“Pulling a good network together takes effort, sincerity and time.”
Alan Collins

Whether you want to stand out in the job market or you want to make a strong impression on a prospect, a well-written email can help you achieve your goal. When you meet someone new, either in person or virtually, jot down some notes about them. These notes can help you establish, maintain and build the relationship down the line, which is crucial when you are trying to land a job or make a sale.

According to David Solloway, a career consultant and life coach, the key is to move quickly. The more time that passes after you meet someone, the harder it is to remember them. So, if you want to go from a potentially forgotten contact to a trusted resource or must-hire sales professional, take some time to craft a compelling networking email.

We share Solloway’s thoughts on four networking emails to write and his tips on writing them in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

Email No. 1: The thank-you email 

It’s always a good idea to express appreciation, whether you want to say thank you for a prospect’s time or thank you for a job interview. Solloway suggests reserving 15 minutes within 48 hours of your meeting to write a thank-you note.

How to write it: You could start with a simple sentence like, “Thank you for taking time to chat with me.” In the next sentence, Solloway recommends sharing a specific piece of advice or insight from the other person that you found helpful. Then end the email, wishing the other person well. Often, the other person will respond saying they were glad to meet you as well.

Email No. 2: The referral request email

Sometimes, you may want your contact to refer you to another person. To gain a referral, you should have shown that you are a dependable and likable person. You also need contacts who are willing to take the time and risk of opening their network, says Solloway.

How to write it: Start by thanking the person again. Gratitude goes a long way. Then, remind the contact of your interests in a broad way. You could mention you’d like to learn more about their marketing role and the broader industry in their city. Next, ask for advice on next steps to secure a meeting with a hiring manager or buyer. You could say something like, “Is there anyone else you think I should meet?”

Email No. 3: The check-in email

Solloway recommends setting monthly calendar notifications to check in on those who refer you. Their helpfulness is a good indicator that they would be willing to recommend you for a role.

How to write it: In the first email, thank them for referring you to another person and provide a summary of how you have applied their guidance. In later monthly emails, consider tying in the season or company news. For example, you could say something like, “I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for all your guidance!”

Email No. 4: The application notification email

If you are applying for a new role, be sure to keep relevant contacts informed. If you do not notify valuable contacts before you apply, it’s like planting a garden and not harvesting the produce, says Solloway. This can also benefit your contact, as many employers offer bonuses to employees who recommend great candidates.

How to write it: Before you apply, you could send a note to your employer contacts saying something like “Thank you for all your guidance. I’m excited to apply for the sales director position at your company.” You could then close the email by asking if they would be willing recommend you for the role and if they have any suggestions before you apply.

When you meet someone new, don’t let the new connection go to waste. That new contact could help you secure a job or close a sale with a new client. To stay connected with the people in your professional network, consider when you can use the four emails above.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: David Solloway is a career consultant, life coach and cross-cultural training/development specialist. He works as the assistant director for Daytime MBA Career Services at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Dale Carnegie

Building rapport is critical to succeeding in sales. By getting to know your prospects and clients beyond just a surface level, you can begin to establish a meaningful connection. The more your prospects and clients get to know you, the more likely they become to work with you rather than turn to your competitors.

But, in an era of remote work and social distancing, how do you go about creating rapport online? According to Dave Shaby, chief operating officer of RAIN Group, you can focus on building relationships virtually by implementing four smart strategies.

Keep reading this issue of Promotional Consultant Today for Shaby’s insights on making time and space for relationship building when your conversations are happening online.

1. Make a point to focus on establishing rapport
When you are meeting virtually with a prospect or client, Shaby recommends making the first move by speaking first. You could talk about what you did over the weekend or something you are looking forward to doing. He says that while it is tempting to let other people speak first, if you want to set the tone, you should talk first.

2. Close the call with a casual conversation
Just like with in-person meetings, leave room for easygoing conversations at the end of your virtual meeting. Shaby says after the formal part of the meeting ends, you could bring it to a close by refocusing your rapport. You could say something like, “Great, so the next steps are A, B, and C. Before you go, I’d love to know more about what you said about being a part-time professional chef. That sounds interesting.” If you are in a group meeting, Shaby recommends saying something like, “Chris, I know we have worked on this project for several weeks, but I haven’t had the chance to speak with you one on one yet. I’d like to learn more about you and how you would like to see this go. Can we chat for 15 minutes later this week?”

3. Schedule brief check-ins
To keep the conversation going, sales professionals should make it a priority to contact prospects and clients to check in. You don’t need to request an hour on someone’s calendar—just 15 minutes will do, notes Shaby. With no in-person interaction, Shaby says it is helpful to schedule a video meeting to help build greater rapport. People often find it easier to connect to others when they can see them.

4. Work on building relationships outside of formal meetings
Remember that you can make connections and establish rapport with prospects and clients outside of scheduled meetings. Whether you send a text, an email or a LinkedIn message, you can use various channels to strike up a friendly conversation. Even giving a client’s post a like or adding a comment demonstrates your interest, says Shaby.

Relationships matter in sales. However, you don’t need a handshake or face-to-face eye contact to establish rapport with your prospects and clients. Even when most of your meetings happen virtually, you can build rapport by establishing a common ground right from the start, making time for casual discussion at the end of the meeting, and committing to regular check-ins. Learning how to create rapport virtually is a skill that will serve you well now and in the future.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Dave Shaby is chief operating officer of RAIN Group, a sales training company that delivers award-winning results through in-person and virtual sales training, coaching, and reinforcement. Shaby is the bestselling author of Virtual Selling: How to Build Relationships, Differentiate, and Win Sales Remotely.

