The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

224 / BECOMING SUCCESSFUL

Recording your

contacts

Networking time will

be wasted if you do not

record and follow up your

contacts. Your record

can be very simple—a

note of name, company,

and contact details, the

context of the meeting,

a brief account of what

was said, and a summary

of what you think this

person could do for

you, or vice versa. Some

people find it useful to

group their contacts as:

Developing your network

There are software packages that

can help you record and manage your

contacts, but check the legal data

protection requirements in your country

before compiling information digitally.

Your network list needs nurturing

and maintenance; people will fall off

without regular contact. Review your

list periodically and identify conspicuous

gaps. Remember that when people leave

a company they remain as your contacts,

so keep in touch—they may go on to

bigger and better things and become

even more useful to you.

Always send a thank-you

email or letter after every

meeting you have attended.

How to follow up

contacts

INFLUENCERS:

people whose

opinions usually

carry weight

DECISION-

MAKERS:

people who

can award

contracts

of marketing professionals

through social media Communicating

for their business

93 %

US_224-225_Networking_3.indd 224 30/05/16 3:03 pm