Today, I have a specific message for Networking Nancy. I talk to three specific women on a consistent basis, and regardless of your name, you may fall into one of these three categories. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks if you want to “meet” Introvert Irene or Sales Leader Susan. I’ll be introducing them to you in upcoming emails but, today I'm talking to Networking Nancy.

If you are Networking Nancy, you are that person who goes to ALL OF THE networking events. You are in all the Facebook pictures.

When I chat with Networking Nancy I often ask this question, "What type of return on investment are you getting with your networking?" Many times I hear things like, "Hmm. Well, I don't know exactly how much money I've made from my networking," or "Wow, follow-up requires a lot of work. I don't always have time to follow up," or something to the effect of, "Networking is really starting to feel overwhelming."

What I would love to share with you today, Network Nancy, are some tips to help you to secure more of a return on investment through masterful follow-up. The one thing that separates the person profitably networking, and the person who's just attending events is follow-up.

I'm just going to give you some tips and I’ll share a really cool gift with you. It's what I call my Profitable Follow-Up Formula. Normally, this is something I give to clients. However, when I'm thinking about you today, Networking Nancy, I think that this might be a tool that will be super helpful for you, especially in the business climate that we're currently in. You might still be doing a lot of networking online and may not be utilizing the same strategy as when you were going to in-person networking events.

Here are a few things that you might want to consider.

After you've attended a networking event, the most important thing is to reach out and to make quick connections with the people with whom you had a connection. I am talking about the people that you felt, as though you could probably be a resource to in some way, shape, or form, and most importantly that you might be able to offer them another connection.

Connect with them right away and don't cheap out. Don't just send them an email and cross your fingers and hope that they respond to you because the likelihood is that they won't unless there is something that they need urgently. You may just get bumped down to the bottom of their priority list, not because they didn't like you, not because you didn't make a great connection, it's just that you're no longer at the top of their priority list.

You have to keep yourself top-of-mind by doing unique things. One of the first things is to make sure you make a voice connection. In some cases, you might want to use something like Loom (video app). You can create a really short video and then send them the link so they get an opportunity to hear your voice and see your face instead of just getting another telephone message. Get a little creative, but make sure that they hear your voice again.

Another idea is to create a value gift. If you call with a gift instead of asking for something, people will be more likely to respond.

You might call you and say,

"Hello, I want to invite you to attend another event with me. Or… I'd like to schedule a call in order to introduce you to another colleague with whom I think you might make a great connection."

In other words, make sure you have something of value to offer in order to get them to respond to you.

When you get a little more creative, people will respond to you. It will take time but, you'll get some great ideas when you open the gift I’m giving you,

I’d love to hear how you’ve gotten creative with your follow-up, Networking Nancy! Stay tuned next week to meet Introvert Irene. I’ll give you some interesting ways to connect with your ideal clients in a way that is very effective, yet will feel natural for you.

Grab your gift HERE!

Talk soon!