Order. shape. compliance. everything in its place. Keeping track.
OK, I don’t mean to go overboard, but having your organizational skills in place will make you a better networker. Case in point: Daniel LaBroad.
Daniel is a self-made CEO. He began his insurance business from the franchise of a specific brand, living off of commissions. H even borrowed a car before he owned one. He grew his business from that to a large, multi-agency agency with some very large clients. But this isn’t about Daniel’s business–it’s about his organizational networking skills.
Daniel built his network to build his business. But he kept track of people and details along the way to make sure that network stayed intact and grew.
Basic networking organization involves steps and processes and simply remembering and recording things:
- Consider having a database or CRM to record and keep track of contacts. Software programs like ACT or Salesforce or even simply using your outlook or iContact database–just a place where your contacts reside and you can keep notes on them–and refer back to them.
- Collect (and give out) business cards. The last, best piece of collateral material you can have on your person. It tells your basic story even after it is sitting on somebody else’s desk after you are gone. Collect and record the information off these little buggers using a card-capture program like Card Munch or hand input them.
- Come back from an event or meeting and take stock of what was done and who you met. Classify and categorize the cards you collected. Transfer the notes from the cards to the database or notebook so you can recall the person and events.
- Contact with follow ups on a regular basis. Once they are in your database and you are making the rounds of networking events, you will be back in touch with many of them. Be sure and remember them and keep in touch.
- Weed out as needed. This keeps the database vibrant and current and reduces digital clutter.
- Continue to collect cards and relationships. These are the people who will build your career and business with you.
The contacts you make are gold–treat them that way and they will pay off for you. But you have to be organized and know where they are.
Relentless
