NFR Networking Follow-Up: What’s Next

Welcome back! We hope you had an amazing time at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and would love to hear about it. 

Did you get a chance to connect with some of the people on your list? Great! Now let’s look at how we take those connections and start to make them work for your business. 

First off, consider what type of networking you prefer. All of these are valid - I recommend flexing your social muscles by trying each of them, but if you are new to proactive networking start with the one that sounds the easiest and most natural to you. You can take that positive momentum into giving the others a try, too.

Client Reputation and Referral

Word-of-mouth marketing; this is all about individual relationship building. Consistently strive to put out strong work and take the time to go the extra mile to delight clients so that the next time a referral opportunity comes their way you’re the first person they think of.

External Publication and Growing Area of the Industry

If you like to write, a great way to get yourself known in your area of expertise is through external publications. Follow and subscribe to news sources you would love to get featured in to help hone in on hot topics and the tone of the publication. Reach out to showcase your expertise through samples of your writing. Submission Guidelines are typically in website footers, if you don't find them in the main menu. Come prepared with a strong understanding of the audience need you can fill.

Long-Term Connections

It is important to keep in mind that old contacts may become new opportunities (or referral sources). Be mindful to keep in touch periodically and make sure your contacts know what you are up to so you’re top of mind when an opportunity arises. If you would like to re-connect with an old contact you have lost touch with, social media is a great way to do so. Do a little research on what they are up to these days and send them a helpful resource that may be of interest to them along with a short note. If they are local, or going to be at the same event as you in the near future, an invitation to catch up over coffee is a great low-pressure way to foster this connection.

Community Involvement

Take advantage of opportunities to get involved in conferences, shows, associations, and events in your niche to get your name in front of your colleagues and target audience. There are lots of opportunities to step up, from volunteering to providing clinics, leadership involvement to sharing your expertise.

What's Next? On to your individual business development plan

You put in the work identifying whom you wanted to connect with and, hopefully, had the opportunity to start or build on those relationships at NFR. Now what?

Given your preferences from the list above, below is a tracking list designed to support your networking efforts based on how you would prefer to network. Keep the sections that suit you and remove the rest.

Let’s get started: 

Networking Contacts (Fill this out for each person you are wanting to maintain networking relationships with. Beyond NFR, this could include key business contacts, partners like farriers/veterinarians/bodyworkers, etc.)

Name: 

Business: 

Relationship Type: (This is the category you identified with your networking prep list)

A, B, or C Contact: (This depends on how hot the lead is. The hotter the lead, the more frequently you want to touch base. A: Reach out every other month, B: Reach out once/quarter, C: Reach out twice/year)

Next month to reach out: (Based on the frequency you selected above)

Current Status / Next Steps / Notes: (This will help you keep track of the nature of your relationship so that you can be mindful and more personal in future communications.)

Community Involvement (Start by filling this list out for each future event you know you will be attending over the next few months.)

Event: 

Date: 

Involvement: 

Take-Aways: 

New Contacts Met: (Add these people to your Networking Contacts list above to keep track of where you are connecting with people in your relationship building efforts.)

Hot Topics for Publication (This category list does not have a space for identifying people associated with various media publications but this will be important information to have when you are ready to reach out. Add those individuals to your Networking Contacts category list above. Include all topics you feel qualified to speak or write on below.)

Topic:

Potential Publication(s) to Target: 

My Top Clients (Include Current, Past, and Future Clients here. These are important relationships to cultivate to support the strength of your reputation within the industry.)

Name: 

Current Status: 

Last Contact Touch: 

A, B, or C Contact: (This depends on how hot the lead is. The hotter the lead, the more frequently you want to touch base. A: Reach out every other month, B: Reach out once/quarter, C: Reach out twice/year)

Next month to reach out: (Based on the frequency you selected above)

Next Steps: 

Set aside a little bit of time to revisit your individual business development plan monthly. Use this time to add or remove people and to reach out to your contacts in accordance with your plan. Enjoy fostering your relationships in this way to support the growth of your business. Happy Connecting!

Hugs and Happy Riding!

Kristin

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If you have questions, want help with your business operations, or want to learn more about the Equestripreneur Community, don’t hesitate to reach out. 

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Learn more about author Kristin Bowers.

Blog posts from Equestripreneur are not meant to replace individual professional advice, which will best inform personal circumstances.