| If you're anything like me, you exchange business | | | | They may be VIPs... and you may not be. You want |
| cards with people. That's what we're told to do, isn't it. | | | | them to remember you. If you spend two minutes with |
| Get their business card. Give them yours. Great. That's | | | | them and say something that lets them know you |
| easily done. Now what? | | | | know something special about them... say they ran the |
| How many of those you exchanged cards with have | | | | Boston Marathon... they will remember you. You will |
| you heard from since that time? How many have you | | | | stand out from the crowd. |
| contacted? What good is the ritual of exchange if you | | | | The next day, drop those VIPs a note and tell them |
| don't do something with the cards except throw them | | | | you enjoyed seeing them again. Include a little |
| in the recycle bin when you've forgotten who the | | | | something that reminds them of your conversation |
| person is? | | | | with them. Make it simple. Just keep in touch. |
| I must confess that networking has never been my | | | | Remember to make notes about anyone else you |
| thing. After reading Harvey Makay's Dig Your Well | | | | met at the party. If you have their address, send them |
| Before You're Thirsty, I've had a conversion | | | | a note about how nice it was to see them. |
| experience. If you want to know how to network and | | | | After reading Makay's book I made a commitment to |
| why it's important, read his book. | | | | become more organized with my networking. The |
| He talks about the importance of taking time at the | | | | difficulty is that I'm not great at details. I don't mind |
| end of each day noting who you've met and recording | | | | writing a quick note, but those notes often have |
| any new information you've learned about someone. | | | | difficulty finding their way into a stamped envelope... |
| He discusses the importance of the rolodex. Some of | | | | apologies to Harvey Mackay who sells envelopes. |
| you may not even know what that is. It is simply a | | | | As fate would have it, I read about Send Out Cards |
| place to keep all the information on your contacts, with | | | | shortly after finishing Mackay's book. This service |
| little tid-bits of information. | | | | takes most of what I find drudgery out of sending |
| You want the usual, such as name, address, business, | | | | notes. They have more than 10,000 cards to choose |
| phone numbers, email, WEB sites, etc. You also want | | | | from... and you can make your own note cards or post |
| names of spouses and significant others, children and | | | | cards by uploading a personal picture. You select the |
| their ages, schools each family member attends or | | | | card, you write a note, put in the contact information |
| graduated from, special interests, awards and | | | | just once, hit send. They print it, address it, stamp it and |
| accomplishments. | | | | mail it. |
| Why do you want all this? | | | | The contact is now in your contact list... which you can |
| Let's say you are going to an event where you know | | | | then use to keep all the information you need to keep |
| several people you've met are going to attend. | | | | in touch. It couldn't be easier. |
| (Perhaps you haven't met them but you want to.) | | | | |