Helpful Hints on Keeping Track of all Those Networking Contacts
Helpful Hints on Keeping Track of all Those Networking Contacts
The sign of a great networking event is walking away with tons of business cards, each one with the promise of turning your business life around. But sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of the event, you are grabbing cards left and right, and when you make it back to the office, you find yourself scratching your head, trying to put names with faces. Keeping track of all of your new business associates and weeding the ones with potential from the dead end contacts can be an overwhelming task. There are, however, some techniques you can use to make the whole thing a little less confusing, and to help you work more efficiently.
The first step starts at the networking event itself. When you meet someone and swap business cards, after your conversation, take a minute before moving on to the next person to make a few notations about the conversation and the person on their card. You might write red shirt, likes skiing, sells surgical lighting units or anything at all that will jog your memory when you get back to the office. If you have had a conversation about something specific regarding business opportunities, make sure to make a note of it. If you made a more personal connection and found a common interest, note that as well; it will function as an icebreaker when you need to contact that person in the post-networking event rush. Find a system that works for you and stick with it.
The next step comes with you get back to the office. Take some time to sit down and sift through the business cards. Sort them by industry, by company, by the position of the person, or any category that will help you devise a strategy to follow up with them. Then, follow up. Send emails to arrange further meetings, referencing conversations you had at the event, or propose new ideas. Even if you think you wont be able to do business with someone at that particular moment, take the time to drop them a line, thank them for their time, and encourage them to stay in touch. You never know when a go-nowhere contact may become the most important person in your Rolodex.
Now you need to find a way to keep track of all of those contacts after you have made the initial follow ups. There are a number of ways you can do this, and the method you choose depends on your personal preference. Of course, you can simply stash the cards in a Rolodex or card box and look to them as needed. If you have a large business and hundred of contacts, however, this method can get confusing. The best thing for you might be to use contact management or database software on your computer. Contact management software is basically a calendar and to-do list that lets you create reminders to call customers on certain days or email them when a new shipment comes in, or any task you need. You can use the software to keep track of details about your contacts that will refresh your memory whenever you need to talk to them. Contact management software is available in the Outlook Express program, or you can try other popular programs like ACT or NOW. Data management software allows you to create a spreadsheet about your contacts and then call up any individual part of that information on demand. That way, you dont have to dig to find the information you need.
The whole point of networking events is making contact you can keep. Dont let you valuable work go to waste - keep track of those contacts so you can use them in the future.
