You Made the Connection, Now What?

Mid-Week Check In:

Review your weekly calendar: How are your activities going so far - if you missed some, we can still make up lost time. 

Your Accountability Score: How do we look, what is your halftime (mid-week) score?

Priorities to Finish the Week: List two things that you NEED to get done still to make this a successful week.

Weekly Theme reminder: Remember this week is about simplifying the warm marketing process.

The Blog:

We all hear the same advice from experts. Go make genuine connections. Go talk to more people. Go build relationships. And sure, that is great advice, but nobody ever explains what happens after that first handshake or that first conversation.

Most entrepreneurs leave the moment feeling good, then freeze, and never follow up again. They assume the other person will remember them or somehow take the next step. The truth is simple. Connections grow only when you nurture them through simple systems.

A real connection becomes valuable when you choose to follow through. Warm marketing is not just about meeting people. It is about what you do after you meet them. It is the quiet follow-up that most entrepreneurs skip. It is the small steps that turn a short conversation into a long-term supporter.

If someone took the time to talk with you, then the ball is in your court. Here is the clear four-step process that turns a nice meeting into a strong relationship:

1. Capture the conversation

Right after you meet someone, jot down three things. Something they said. Something they care about. Something you can help with. This helps you remember the human being, not the business card. Have a simple way such as notes in your phone, right into your CRM app, or even sticky notes...anything can work, but have a plan.

2. Follow up within twenty-four hours

Send a short thank you that includes one specific detail from your conversation. This proves you were present and paying attention. It sets you apart because most people never follow up at all. I like to do video emails, so they can put a face to the message, JUST IN CASE they forgot you for a moment.

3. Add them to your support list

This is where the relationship begins to grow. Share something they are working on. Leave a review. Introduce them to someone who could help them. Small support builds trust faster than any sales pitch ever could. There are so many CRM's to choose from, or just a simple email contact list, or just an excel file...again, anything works.

4. Reconnect every thirty days with purpose

Do not send a random check-in. Send something valuable. Can you add value? A resource, a thought, or a win they recently had. Stay relevant without being annoying. Over time, this turns a stranger into a strong, warm connection who thinks of you when opportunities arise.

Just remember, without a plan, then you are just working for the sake of working (and if you have that much free time, do I have some jobs for you!!). And relax, your first version of your follow-up plan may evolve over time, perhaps you get a better CRM, maybe your follow-up gets more intimate or large scale, but without a first version plan on keeping track of who you connect with, there will never be a next level.

Final tip, always keep your email list backed up and accessible no matter what platform you use for follow-up...the number of lost email lists over the years makes me cry inside. NOW, go meet some valuable connections!

Call to Action: If you want to learn how to build authentic connections and grow your business through trust, join the 5 Day Challenge and get a free copy of my book. Your business grows when your relationships grow.