My Networking Strategy – It Works!
Almost every business can benefit from networking. You have buyers, sellers, and people who are a bit of both. What type of networker are you?
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Here is the Problem
Networking has become more like one of those speed dating television shows. It’s fast paced and often hard to build rapport. Following up with people can be just as hard due to the email-haze after a big network meeting. Plus, I haven’t even mentioned entering the business cards into your database, and classifying them; even if you have a business card scanner, this process alone can take hours!
This is My Solution
Using any CRM system [I use Infusionsoft] you can create a web form and run predetermined automated actions off of it when you enter someone’s contact information. I have created two web forms specifically for networking. When I enter someone’s contact information into my database, it processes a pre-authored email template to that person—a generic email that looks and feels personalized. The web form also tags their contact record with ‘network lead.’ This allows me to figure out my conversion rate for people I meet at network meetings, and thus my ROI. One more automated action takes place: I also add them into an automated follow-up sequence, which is basically a series of time delayed pre-authored emails. Each email includes a link to an evergreen video. This is the game changer! By relying on the merge fields in the email templates [that automatically insert information in their contact record] to personalize the email itself, I can keep the video generic,
“Hi it was nice meet you. I recorded this short video to reintroduce myself, as I am sure you – like me – meet a lot of people at these network meetings. Anyways, with little more than an inexpensive webcam and this nifty piece of software called jiveSYSTEMS, I am able to record videos like this one in a matter of minutes. It took me only 4 to make this one. Oh one more thing, I might send you a few more emails with videos in them over the next few weeks to touch base. If you don’t want to receive them, you can simply hit the unsubscribe button, found in the email within you inbox. I am looking forward to talking with you further about our mutual business and objectives. Have a great day!”
What kind of reaction do you think I get?
Conclusion
Whether you are using a CRM system combined with our Video Email and Web Video Marketing System, or just using our system alone, you can increase your response rate from network meetings a great deal using this strategy, and save a lot of time in the process. I guarantee that putting the human element back into your marketing using video email and web video will have an immediate and positive effect of your business. Your Return on Investment (ROI) will be mind boggling!
Give it a go, take a 30 day test-drive of our video email and web video marketing system.
About the Author:
Will Franco is the CEO/Founder of jiveSYSTEMS (a video email marketing software and training company). He also runs an online community / membership group called AskFlywheel, in which he teaches cutting-edge online marketing strategies. His mantra at work is "Think-Automate: Do it, Automate it, Delegate it, or Ditch it"
