Keep a track of how many A’s, B’s and C’s you answer and check below for your results.
1. When giving people business cards do you.
A: Only give them if asked and relevant.
B: Never give them out if they wish to connect with me I will get their card and contact them.
C: Thrust them at anyone and everyone the more I give out the more people will know me.
2. When meeting someone for the first time do you go to their website/LinkedIn profile and check them out before you meet?
A: Always I like to know more about them before we meet.
B: Sometimes if I have the time.
C: Never they can tell me when we meet.
3. Do you remember every connection and referral you make and track if it was useful, created business or if the two people even met?
A: Yes, I always follow up as I want to ensure my referrals are useful.
B: I usually leave that down to my connections to tell me.
C: No, once I’ve connected someone they disappear from my mind.
4. Do you remember every connection you offer to make?
A: Always I hate saying “sorry I forgot”.
B: Sometimes but it’s impossible to remember all of them, life is just so busy.
C: No, I’m very forgetful and it usually takes me being reminded two or three times.
5. Do you track business generated through referrals, even repeat business?
A: Always I have a memory like a super computer.
B: I remember the first piece but tend to forget repeat business.
C: No, I tend to forget how on earth can you ever remember where an introduction came from?
6. Do you know who the givers are in your network?
A: Yes, all of them and I ensure I spend extra time with them to build a strong relationship.
B: Some of them but I do find I spend wasted time with some people.
C: No idea what’s a giver?
7. Do you remember to say thank you to your connections when they generate business for you?
A: Always it is critical so that they think good of me and connect me to more business.
B: Sometimes but I just can’t remember all of it.
C: Never why should I I’ve won the business.
8. How much of your business is created through referral?
A: Plus 60%
B: 30-60%
C: 0-30%
Mostly A’s: You are a networking god, a super connector. How do you manage to track and manage all that activity? Do your contacts/network realise just how productive and awesome you are and how lucky they are to know you? You are a rare breed indeed. Keep up the good work your business must be flourishing.
Mostly B’s: There is room for improvement. You probably need to be a little more organised and structured with your networking. You may wish to review where you network and with whom and where business is generated. If you work out who the key people are in your network, work closer with them you will save yourself a lot of time and effort.
Mostly C’s: Ooops. Is networking REALLY for you or have you just started out? You really need to get to grips with who you should and shouldn’t network with otherwise you will waste a huge amount of time and drink an awful lot of coffee. Networking is a business strategy like any other and you really need to know why you are doing it, what you wish to get from it and like any other form of marketing track profit and loss, time taken, and results achieved.
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