2. DEVELOPING POWERFUL, DIVERSE NETWORK CONTACTS
A OF
1. Compile your contacts.
Assemble all your contacts in one location through whatever
medium is easiest for you. It may be a combination of things
such as your
Computer database Vendor/client list
Mailing lists Rolodex
Business card box Etc.
2. Categorize your contacts.
Identify each person from the list you’ve assembled as
either a Strong Contact (SC) or a Casual Contact (CC) by mark-
ing on the list, card, label, etc.
3. Determine your own Contact Sphere.
Contact Spheres are businesses or professions that naturally
provide a source of referrals for one another. They have a
symbiotic, compatible, noncompetitive relationship with one
another, such as a lawyer, CPA, financial planner, and banker.
Begin to make contact with the professions you’ve listed.
Agree to have a reciprocal referral relationship with the ones
you feel you can work with best.
4. Plan to become a Hub Firm.
A Hub Firm is the key business in a constellation of busi-
nesses tethered to one another to make the most of each firm’s
products, services, or expertise.
List the types of firms that you should build partnerships or
alliances with to better enable you to serve your market. These
include businesses that fall within your Contact Sphere; how-
ever, they may include other businesses, such as competitors
with different specialties.
Once you’ve listed these companies, set appointments with
each to begin the relationship-building process. See if there are
any joint-venture projects that you can conduct with them on a
trial basis.
3. WORKSHEETS
1. Compile your contacts.
List resources from which you compiled your contact list:
1. 4.
2. 5.
3. 6.
2. Categorize your contacts.
Number of Strong Contacts:
Number of Casual Contacts:
3. Determine your own Contact Sphere.
Your profession:
List related professions (Contact Spheres):
1. 5.
2. 6.
3. 7.
4. 8.
4. Plan to become a Hub Firm.
List types of firms that should be your allies:
1. 5.
2. 6.
3. 7.
4. 8.
4. 5a. Establish contact.
Don’t become a cave dweller. Set goals for the number of
appointments you will establish with the people you want to
have in your Contact Sphere or will build an alliance with as a
Hub Firm.
5b. Set attendance goals.
Establish goals for the number of business groups you will
attend each month for the next three months.
6. Diversify your networks.
The selection process is very important. Don’t let chance
decide where you’re going to spend your time and efforts.
Remember, the key is to diversify your activities. One type of
business organization will not serve all your needs. Therefore,
you should consciously select a well-rounded mix of groups.
Try to avoid being in more than one group per category. If you
have associates, partners, or employees, take their participa-
tion into account when deciding what groups you need to
become active in.
a. Based on the types of groups shown opposite, list the
names of the ones that you now belong to.
b. List the groups that you are not a member of but would
like to consider.
c. Find out when each group meets, write down its loca-
tion, and visit its next meeting.
d. With each group, find out the following information:
1. How long has this group been in existence?
2. How many members does it have?
3. What is the quality of the membership?
4. Is it affiliated with a national or international
group?
5. How focused is the group on its objectives?
6. How structured are the meetings?
7. How much does it cost?
8. How often are the meetings?
9. What do other members say about the group?
10. What is your overall impression of the group?
5. 5a. Establish contact.
Number of appointments:
Next 30 days: 60 days: 90 days:
5b. Set attendance goals.
Number of business groups you will attend:
Next 30 days: 60 days: 90 days:
6. Plan group membership.
List (a) the names of the following types of groups that you
now belong to and (b) those you would like to consider:
1. Casual-Contact a.
Networks: b.
2. Strong-Contact a.
Networks: b.
3. Community-service a.
groups: b.
4. Professional a.
associations: b.
5. Social/business a.
groups: b.
6. Women’s business a.
organizations: b.
c. Record date and location of next meeting:
(Use extra sheets of paper as necessary.)
d. Answer 10 questions about each group:
(Use extra sheets of paper as necessary.)
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.
6. CREATING POSITIVE MESSAGE, DELIVERED EFFECTIVELY
A
1. Describe the identity you wish to create.
2. List the key topics for your next four press releases.
3. What news article reprints do you have?
4. Collateral materials.
Check off the collateral materials you now have or want.
Begin compiling the ones you want but have not created yet.
