I went to a property networking event – now what? (Part 4)

This blog post follows on from I went to a property networking event part 3 here…

Following up on social media

What you do after a networking event is as, if not more important, than what you do at the actual event. Following up with all the contacts you made is vital to the success of your business both in the short and the long term.

Once you’ve made those follow-up calls, how do you nurture these contacts? After all, you’ve only met once, you’ve qualified them, and now you need to build these relationships. Particularly with your Passive list, it might not seem important now, but you want to stay visible, so you are front of their mind when an opportunity arises that is a perfect fit for you.

Social media is a simple and effective way to keep in touch. Whether it’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter (or all of them) you are going to be able to search and find them on one or more social platforms. (Did you know that Evernote’s business card scanner will automatically search LinkedIn and connect with a contact?!).

If they are active on a social media platform that you are not, then you have to decide whether or not you need a presence too. But remember, social media takes time and energy, so it’s vital to consider the value of joining another platform before taking the plunge.

Once you’ve found them, send a message. It doesn’t have to be complicated, a simple ‘It was great to meet at [insert event], pleased we can connect online too’, will do the job.

Then it’s a case of spending some time following their posts, their likes and comments. Get involved in conversations where you have an interest and/or can add value and eventually they will start to come and look at your activity too.

Social media isn’t about churning out stuff for other people to read. It’s about starting conversations and sharing information (together in electric dreams). If you invest time in other people, they will reciprocate.

• Don’t rely on people to connect with you.
• Decide what social media platforms have the most value (and the most contacts) for you.
• Don’t overstretch yourself – an inactive social media account is a waste of time and a poor reflection of you.
• Invest time in other people; be visible and add value.
• Schedule a set amount of time every day to make an impact on social media.

Part 5 is all about email marketing (and no it’s not dead).

About the author

Steven Lai is a property investor, founder of Super Developments and creator of CRM for Property Success. He is a CRM expert with over 12 years commercial experience of managing sales teams.

Join the CRM for Property Success Facebook Group to ask him anything (about CRM, property or 80's trivia!).