You Can Connect with Your Contacts: I Am Too Busy is Just an Excuse

Every consultant is busy- I get that. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do a little business development every week. Not everyone is busy every minute of the working day. You can find 5 minutes at least once per week to stay connected. I find, like most things, you need to develop a routine. So below are five easy steps to get you started on your way to connect with your contacts weekly.

1.      MAKE A TABLE of current clients and people that you want to stay in contact with. Start with:

• Name
• Relationship - how you know them

2.      WHY NOW? Next to the names on the list – put a reason why you should be contacting them – the reason should be about them - not about you - it could be a follow-up from a project; a follow-up from meeting them; sending them an invite to a webinar or a paper presentation; or, for people you know well, a check in to see how they are doing or see if they are going to a meeting that you are attending later in the year.

• Name
• Relationship
• Why is Your Contact Valuable to Them? (i.e., why should they listen to you?)

3.      SCHEDULE TIME at least once/week to make at least one contact – use Outlook, your CRM, or a “To Do” List to remind you.

4.      THE PHONE IS YOUR FRIEND. Most people dash off an email and are done with it – chances are you will have better success if you just pick up the phone and call. Make that personal connection.  You also shouldn’t forget Linked-in messages as well as texts. Clients don’t always respond the way you want them to.

5.      FOLLOW-UP.  This is where people fall down. You need to do the follow-up after every discussion. It could be as simple as a “thank you”

• Name
• Relationship
• Why is Your Contact Valuable to Them? (i.e., why should they listen to you?)
• Date Connected
• What Follow-Up Done

Five simple steps. Five minutes a week or a day. Do this and you will find that your business development efforts will pay off.

About Meyer | Vorst Consultants

We work with individuals and professional service companies to look for opportunities and grow their networks. For more information, check out our website at www.meyervorst.com