| Networking on the Internet is the same as | | | | in multiple delivery formats. |
| networking inperson, or is it? Let's take a | | | | Last week I was at the Women's Business Center |
| conversational tour togetheron this topic. | | | | networkingbreakfast event. A woman stood up and |
| At an in-person networking event you wouldn't just | | | | apologized for nothaving her workshop flyer and |
| attendnot to network. Or would you? Normally | | | | business cards. She forgotthem on the kitchen |
| everyone is therefor a purpose, even if they haven't | | | | counter. Not to be unkind but if thishappens, turn |
| totally defined thatpurpose, they have a vague idea | | | | your car around and go back home either to getthe |
| why they are there. | | | | information or do something else more productive. I |
| Wouldn't that work the same for iNetworking? Yep. | | | | toohave on occasion during my 20 years in business |
| Yet... | | | | left thingsbehind, it only took me once to attend and |
| Weekly I receive emails and phone calls how | | | | not have thenecessary material and its |
| someone wants toconnect with me in some way. | | | | embarrassment to learn to neverdo that again. |
| Yet... | | | | Making a pitch via email to someone that can be a |
| They have no idea on what. No suggestions, no | | | | possiblegatekeeper, prospect, or strategic partner is |
| inklings, nopossible thoughts, nada. I'm always baffled | | | | important, ifyou don't have the time to put into a |
| when I receivethese. I don't have time to educate | | | | well written andclearly presented email, turn the car |
| people because theysurely do need it. A few emails | | | | around and do it whenyou do have time. If you |
| even add their web site URLlink or suggest that I | | | | never seem to find the time, thenlook at your |
| visit their web site to learn whatthey do and "figure | | | | priorities, they sound a little off kilter tome. |
| it out for them." | | | | I'm not saying you need everything perfect nor have |
| For the folks reading this who have done this and | | | | all theanswers but I am saying that you need to |
| wonderedwhy their email doesn't get a response or | | | | know what you wantand say it.iNetworking isn't any |
| gets a quickresponse of "sounds great," or "you can | | | | different than in-person networking inmany respects. |
| sell my new productor become my affiliate if you'd | | | | In both, you are building a relationship,it's just not in |
| like" -- knock, knock,anyone home up there. People | | | | person, nor local, it's international inmany cases. You |
| have told me that when theyreceive get these | | | | wouldn't say in the first three minutes atan in-person |
| responses back, it confuses them. Talkabout | | | | networking event that you want them to be |
| confused, how about the person receiving them. | | | | youraffiliate, or would you?iNetworking is about |
| It's so much easier to either don't write or say what | | | | building relationships. I've developedsome wonderful |
| youreally mean. Simply, say why you are writing, this | | | | networking buddies on the Internet over theyears |
| is whatyou do, this is what I do, and here are some | | | | and they watch my back and I theirs. It isn't allabout |
| possibilitiesfor us? You can even set this up in a | | | | sales. Yet, each of us knows we need to scratch |
| signature file in | | | | eachother's back. And we do. But not until after the |
| Outlook and make it a quick send. | | | | initialtime together. |
| Everything is a mirror. If you want to iNetwork state | | | | Let's summarize these points for clarity. iNetworking |
| whoyou are, what you offer, or give clues and ideas | | | | isthe same as in-person networking in that you need |
| ofpossibilities. Don't place the burden on the receiver | | | | to have aclear intention or purpose for making |
| tofigure it out. | | | | contact, even if thereason is to get to know what |
| This brings us to rule number one in iNetworking. | | | | each of you do. iNetworkingworks its magic best |
| Beprepared. Don't be the one that has a great | | | | when it includes at least one phonecall after the initial |
| service orproduct but doesn't know who the | | | | contact. |
| gatekeepers are or who thebuyers and strategic | | | | Since I write Internet articles, I set up many |
| partners are for your products orservices. | | | | relationshipswith publishers and editors. I don't |
| Gatekeepers are people that know your more | | | | hesitate to writethem. I compliment them on what |
| ofyour buyers, strategic partners are people that you | | | | they are doing right andsometimes give them an idea |
| aregoing to do something joint and temporary with | | | | or two on what other sites aredoing to support their |
| to providebetter value for both your customers. | | | | writers. They are always gratefulbecause they don't |
| If you went to an in-person networking event you | | | | have the time to do this. And therelationship grows |
| wouldn'tforget your business cards, or would you? If | | | | from there. I prefer to follow it up witha phone call |
| you attendedan in-person networking event would | | | | or two. I learn about their challenges and Ishare the |
| you not bring the flyersfor your next workshop, not | | | | same. |
| know the benefits of yourproduct or service, or not | | | | It doesn't matter who calls whom, be ready with |
| know who is your ideal client. | | | | your spiel. |
| If you did, it would be a social event and not a | | | | What you do or provide and how you some possible |
| networkingevent. | | | | workingarrangements. There is a list of 100 by my |
| The same holds true with iNetworking. Have your | | | | phone. Allowtime to iNetwork but look for people |
| businesscard set up for an easy email send, set a | | | | who are ready. |
| signature file in | | | | Don't make people guess. Spit it out clearly in your |
| Outlook or whatever email software you use, have | | | | email,edit and edit again if need be. Sometimes I go |
| yourworkshop flyer in pdf (Adobe) format, in an auto | | | | through sixor seven edits to make sure mine are |
| responder,designed for a embedded text email and | | | | clear. Give others theopportunity to network with |
| HTML email (embeddedmeans not as an attachment | | | | you. Here's my challenge toyou. Who can you reach |
| but as the email itself). Inother words, have all the | | | | out to at this exact moment andbegin iNetworking? |
| same materials that you wouldcreate for an in-person | | | | They are waiting to hear from you. |
| networking event available fordeliver via the Internet | | | | (C) Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved. |