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After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:

"Dear Margaret,

It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?

In the meantimeWhile I run my business completely online, I really enjoy attending in-person events and seminars here in Los Angeles and around the country. I'm sure you find these events valuable too. The problem most of us have with networking, however, is following up with the people we meet.

An easy way to follow-up powerfully and automatically is to turn these folks into e-zine subscribers. This ensures that you'll have the chance to repeatedly teach them how great your products/services are while building their trust in you.

But how do you "capture" people in person? Remember, you can NEVER sign someone up unless they specifically ask you to be signed up — it's unethical.

So you need to encourage people you meet in person to join your list, and make it easy for them. And I have three successful strategies to share with you.

1. Advertise Your E-zine on Your Business Card (or Brochure)
   
   Nothing gets passed around at a networking event more than the good old business card. But what's on the BACK of your cards?
   
   Nothing?
   
   Well, from now on you're going to use that valuable real estate. Next time you print new cards, use the flip side! Create a brief message that promotes your e-zine and gives information on how to subscribe. When someone you meet looks at your business card again when she's back at the office, she'll be much more likely to subscribe when she sees the reminder on your card.
   
   As an example, here's what I have on the back of my new cards:
   
   "Promote your business with an e-zine! Sign up for FREE biweekly tips at www.EzineQueen.com."
   
   BONUS: This strategy also gets these people to visit your Web site, which they may not have done otherwise.
   
   If you aren't ready to print new cards for a while, use your computer to print your message onto labels, and affix them to the backs of your cards. Cheap and easy!



2. Follow Up With Each Person You Meet Via E-Mail
   
   After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:
   
   "Dear Margaret,
   
   It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?
   
   In the meantime,
   Hurricanes and Online Auctions
   Wow there are so many garage sales in Hurricane Areas as people clean out their junk and decide to move because they cannot handle it anymore. This makes it a buyers' paradise for eBay sellers online.In fact there are so many sellers at garage sales that the stuff goes for pennies on the dollar and that means you can make a profit by selling it on eBay, of course you need to know a little bit about the prices on eBay and what things sell for as well. Hurricane ridden areas can give the eBay seller the edge
   ing their trust in you.

   But how do you "capture" people in person? Remember, you can NEVER sign someone up unless they specifically ask you to be signed up — it's unethical.

   So you need to encourage people you meet in person to join your list, and make it easy for them. And I have three successful strategies to share with you.

   1. Advertise Your E-zine on Your Business Card (or Brochure)
      
      Nothing gets passed around at a networking event more than the good old business card. But what's on the BACK of your cards?
      
      Nothing?
      
      Well, from now on you're going to use that valuable real estate. Next time you print new cards, use the flip side! Create a brief message that promotes your e-zine and gives information on how to subscribe. When someone you meet looks at your business card again when she's back at the office, she'll be much more likely to subscribe when she sees the reminder on your card.
      
      As an example, here's what I have on the back of my new cards:
      
      "Promote your business with an e-zine! Sign up for FREE biweekly tips at www.EzineQueen.com."
      
      BONUS: This strategy also gets these people to visit your Web site, which they may not have done otherwise.
      
      If you aren't ready to print new cards for a while, use your computer to print your message onto labels, and affix them to the backs of your cards. Cheap and easy!
   
   
   
   2. Follow Up With Each Person You Meet Via E-Mail
      
      After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:
      
      "Dear Margaret,
      
      It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?
      
      In the meantime
      Truck Wash Equipment Purchases Considered
      In the Truck Wash Industry we see many makers of truck wash equipment and personally I think many of these units are over priced and often under perform. In other words they do not get the whole truck clean you see? And whereas many manufacturers of truck wash equipment have good synergy and distributors around the country, I am not sure I trust their units to clean trucks.Some manufacturers of truck wash equipment and their sales teams act real professional and all and say the right buzz words. But I perso
      d old business card. But what's on the BACK of your cards?
      
