Have you ever said, “I hate networking”?

Chances are, you have – if not out loud, then quietly to yourself through gritted teeth, as you walk into a work event.

Here’s the thing: most of what you hate about networking? Isn’t actually networking. It’s schmoozing and bragging – and it very rarely works.

REAL networking happens gently over time, and most over email.

That sounds a little less scary, right?

A fundamental rule of networking that’s effective (and actually fun) is that it’s a long term relationship – not a one night stand.

So while that first in-the-flesh meeting is important when it comes to making industry friends – just like a first date is important when it comes to having a romance – it’s what happens afterwards that makes the BIG difference to your network.
And it’s your network that’ll make the BIG difference to your business or career – and to whether you are scrabbling to find clients or your dream clients are scrabbling to work with you.

The simple two-minute trick that will build your network and make you stand out:

Every time you meet anyone who’s anything to do with your industry – or just someone you might one day want to work with or be hired by – send them a “Nice to meet you” email.

CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS: “Every time you meet anyone who’s anything to do with your industry, send them a ‘Nice to meet you’ email” – @yesyesmarsha

I’ll talk you through exactly what that looks like later. But first, here’s why it’s important:

(1) It’s common sense

Imagine if you went on the most incredible first date. You clicked with this person on EVERY level. There is no doubt – they are The One.

After the date, would you… leave it to fate, not contact them, and just hope you’ll bump into them again?

No. This is not Serendipity. You are not Kate Beckinsale. Or John Cusack. 

CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS: “You are not John Cusack. Don’t leave keeping in touch down to Serendipity” – @yesyesmarsha

(2) It makes you stand out

SO FEW PEOPLE SEND THESE EMAILS. (<– all in caps so you get how big a deal this is)

Seriously, for all the bad rep business cards at networking events get (“Here’s my card! Get your people to fax my people!”), they usually just get chucked in a box at home, and never looked at again. If you make the (minimal) effort send a “nice to meet you” email – especially if you add value – you will stand out a marathon’s worth of miles.

CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS: “Sending a ‘nice to meet you’ email makes you stand out a marathon’s worth of miles” – @yesyesmarsha

(3) It makes people feel GREAT

“It was nice to meet me? Aw!”

The fact that you – who has to cope with an inbox as stuffed as the rest of our’s – have bothered your arse to sit down and send a personalised note really means something.

CLICK HERE TO TWEET THIS: “Sending someone a ‘nice to meet you’ email will make them feel GREAT” – @yesyesmarsha

(4) You never know when having sent this email might help you out

Let’s say you meet Janet at a conference. Janet works for Google in their events department. Together, you briefly chat about her new pug dog. The next day, you might send Janet a “nice to meet you” email. Maybe she doesn’t respond. That’s fine.

Eight months later, you decide to host an event and are looking for sponsorship partners. Google would be perfect for this.

If you didn’t send a “nice to meet you” email to her, you might write Janet something like this:

Hi Janet,

I don’t know if you remember me… we met almost a year ago at that conference… we talked about your dog? It was only for a couple of minutes, so you probably don’t remember…
Anyway, I’m hosting an event…

Not very compelling, is it?

Now, let’s say you did send her a “nice to meet you” email, and now want to contact her again. This time, you hit ‘Reply All’, then change the subject line to something relevant (and enticing). For your opener, you can be a little more familiar:

Hi Janet!

Hope you’ve been well since we last spoke.

I’m hosting an event…

So much warmer – and it’s so much more likely to make her want to help you. Even if she has no memory of having met you, she can scroll down and see that she did.

Why does this matter?

Because:

• it gives you credibility. If you were unhinged or super-annoying, once you remind her of your meeting, she’d probably remember that. So she can assume that you’re not.
• if you met her with a friend (who you mentioned in the “nice to meet you” email), that gives you further credibility (“Well if Andrea likes her, she must be ok”) and it gives her a sense of social responsibility to that friend (“I don’t owe this relative stranger anything – but I am happy to do my friend a favour”)
• people are more likely to put effort into a relationship that they’ve already invested something in. Psychologically, it’s more appealing than starting afresh.

As you can see, sending a “nice to meet you” email is an easy, non-scary and very effective way of doing networking that’s actually FUN.

In the next blog, I’ll tell you what should and shouldn’t be included in the best kind of “nice to meet you” email – and I’ll even give you a template that you can copy and tweak.

Or, if you’d like personalised one-on-one help when it comes to becoming brilliant at networking – in a way that feels effortless, schmooze-free and comfortable for you – then I’d love to chat. Click on THIS sentence to find out how to book a no cost, no obligation 15 minute chat with me.

Over to you

Have you had someone send you a “nice to meet you” email after you met? How did it make you feel?

Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks so much for reading. If you know someone who would find this helpful, you can share it with them using one of the round buttons below.

You rule!

xx (Yes Yes) Marsha

PS Click HERE to read part 2 of this blog!

PPS 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: Nebraska Helen, jpcolasso, GabboT and russelljsmith, all via Compfight cc and the computer one from the ever-amazing http://deathtothestockphoto.com

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