7. 1. Identity you wish to create for your business:
2. Key topics for your next four press releases:
1. 3.
2. 4.
3. News article reprints:
4. Collateral materials:
Have Want
Testimonial letters from satisfied customers
Articles in which you’re mentioned
Published articles by you
Unpublished articles by you
A one- or two-page faxable flyer
Audio or video cassettes you’ve produced
Published new-product announcements/press releases
Copies of display advertisements that you’ve used
Text from radio or TV advertisements that you’ve run
A list of your memberships and affiliations
Product catalogs
Brochures, circulars, or data sheets
Question-and-answer sheets
Annual report, capability statement, or prospectus
Newsletters or news-type letters you use
Your motto, mission statement, or service pledge
Sample client or customer proposals and bid sheets
Survey results by you or others
Presentation notes, slides, or overheads
Marketing letters you wrote to clients
Generic materials developed by your association
Articles on trends affecting your target niche
Posters, banners, display materials used at trade shows
Photos of your office facilities, equipment, products (with
staff, clients, etc.)
Photos of your key customer’s office facilities, equipment,
products
Photos of you and your staff
Other:
8. 5. Networking tools.
Assemble the networking tools listed opposite.
6. Incentive program.
Assemble a focus group expressly to develop an incentive
plan for your business. Make sure to include incentives for all
the people relevant to your business.
7. Incentives.
a. List the ideas that the group (and/or you) liked the
most. Give a brief description of each kind of incen-
tive — who qualifies, what is the incentive, etc.
b. List the things that you need to do to begin incorporating
these incentives into your business.
8. Memberships.
List (a) the organizations that you belong to and (b) a
position corresponding with each (i.e., Ambassador, Visitor
Host, etc.) that will give you more exposure or an opportunity
to meet others.
9. Memory Hooks.
Create at least one or two Memory Hooks for your business.
A Memory Hook is a brief, ear-catching phrase in your presen-
tation that so vividly describes what you do that people will be
able to visualize it in their mind’s eye; in other words, you hook
your audience with your presentation.
9. 5. Networking tools.
Assemble the following networking tools:
A professionally made name badge
Card holders for each suit, briefcase, purse, etc., to carry your
business cards
A card file to carry other people’s business cards
A contact management system or computer program
A collateral material package
6. Incentive program.
Members of your focus group:
Clients/customers/patients:
Employees:
Associates:
Others:
7. Incentives.
a. Best incentives: b. Incorporating:
1.
2.
3.
8. Memberships.
a. Organization: b. Position:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
9. Memory Hooks.
1.
2.
10. 10. List lowest common denominators (LCDs).
List some LCDs that your business shares with any relevant
areas listed opposite.
11. Prepare a brief introduction.
List the information indicated opposite for use when you
introduce yourself to a networking group.
12. Work your networks.
List some people or businesses that you do business with or
refer others to, who are not reciprocating, then invite someone
from that company out to lunch or to one of your business
groups.
11. 10. Lowest common denominators (LCDs).
Specific products/services:
Target markets:
Benefits of your products/services:
Your and/or your company’s qualifications:
Specific case studies:
11. Prepare a brief introduction.
Your name:
A brief description of your business or profession:
A Memory Hook:
A benefit statement or LCD using one particular product
or service you offer (what you do that helps others):
12. Work your networks.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
12. 13. Expand your networks.
List people representing professions that you would like to
do business with or refer others to. Call them and set appoint-
ments to get together for lunch.
14. Look ahead.
Look at the W-O-M Grid and think about where you are
today on the grid. After reading this book and working with
your Hand-to-Hand WOMBAT Plan for three months, check
the grid once more and see how far you’ve progressed.
Remember: building your business through word of mouth
is a journey, not a destination. It is something you must con-
tinually work on over the years.
13. 13. Expand your networks.
People representing professions you would like to do busi-
ness with or refer others to:
Name: Phone number:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
14. Look ahead.
Prosperous
Word-of-
5
Powerful, Diverse Network of Contacts
Mouth
Business
Where
Are
4 You
Now?
Where
Are
3 You
Now?
Where
Are
2 You
Now?
1
1 2 3 4 5
Positive Message, Delivered Effectively
