Tips on becoming a Master Networker
In a recent article on Fox Business, Kristen Askin proposed that one of the first steps to becoming a Master Networker was to send an email after making a contact.
Having built my reputation to becoming The Referral Master® over the past 30 years I have to say I was astounded at this advice. Yes, it is advice in becoming a networker…. maybe! But a Master Networker? Definitely not!
One of the concepts of networking – and really the only reason for doing it – is to turn those “contacts” into “relationships”. Relationships with people that know you (Visibility), believe and trust you (Credibility) and who will eventually refer you (Profitability). You definitely won’t do that with an email.
Emails are great tools for conveying information – no question about that. They are absolutely useless for establishing and building a relationship.
First, they do nothing to create TOMA (Top of Mind Awareness) in the mind if the receiver – if everyone sends an email how will you stand out?
Second, they are subject to the most popular button on a keyboard – DELETE – and once that happens you are forgotten.
So if you want to be seen in the same light as everyone else, send an email to start a relationship.
However you will never be a Master Networker starting that way.
I love this reference to “the most popular button the keyboard – DELETE”. Nowadays sitting down and writing a fairdinkum letter like in the olden days has a lot to be said for it. I receive them occasionally – several a week – which is bit of different story to 300-400 emails a week.
As you say that most popular button is running hot. Whereas the letters I have received are still sitting there in the in tray. They will soon progress to being read and from there either be answered or else go in the pending basket to answer later that day. And from there go to the outbasket for mailing.
What is almost impossible to ignore is if you receive TWO or event THREE personal letters from the same person. Gives an idea of the power of a personal physical letter.
Matt – I have a 5 step plan for my networking which includes sending 2 greeting cards in the post. Works a charm. Helped me build a business from 5 figures to seven before selling it.