I attend a number of local networking events and enjoy meeting people face to face. As you noted these are some basic things we should be aware of. I can’t tell you how many times I meet someone and we exchange cards, then when I get home to start writing cards or sending emails there is no name on the card. I now have to keep reminding myself to look at the card when I receive it and if the person just has a card that reflects the business info, I’ll write their name on the back.

I wonder if there’s a way to tactfully help many business owners understand that exchanging business cards does not automatically give them permission to add me or anyone else to their mailing list. Any suggestions?

Live networking events is definitely one way that I strongly recommend to make connections. I think that even if you are an internet marketer it’s important to continue to build your network offline in your community so people can get to know what you do.

As someone who also works with offline clients to get their more visibility online, I can attest that networking with the Chamber of Commerce, Meetup groups, etc. work and I wrote a couple of posts on that at my blog.

Thank you. Nice post!

Try logging in to your Facebook account and then changing the address in the browser to this: http://www.facebook.com/#!/bookmarks/lists. That should take you to your lists directly.

Let me know if that works (or doesn’t )

Cindy

Facebook has made many changes since this video was originally created. There should be a section to the left of your news feed. It says “Lists” if you put your mouse over to the right of the word you will see the word More appear. If you click on it you will see your lists.

Hope that helps,
Cindy

This is what I’ve been saying for over a year and a half. I take very seriously – just because someone gives me a business card at a meeting, at an event, at a 3-day seminar, whatever, doesn’t mean they’ve consented for all time to hear my message!

With pretty much everyone on social media these days, you really don’t have to. Social media even solves the “how do we keep in touch without every step being manual?” question to some degree.

Invite them to join you on Facebook and/or LinkedIn(r) and stay active in those areas. There’s a huge difference between “please accept my friend request” or “let’s connect” or an invite to my group, vs. “here’s my newsletter, if you want to keep receiving it do nothing, otherwise you can click to unsubscribe.” Unsubscribe? I’ve been around the conference circuit once or twice if you get my meaning, I didn’t feel like I was having anyone “subscribe” to me…..

Just my $0.02.

- ARH

Once you upload a photo, there will be a spot to “Tag People”. Select the spot on the image around the person you want to tag and then start typing their name. If you are friends with them already then their name should pop up.

It’s pretty easy once you do the first one.

Hope that helps.

Ely

Give me more details about what you have done so far?

Also, check out our new site http://www.YourMarketingUniversity.com We have some cool stuff we are sharing there as well that might help you out.

I also went to look at your website and it did not work. That is one thing you need to make sure is up and running ASAP as people will not trust you if they go to your site and it isn’t working. Get that back up and running right away.

Get me some more details and I might be able to shoot some ideas back to you.

Ely

First off, thank you for the great comment!

As networking is a key marketing tool, follow up is the part that makes the networking work. There is nothing wrong with following up with everyone you meet at networking.

But…

Let’s say I meet you at a Chamber (event or wherever) and we exchange business cards.

I have no problem getting an email that says something about how great it was to meet me and asking a few questions to get to know more about me.

Make it conversational, NOT pitchy.

Following up to build the relationships is exactly what you should do.

What I see that ruins the relationship is someone that got my card and then added me to a generic newsletter. It may be informational (though most are just “buy my stuff” oriented), but it is not a follow up. It’s spam.

The key is:
Do you know if I am even interested in what you sell?
Do I know YOU enough to even want to do business with you yet?
Do we have a connection? Commonality?

As an example:
I met a Realtor at an event about a year ago. He immediately added me to his generic newsletter.
All the newsletter does is talk about his latest deals on commercial office spaces.

I never said I wanted it.
I never showed an interest in it.
He never built the relationship.
I don’t even remember who this guy even is.

Yet I get his emails all the time.

To make it worse, he isn’t following the laws and does not have a unsubscribe link.

Because of the HOW he did it, I will never buy from him. It doesn’t matter how great the location is, I would not do business with him because he never built a relationship at all and his entire message is “You need to buy this, even if you aren’t interested and really don’t have any clue who I am”

See what I mean?

It’s I don’t mind getting emails if you are building a relationship with me but if I never said I want your stuff, don’t just add me to a generic newsletter.

Hope that makes more sense.

Thanks again and let me know if I can help in any way.

Ely

While I agree with most of what you are saying there is one point I would like to make. Networking is primary here. Many people are spending a great deal of time meeting and greeting new people. Are you stating that one is supposed to make a special list each time they go to a networking event and mail out a permission request? Since the “rules” require the ability for the receiver to opt out, shouldn’t it be acceptable to add you to a list, and if you do not want my materials, you can simply opt out? I believe most if not all software removes your email address entirely from the list when you unsubscribe. You may even find that you get an interesting piece of information that you wouldn’t know about unless you took a moment to see it.

Dana

And….like you always teach…you have to start with a PLAN first!

Ely

Thanks!
Katharine

Thanks for the comment and I am glad that you liked the 70 ideas part.

Not everything will work for very business but the goal is to be creative and see how many you can make work.

Looking forward to hearing you results form them.

Ely

Yes, its all about adding value and keeping a happy customer. If someone is only happy if you slash your prices, then they likely will not be happy with the actual product, no matter how great it is.

Thanks for the share! Always looking at other options.

Thanks for the comment … (and sorry for the delay getting back to you on this one.

I find the best decisions come from not “thinking” about it, but “DOING” it. Most of my best accomplishments come from just making a decision and taking action as fast as I can.

Congrats on the board exercise. That is awesome!

Great video. These are really powerful features, and you did a wonderful job bringing them out and showing how they apply to what everyone wants to accomplish online.