My Secret Weapon: Follow-Up

“Most people don’t follow up very well, if at all.” – Keith Ferrazzi

I was talking with my Co-Founder and Adviser, Dan, the other day and we both came to the conclusion that business is all about PEOPLE.

Obvious? Maybe. Well understood? Not by most.

PEOPLE without FOLLOWUP = FAIL

People: you meet them out and about in your daily life (conferences, dinners, the internet, your store, random walks on the beach).

The thing is, it can’t stop, wont stop, there. There has got to be FOLLOW-UP.

Follow-up: the art of reconnecting, again and again.

When people follow-up with people good things happen.

See, IT DOESN’T MATTER how many people you meet or how many people you know, if after that first interaction the lines of communication go dead. You need work your face off at keeping those lines of communication open and healthy; this goes for colleagues, associates, friends, customers, prospects and spouses.

Bleed Value

Now don’t go thinking that the reason you’d follow-up with someone is so YOU can benefit. What you need is a clear idea of how THEY can benefit.

How can I help YOU!! (add value to your life) -> That’s how you win…

Thank You Keith

Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone, gets it!

Buy his book, read it, understand it, apply it, ASAP.

Here’s 3 of Keith’s 11 tips for Flawless Follow-up:

1. Remember—and this is critical—your follow up shouldn’t remind them of what they can do for you. It’s about what you might be able to do for them. It’s about giving them a reason to want to follow up.
2. Many people wait until the holidays to say thank you or reach out. Why wait? Your follow-ups will be timelier, more appropriate, and certainly better remembered.
3. Don’t forget to follow up with those who have acted as the go between for you and someone else. Let the original referrer know how the conversation went, and express your appreciation for their help.

Any additional tips you’d add? Any processes or methodologies, you’d recommend, to keep track of it all?