      Nothing?
      
      Well, from now on you're going to use that valuable real estate. Next time you print new cards, use the flip side! Create a brief message that promotes your e-zine and gives information on how to subscribe. When someone you meet looks at your business card again when she's back at the office, she'll be much more likely to subscribe when she sees the reminder on your card.
      
      As an example, here's what I have on the back of my new cards:
      
      "Promote your business with an e-zine! Sign up for FREE biweekly tips at www.EzineQueen.com."
      
      BONUS: This strategy also gets these people to visit your Web site, which they may not have done otherwise.
      
      If you aren't ready to print new cards for a while, use your computer to print your message onto labels, and affix them to the backs of your cards. Cheap and easy!
   
   
   
   3. Follow Up With Each Person You Meet Via E-Mail
      
      After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:
      
      "Dear Margaret,
      
      It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?
      
      In the meantime
      Why Do I Insist On Having My Own Business?
      I've had my own business with varying degrees of success for the better part of 15 years now and have to ask myself the question that's posed with the title of this article from time to time. Sometimes I wonder why I was born with the idea in my head that having a job and working for someone else is such a bad idea? I mean most people have jobs and are perfectly content. But not me, I've always insisted that having a job and working for someone else is not the way to go.I suppose this is what's called th
      on the back of my new cards:
      
      "Promote your business with an e-zine! Sign up for FREE biweekly tips at www.EzineQueen.com."
      
      BONUS: This strategy also gets these people to visit your Web site, which they may not have done otherwise.
      
      If you aren't ready to print new cards for a while, use your computer to print your message onto labels, and affix them to the backs of your cards. Cheap and easy!
   
   
   
   4. Follow Up With Each Person You Meet Via E-Mail
      
      After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:
      
      "Dear Margaret,
      
      It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?
      
      In the meantime
      Starting Your Own Education Agency
      Profit from Commission Payments and Consultancy feesAs an education agent you build relationships with educational institutions in various locations around the world, sign agreements to represent them in your country and then market their courses.Many students that study abroad book their course of study through an agent or consultant in their home country. Even though the internet has made direct bookings possible students often prefer to deal face to face with a representative of an agency
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      After each event I go to, I aim to follow up with every person I met with via e-mail within three days. In that e-mail, I remind the person that she can sign up for my FREE tips at my Web site. Here's an example of a note I sent out recently:
      
      "Dear Margaret,
      
      It was a pleasure to chat with you at [EVENT NAME HERE] last Thursday. I'd like to learn more about your business and how we can help each other. Perhaps we can meet for coffee next week?
      
      In the meantime, you may enjoy my FREE weekly e-zine "Straight Shooter Marketing" that gives tips on how to market yourself online. I write it for small business owners just like you! You can learn more and sign up at www.EzineQueen.com
      
      Take care and let's stay in touch.
      
      Best, Alexandria K. Brown, 'The E-zine Queen'"
      
      Once again, this strategy also gets these people to visit your Web site, which they may not have done otherwise. (Very cool, yes?)
   
   
   
   5. Are you the Speaker? Pass Around a Signup Sheet or Collect Cards
      
      Whenever I'm the featured speaker at an event, I make sure to give the audience members an easy way to sign up for my e-zine. I either pass around a signup sheet to collect their names and e-mail addresses, OR I collect business cards when I draw a winner for a free book.
      
      If you use the business card method, tell the audience to write an "E" for e-zine on their card — this lets you know they want to be signed up for your newsletter. Some speakers do the opposite, and tell the audience that if they do NOT want to be subscribed to their e-zine, to put a "NO" on their card, but I'm more comfortable with the former method.

   Remember, Your List Is Your Goldmine!

   People you meet in person will be very valuable subscribers, because they've already met you. And we're all more likely to buy from others whom we know, like, and trust.

   Your in-person meeting will start that process, and your e-zine will follow-through for you, automatically!

   (c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown