It's unlikely your business leads and contacts you have met at networking events will appreciate being contacted only when you feel like you need something. It's very likely that this will leave a bad taste in their mouth, possibly leave them feeling used. A reputation like that is not conducive to good business. You want to make sure your contacts feel appreciated so that you have a well earned network system that yields plenty of referrals and additional contacts..
No matter how many people you meet in order to improve business leads, you don't want the first time you reach out to someone to be a request for help, for business, to sell something etc. You need to maintain your network and build real relationships. Here are some ways you can start doing that today:
Fostering Business Leads by Spreading the Cheer
Spread the cheer year round with holiday and random appreciation cards to keep your contacts fresh. Make sure you keep track of who you send things to and who sends things to you. You don't have to focus only on the holidays you can send a happy spring card. Everybody except snowmobile dealers likes the passing of snow.
Foster Business Leads with a Special Announcement
For another great way to keep in touch with your business contacts you can send out special announcements. An announcement can be something like a baby announcement, entry into a training program, promotions, email changes, an upgrade to a new smart phone that makes you more accessible, entering a new market with your business, etc.
Foster Business Leads by Sharing an Interesting Article
If you find important and useful technical information or industry news that you are sure would be of interest to your contacts you can forward it along to them with a short note. This is an especially good thing if you have a formal contact that you don't want to be too familiar with by giving out personal information. This let's your contact know that you are thinking of them and engendering good will on their part.
Foster Business Leads by Introducing a New Contact
Referrals aren't a one way street and sharing your contacts and introducing them to each other can create a climate of sharing in your circle that benefits everyone. You business contacts might significantly benefit which in and of itself is good enough reason, but you also might earn some future benefits from helping the members of your business network.
Fostering Business Leads by Saying "Hi"
There's no rules against just picking up the phone or sending a mail to ask your business contact how they are doing, give them a hearty hello and enjoy a little small talk. The average small business owner is working hard and cooped up in their office or workspace for long periods and a little human interaction can go a long way especially when it's not really business related.
Use each of these tips at regular intervals and you'll have a steady flow of contact among the various people in your network, ensuring that you never let any of your business leads gather cobwebs in the back of your rolodex.
Author Resource:
Referral Vault is the number one source for Virginia Business Networking groups. If you want to build better working relationships with other businesses and improve your Virginia Business Leads then join today for free.
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