This week I attended a meeting with ReFocus on Careers, an Atlanta-based group that helps people practice their networking in a comfortable environment and provides great educational content for a reasonable price.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Circulation Director, Michael FitzGerald, spoke to our meeting and offered these tips for people looking for jobs or sales prospects:
-the paper offers an index of all companies and people that are featured. If you see a prospect, send them a congratulatory note or follow call. Most importantly, tell them what about the article caught your eye.
-handwritten notes are an extremely under-used tool; people don’t always read their email, but they will read a note sent in the mail on professional stationary.
-who is advertising these days? These companies have money.
-this is more of a publicity tip, but if you would like to get your company featured in the paper, call up the appropriate contact, and in a very non-salesy manner, tell them you have a unique idea you would like to share with them and then in 30 seconds communicate your idea and why his/her readers would be interested.
-if there’s an interesting article (book review, leadership article, industry trends, etc), send that article to the client and write a handwritten note WHY you thought he/she might be interested.
Other tips for the holidays
-clients are doing their budgets in December and will budget in your services or position
-business is slower – this is a great time to make some personal calls
-people are happy!
-look up “odd” holidays and send your prospects/friends/clients something interesting about it
-January: send New Year’s cards
-to create a relationship, ask your contact “how can I help you?” Don’t make it all about you.
-crash holiday parties – it’s a great way to meet employed people.
-it takes 7-8 times before someone will give you a referral or lead.
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