First Word

Coffee meetings on Monday ... yes, got up early and actually got an early start to my day. Why is it we all resort to coffee meetings these days? It is as if Starbuck's was built just to provide a place for coffee meetings. No one ever suggest we meet at Denny's. Well, I take that back. I've had older clients actually suggest Denny's. The coffee and food at Denny's is awful. Thank goodness I do business with an older demographic. My next question is, of course, why coffee meetings? I do have a theory. Want to hear it? Of course you do (wink). I think it's because coffee is cheaper than lunch or the old martini meeting standby. (Remember when people actually smoked and drank alcohol to do business?) Lunch meetings can get pricey. Coffee, though, isn't cheap these days. I can get a flavored coffee and maybe a scone -- all for $10. Wow! Wait! Did you say $10? Yes, just for coffee and a scone. Isn't that ridiculous? Next it's going to be $20 for a gum ba...

So you're an avid networker. You attend all of the events, and in the lyrics of the old Cheers song, "everybody knows your name." Yet despite more trips to the rubber-chicken buffet, you still don't have anything more than a stack of business cards and no real prospects in sight. Here are three things you should do after the networking event: Email  - I always like to send an email to my potential business first. Some people prefer phone calls, but e-mail is my "pick-my-poison" choice follow-up method. I recommend you give it at least 2-3 days (kind of like the rules of when should I call after you meet someone new) and then shoot them an email. Coffee  - I like coffee as a generic meeting device. I don't like lunch, because that can get expensive if you have a lot of follow-up meetings. Coffee is $3.50 and if nothing else, you've gained a friend from the meeting, $3.50 for a good, ole cup of Joe is nothing off your marketing budget. I also...