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One Simple Action Smart Solos Do to Get More Business
 Bob and I hosted a three-hour Biznik Savvy Blogging event last week. I was back in the office by late afternoon, playing catch-up: e-mails, phone calls, a blog post, several press releases, and two copywriting quotes I had promised to get out by the end of the day.
It was the next morning before I thought about the event again. Luckily, I was still in that golden window of opportunity-those 24 hours I had to do the one little thing that, over time, has doubled my networking results. What's that, you say?
Always Follow Up
I looked at my list, checked my notes, and sent e-mails to all the event attendees: thank-you's for showing up, resources I promised I would send, personal e-mails to people I had made deeper connections with.
Follow-up is the one thing that successful solos have perfected. It's what makes us real, builds trust, and sets us apart in the minds of our peers, clients, and prospects.
Make It Automatic
Make the process so automatic you don't even think about it. For starters, try following up with:
· Prospects You've Given Quotes/Bids for Services to- You'd be surprised how many people don't do it. If you don't want to ask if your prospect has reached a decision yet, at least e-mail or call to see if she has any other questions. It's a great excuse to have another conversation.
· Networking Event Contacts- Send a simple e-mail to express your pleasure to have met them, forward a link to a helpful article, or set up a coffee date-all of these work.
· New E-letter Subscribers- Recognize the huge step they took in signing up, especially with all the spammy crap on the Internet these days. They have placed their trust in you. Reward them.
· Old Clients- They drop off our radar screen, but let's face it. Former customers are much more likely to buy from you if they've already done so. Stay in contact.
· Referral Partners- You are sending them thank-you notes even if the new connection did not result in business, right? Keep them informed about the results of the referral. They will be much more likely to think of you again.
· Completed Projects for Current Clients- How many solos call back to make sure the client is satisfied with the final product/service? Not many, I suspect. Again, this sets you apart as a biz that provides exceptional customer service. And you just might catch them when they are thinking of a new project.
· Prospects Who Ended Up Hiring Someone Else- Most solos don't think of this as an opportunity. But always, always, thank them for considering you. And plant in their brains all the ways you can help them in the future. Because stuff happens and things change, in which case you'll be the first person they think of, because they already know and respect you.
Use these follow-up strategies consistently and watch your conversion rates grow.
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