The Savvy Gal Blog

Prospecting clients at midnight

Ugh.  Tomorrow’s another team meeting and I’ve done absolutely nothing about prospecting new clients this week.  Shoot.  I can’t sleep anyway, maybe I’ll check out some of those networking groups I joined but never have the time to go to.  Hmmmm.  Here’s one that has online member profiles (www.DowntownWomensClub.com).  Let’s see if there are any human resource types on there.  Hey, here’s someone, and what’s this?  She even went to my alma mater. “Click here to send email.”  Maybe I’ll ask if she’s going to next month’s alumni event.  That makes this sort of a “warm email” doesn’t it?  A few more of these and at least at the meeting tomorrow I’ll be able to say I’ve started “dialogues” with a few new connections.

Online Networking Tip: Four basic questions for email intros

Savvy Gal Networking Tip: Remember these four basic questions for email introductions:  With whom do you want to connect?  Why do you want to connect?  How would that person like to connect?  When would he or she like to connect?

Here’s an example of a great email introduction from a mutual friend:

Mia,

Hi – As I mentioned in my recent email, I’d like to re-introduce you to my friend Wendy.  She is involved in chairing a women’s affinity group luncheon at her company.  She enjoyed meeting you briefly at my get-together last month and wanted to find out more about your motivational speaking.

Wendy is cc’d on this email.  Let us know if she can contact you directly, and what’s the best time and method for reaching you.

Thanks so much for your time, and please let me know if there’s anything I can ever do for you.

Best regards,

Carla

This tip courtesy of The Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking (or What Would Jane Austen Do?)

More ideas for tracking down a speaker

Just in case I can't get Carla to speak next month, I figured I'd do a little googling and see if there are any more places to get speakers.  I found two great sources that my pal, Diane (an occasional speaker, herself), hooked me onto.  First, www.DWCFaces.com, a social network for businesswomen that has a keyword search function.  She suggested I put in the term "speaker" along with my state as a location.  She also recommended that I check out Women for Hire's Speaker Directory.  Pretty cool.

Tracking down a speaker

O.K., to-do list item number one for the day—have to find a really good speaker for the company women’s lunch next month.  What was the name of that woman I met at Carla’s party a few weeks ago?  She was some sort of motivational speaker or coach or something.  I know I got her card...didn’t I?  Or maybe that was the card I used to write down my number for that cute guy at the car wash?  Oh well, no time to worry about it now (or the fact he never bothered to call).  I’ll have to email Carla and ask her to make an introduction, or at least send me the woman’s email address.