He serves on the board of directors for Eastman Kodak, PNC Financial Services and PNC Bank, and Anadigics Inc. 

The co-author of the book is Frank Swiatek who is a performance consultant and speaker who has worked for more than 25 Fortune 500 companies and has had more than 3,400 speaking engagements and seminars.

The book is divided up into the following chapters:

• Why Managers Struggle
• The Power of Trust: Integrity, Openness, and Respect
• The First Obligation of a Manager: Get Results
• Keeping Things Simple
• The Leader Models Accountability and Builds It In Others
• The Mindset of Successful Managers
• Managing Distractions
• Building a Culture of Performance

The information shared in this book is based on the real world experiences of Denny F. Strigl who had a remarkable career in the wireless communications industry.  He shares all of his skills and techniques that he used to build Verizon Wireless into a great growth company. 

In the book, you will learn how to:

• Create a corporate culture where trust, respect, and integrity flourish
• “Eliminate the fluff”, get focused, and stop wasting time on things that don’t matter
• Address issues proactively before they become problems
• Get past your “blind spots,” reinforce priorities consistently, and communicate with clarity
• Master the Four Fundamentals of Management: growing revenue, getting new customers, keeping the customers you already have, and eliminating costs

For any manager struggling to get results, the author will motivate and inspire you to get the job done. Much of what is learned in the book is through the author sharing examples from his career. He shares both his failures and successes and how he learned to become a better manager. 

In addition, at the end of each chapter, the author summarizes the main points and has action items. By implementing these actions, you will stay focused and move your management skills to the next level.

Managers, can you hear me now? is worth a read for managers who wants to bring out their best and make a difference in their companies and employees.

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