What the People Say
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"Jackie's Ideas Café is a great way of looking at problems and issues with new eyes. Having people from totally different industries or departments can mean a whole mindset difference. They can look at something from an angle you hadn't even considered. Quite often a fresh perspective can point out solutions that were staring you in the face. Jackie manages things in a fun and productive way, bringing the group together and focusing the brainstorming into a more practical reality. She really makes you feel part of a revelatory process that can have impressive results to the way you view your business, and even more importantly, how your business is viewed by others." Matthew Cross, Perseus Consultancy
"I was having great trouble being anywhere on time. At the Ideas Café, they helped me to see that actually, what I was really doing was 'faffing' around instead of getting out of the door on time. I now set my watch 10 minutes fast, so the 'faffing' around time (which appears to be inbuilt!) makes no difference and I can now be on time. This makes me feel better. When I arrive I am not stressed out and feel much more in control. I would highly recommend going along." Annette Heywood, Kingswood Eco Cleaning and Grounds Maintenance"Jackie runs the sessions with her usual friendly, professional approach. The sessions are well structured, allowing each member the same length of time to air their problem / question, explore it and come to a conclusion. The sessions have proved very useful as you are gaining views and ideas from all present. I always leave with ideas I want to develop further." Charlotte Emery, S.E.A PhotographyContact me if you'd like to attend a future Ideas Café
on my website
More reviews at:
Which Web Design Company
The Best Of Bromley
Review me at:
WeCanDo.Biz
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Links you'll love!
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Quick Links
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All my online profiles in one place (website, blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Ecademy & Facebook):
http://unhub.com
/JackieBarrie
Email me
Phone me
0845 899 0258
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Greetings!
It's a long newsletter this month (but I hope you find it worthwhile). So it's a short introduction. The end.
JackieP.S. Please let me know if you'd prefer this newsletter in plain text. |
How NOT to write a networking follow-up
Here's what a mortgage adviser sent fellow attendees after a networking event we both attended. He also forwarded it to me for comment. His text is in green. My comments are in black.
This is what I sent out
Excellent plan
(with slight, personalised variations)
Go to the top of the class
to the new people I met, I also wrote to people I re-met (as you've noticed!) what'd'you think?
The real test is the response you get, but here are some comments (well, you *did* ask!)...
Dear *****,
Emails are more informal, so they often start with 'Hi' (unlike letters)
It was good to meet you
Americanism. English would be 'nice'
yesterday
You get extra points for following up within 24 hours
and to have confirmed yet again that people prefer to deal with people they like.
Delete this or explain it e.g. I enjoyed the event and was pleased to meet so many likeable people. It reminded me that people prefer to deal with people they like. What did you think? (Your aim is to start a conversation)
As a residential and commercial mortgage broker I am trying to make contacts with accountants, family law solicitors, finance brokers (i.e. ones who do factoring & leasing), insurance brokers who don't have a financial services arm, insolvency practitioners, independent estate agents, etc. but first and foremost - established, two partner or more accountancy firms.
I received several follow-ups asking me to introduce attendees to people but without giving me a reason why. I ignored them all. Also, it's better to be specific and ask for just one thing. Especially if you can name the accountants you're targeting e.g. 'Who do you know that can introduce me to Fred at Fred Bloggs Accountancy?'
I've assumed the majority of people
Better to make it direct e.g. I assume you...
are self-employed
If it's personalised and you've met them you should know whether they are self-employed or not
so will have or know of an accountant
Could be 'Send me the contact details of all accountants you know, along with permission to mention your name. for each referral you provide you get a free entry into a prize draw to win a bottle of champagne at the end of the month'
and all I'm asking for is an introduction.
Don't like 'all I'm asking for'
(If you need more reasons why they should talk to me so you have more ammunition and can sell me more to them then do let me know).
Yes, they will want ammunition. If they don't know you, they have no reason to attempt to sell you at all. They will also want to know what's in it for them e.g. I will pay you commission for every introduction that turns into business (mind you, lots of people offer commission but I still only refer those I know, like and trust)
I'm aware that we're all trying to increase traffic to our organisations
Assumption
and so would appreciate your reminding me of any way you feel I could help your business.
Again, why should they? Better to offer them something e.g. Want to fix at a low rate? Call me for a FREE no-obligation 1/2 hour telephone consultation about your mortgage options
Best Wishes
I'm never quite sure how to end emails. It seems 'kind regards' is commonly used
Name
Landline phone number
Mobile phone number
Good to include your contact details as a call to action. The standard form is to separate the signature with hyphens
I have a different aim in my own networking. I don't try to sell, and I don't ask for introductions. Instead, I want people I meet to subscribe
to this newsletter so I can keep in touch month-by-month, remind them I
exist, and hopefully be the first copywriter they think of when they
(or someone they know) needs one. For my own networking follow-ups, I sometimes send a brief website review, to demonstrate
expertise and generate goodwill. I don't ask for anything in return
and I trust that it will pay off in time.
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How to speak Essix
INNIT Isn't it
EFTY Considerable "Ere, Trace, this credit card bill's a bit efty"
EJOG A small, spiky animal (hedgehog)
FINGY A person or object whose name doesn't come to mind. "I ad it off wiv fingy last night" (thingy)
FONG Skimpy undergarment (thong)
HAITCH Letter of the alphabet between G and I
ALRITE DARLING Hello miss
LEVVA Material made from the skin of an animal
PACIFIC Specific
ROOFLESS Without compassion
SAWTED Done, arranged, resolved (sorted)
WANNED UP Tense e.g. "I'm all wanned up at the moment"
WELFIE Rich (wealthy)
SAFF South
FARRRRRRK OOUFF Go away!
GAF House
WEBBATS Querying the location (whereabouts)
CORT A PANDA A rather large hamburger (quarter pounder)
AWSS Horse
BRANNA "Ere, Trace, ya look branna today, ave you been on sunbed?"
Wiv fanks to Sarah
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On a Personal Note
Search my name and I'm all over Google. It helps to have a slightly unusual name. Also that I've been active online for a good long time. The other Jackie Barrie (a distant cousin, in Oz) makes a brief appearance, with her Amazon wishlist. It seems she wants a pair of grey socks. I wish it to be known that it is not me that wants the grey socks, it's the other one!
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