Your Fans are those who do business with you, but would not think about referring your services on their own. They need a little encouragement. Ask them if they know of anyone else who is having an event that could use your service. Tell them you would like to contact those people to offer your services to them. Most of time they are happy to help you out. They just wouldn’t think of it themselves.

· Send greeting cards for all special events listed on information cards previously filled out by attendees. Retailers might want to include a note for recipient to stop by for 25-cent tour and a small gift.

· Send postcards a few weeks before each holiday or event listed offering a free consultation on other services you provide, discounts on purchases, or some other promotional item. It is important to keep you at “top of their mind” when they might be planning another event or know someone who is.

· Fax or mail ideas for events two or three months prior to their corporate, or milestone events. Offer a special consultation rate to help them plan a successful event.

"The same could be said for increasing your professional network." - Heidi Richards

Building your Network is an ongoing process. Increasing your “Circle of Influence” must be constant in order to achieve and maintain success. The relationships we develop become our eyes and ears to what’s happening in business, to share new opportunities with us and to increase our visibility. We reach these opportunities both directly and indirectly through those relationships. The indirect approach is often best way to gain access to others by way of introduction or spreading good news about who we are. It is essential to develop a networking plan both for business and personal contacts. In business, right networking can be ten times more effecting than advertising. And it costs less!

Your Networking Plan of Action should define your objective

1. Is it to increase business by a certain percent, get more referrals, or help others?

2. What can you offer those you network with in exchange for information and contacts?

3. Which organizations should you consider for best “bang for your buck,” and most importantly, your investment of TIME?

4. What benefits do/can you offer to entice people to do business with you? This is your “30 second commercial.”

Build Your Network

1. Ask your current “circle of influence” for opportunities to which they can “turn you on."