When it comes to drumming up new business or starting a conversation after a conference, “It was nice to meet you and …” just won’t cut it. Here’s what to do instead.
The Freelance Switch blog posts advice from self-professed “follow up freak” Ilise Benun on how to get beyond generic niceties and find common ground to build a rapport on. The solid take-away:
Set the foundation for follow up while you’re talking. Follow up starts when the conversation starts. As you’re talking, be looking for something to say in your follow up. As soon as it hits you, make a note of it on the back of their card.
You can find something in common – a topic of interest, whether personal or professional – or listen for what they may need help with. Then, in your follow up, you offer an idea, a contact or some other resource.
Ilise also suggests tackling this email as soon as possible, to keep yourself fresh in the new contacts’ mind.
[Via Freelance Switch]
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