Will Corente has 5  Rules for Building Successful Connections. These are worth repeating here regarding follow-up.

1. “It’s about each of you. Whether you are connecting with one person or a group of people, it is important to consider the needs and objectives of each person or party involved and to seek win-win solutions. Effective connecting at its core is about is about helping each other seize opportunities, entrepreneurs and business people are more apt to help you reach your goals if they know you will do the same.”
2. “Follow-up Within 24 Hours - If you enjoyed making a connection or see potential for a relationship to develop, show the connection that meeting them was important to you by reaching out within 24 hours via phone, email or text. I find a simple note saying it was great to meet them, offering next steps of communication and an offer of to be of assistance if they need it is a great relationship builder.”
3. “Once in Touch, Stay In Touch – Every successful relationship in your life is built over time and through multiple interactions and communications. Once you have made the initial connection it is imperative that you follow up, stay in touch and check-in to keep the lines of communication open. If you live or work close by, a brief coffee meeting is an excellent relationship builder with your connections.”
4. “Be a Giver – People who excel at connecting give advice or assistance first and ask for assistance second. Offer your advice, counsel or assistance on a matter, offer an introduction to a friend or business associate who can help them as a way to show you care about their future success as much as your own.”
5. Have a Long Term View – Great connectors know that the next great partnership, introduction or synergy could be just around the corner and that developing relationships with everyone they meet regardless of the immediate benefit is the key to long term success and relationship building. Some of my best connections and synergies have been 20 years in the making.

Also what do you do if you have not contacted them within 24 hours. Well 2 things.  1. Start now with every connection contacting them within 24 hours. 2. Go ahead and start following up with past connections that you may have lost contact with. Even if it has been over a year. Remember you are starting fresh.

Whatever you do, don’t give up and think that they won’t be interested in hearing from you because it has been too long.  The majority of sales people fail because of poor follow-up. Whether you are building a business, a non-profit or just trying to make connections “Follow Up” is the most important aspect of next steps. (We’ll go into more detail on Next Steps in the following weeks)

Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way! You need to Lead with meeting people, Follow up with them quickly and consistently and Get Out of the Way of your success to live outside of the “Comfort Zone”

Les Adkins is the CEO of  Orange SMS Consulting and an International Social Media Strategist, speaker, consultant and author. Bringing strategy and whole brain thinking to creative campaigns and social media through his work. Please follow @mysylbert and connect on LinkedIn

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