The Worst Thing You Can Possibly Imagine. Or Maybe The Best.

It’s deeply offensive.

I can’t believe anyone would even consider doing this.

A horrifying experience

Picture the scene:

You’re out at a work function. It’s a launch for someone in your industry – mostly, you’re there just to show face.

Just as you’re thinking of leaving, you spot your friend Liz, stood with another lady.

You go over to say hello.

Liz introduces you to Silke.

“With an ‘e’ or an ‘a’?”, you ask.
She tells you it’s with an ‘e’.

You ask Liz how it’s going with the apartment she just moved into.

“Fine”, she says. “But I really needs some thick curtains – the sun is searing my eyes open every morning!”.

It’s late, so after a bit more chat, you tell Liz you’ll see her soon.
You and Silke each say, “Nice to meet you”, and you leave.

The moment it all changed

A couple of days later, you receive this appalling email:

From: Silke Jannus

To: You
Subject: Eye-Searing Sun / Liz’s Friend

Hi [Your name],

It was lovely to meet you with Liz on Tuesday at the launch. She tells me she’s off to Ikea today, so hopefully she’ll find some heavy curtains!

All the best,

Silke (with an ‘e’!)
www.silkejannus.com

Shocking, right?

Totally despicable, isn’t it?

Can you think of anything you could find more outrageous?

Marsha, what the hell are you on about?

So obviously, if you got an email like that, this isn’t really the reaction you would have.

No one would.

 (unless there was an extra bit to the story, in which Silke broke into your house that night, threatened you, stole the book you’re almost done reading, then sprayed, “SILKE ROOLZ 4EVA” on your bedroom wall)
(but in my scenario, that didn’t happen)

You’re more likely to think, “How nice. That person bothered to take the time to say that”.

Or even, “Ah, yes. That lady. I remember”.

This is why it’s ALWAYS ok to write anyone you’ve met a “nice to meet you” email.

Covering possible objections

In the past, I’ve had clients worry about the following:

“Won’t she just know I’m just emailing her for the schmooze?”

My take: You’re not schmoozing, as long as you’re not saying anything that’s not genuine.

“Meeting you last night CHANGED MY LIFE IRREVOCABLY. I love you”.

– probably not true.

“But isn’t it bugging her by sending her an email?”

Two points:

(1) If it’s a nice email, then no.

Being told it was nice to be met, tends to make you feel good.
Being made to feel good is not bothersome.  

(2)

An email is a wonderfully unobtrusive thing. 

Click here to tweet that!

As long as you keep it short and to the point, someone can open, read and delete (or file) it within 15 seconds.

(I’ve timed myself to check)

The point of all this

So why send “nice to meet you” emails at all?

This I will cover next week. But the short form is:

This is networking.

This is how you build a network, and get masses of Business Friends who will help you out – and vice-versa.

Your Turn

 Is there anyone you’ve met in the last couple of weeks?

Send him or her a brief ‘nice to meet you’ email, just to see what happens.

Over To You

Have you ever had anyone chase you up with one of these?

How did it make you feel?

Let me know in the comments below, or by clicking here.

Thanks tons for reading,  

If all this made you think of someone you know, you can share it with them by pressing one of the buttons below, or eerily floating on the left.

You rule,

xx (Yes Yes) Marsha

PS this week, I told the Yes Yes Marsha Mailer Family about how I have a total stranger staying in my house – that I invited.

Want to know my best-ever client secret – and get even more advice, tips, plus stories that I won’t put on the internet? Come and join the Yes Yes Family – it’s free! Just pop your details in below:

Photo Credits: theloushe, rosefirerising, Tomi Tapio, SewPixie, kaibara87, all via Compfight cc

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