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
~Bruce Lee

Whether you are working from home or you are back in the office, distractions happen. Some people find it difficult to regain their focus after getting interrupted, while others can refocus quickly. If you are going to do your best work, you must learn how to keep diversions at bay and stay focused.

Michael S. Hyatt, an author, podcaster, blogger and speaker, notes that in a distraction economy, focus is a rare commodity. He encourages leaders to learn how to alleviate distractions in the workplace and help their team members stay focused on their daily work.

In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we share nine ideas from Hyatt on how to increase your concentration levels and zero in on the task at hand.

1. Schedule time to focus. What gets scheduled gets done, Hyatt notes. If you do your best work in the morning, block off time in your calendar to complete your most important projects.

2. Spend time alone. Sometimes it’s helpful to shut your office door or put on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to signal to those around you that you do not want to be interrupted. You could also designate a day in the week as a meeting-free day.

3. Get offline. The constant ping from emails, texts and Slack messages can make it near impossible to truly focus. Hyatt recommends turning off notifications or using a tool to block content.

4. Lower the room temperature. To increase your focus, lower the temperature in your office. Hyatt points out a study from Scientific American that found that cooler rooms improve concentration.

5. Get comfortable. Do you like working at a stand-up desk? Like to have a cozy blanket draped over your legs? Find what works for you and you will find it easier to stay focused.

6. Turn on some music. According to Stanford University researchers, the right music can help you stay on track. After studying the effect of music on the brain, they found that music engages areas of the brain involved in paying attention, making predictions and updating memory.

7. Watch how food affects your focus. Hyatt suggests paying attention to what you eat and drink and how it makes you feel when you are working. Does a second cup of coffee help you focus or does it make you jittery? Maybe you need to keep snacks handy or track your water intake to make sure you stay hydrated. Hyatt recommends adding foods thought to increase brain function such as salmon, coffee, blueberries and chocolate.

8. Establish mini goals. According to Hyatt, a mini goal is a small project you can accomplish in a set period of time. For example, he likes to set a mini goal of writing a 500-word blog post in 45 minutes several times a week. He knows his average writing time is 75 minutes per post, so setting a timer helps him stay on track.

9. Take breaks frequently. Remember not to power through your day without working in some breaks. It’s important to pause often, whether you make another cup of coffee, take a quick walk or pause for a few minutes of meditation.

To get the most out of every workday, you must commit to being intentional with how you spend your time. Rather than allowing yourself to get sidetracked by every little disruption, make a point to keep yourself on track. Even by working in a few of the ideas above, you can give yourself a valuable concentration boost.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Michael S. Hyatt is an American author, podcaster, blogger, speaker and the CEO and founder of Michael Hyatt & Company. He has written several books about leadership, productivity and goal setting.

Sales professionals often spend a good portion of their day crafting emails. While they might be adept at verbal communication, they may not be as skillful when it comes to the written word. Still, emails matter. Sales reps must know how to use the right words in their emails if they want to make a great impression on clients and prospects and increase their chances of landing a meeting.

Steve Adcock, a contributor to CNBC, CBS MarketWatch and The Ladders, says there are seven phrases and words that can help sales professionals communicate their message clearly and decisively. We highlight Adcock’s suggestions in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.

No. 1: The recipient’s name.
Adcock says personalizing your emails establishes an immediate connection between you and the recipient. He recommends using recipients’ names when it makes sense. In other words, do not stuff names unnaturally into your email message. This appears spammy and computer-generated.

No. 2: Simple.
By including the word “simple” in your emails, you convey that your message isn’t complicated. People are busy and prefer things that are easy and smooth over things that are complex and difficult to understand.

No. 3: Also.
According to Adcock, words like “also” and “and” are great ways to imply something important. These words are especially valuable when writing sales or marketing emails. By using these words, you demonstrate that the recipient is getting more than just one piece of valuable information. Everybody likes a little something extra if it adds value.

No. 4: Right.
When people see this word, they often think of other related words like “correct” or “appropriate,” says Adcock. “Right” is typically associated with positive feelings—which is how you want people to feel when they read your emails. When you use the word “right” early on in your message, you can set a positive and confirming tone for your email.

No. 5: New.
Most people love the word “new” since it conjures images of clean and high-quality. That’s why we use the phrase “new car smell.” Adcock notes that when something is new, it is also often fresh or never seen before, which people like.

No. 6: Freebie.
A “freebie” is something that people get in exchange for something else. Maybe you send them a free download or checklist in exchange for their contact information. You should use “freebie” or something like it in your emails since most everyone likes getting something for nothing.

No. 7: Backed.
Adcock says the word “backed” implies authority. For example, if you say that something is “customer-backed” or “research-based,” you can help add credibility to your statement.

If you want more clients and prospects to read and respond to your emails, try incorporating some of the above words and phrases into your copy. You will come across as a smarter communicator and inspire recipients to take action.

Compiled by Audrey Sellers

Source: Steve Adcock is a regular contributor to The Ladders, CBS MarketWatch and CNBC. He writes about mental toughness, financial independence and how to get the most out of your life and career.

Some people love a good to-do list. They like to jot down all the tasks they hope to accomplish in a certain time period and then feel the satisfaction of crossing off various items. The thing is, though, that to-do lists aren’t always effective. Many people use them as parking lots for items they want to get to eventually and they end up getting overwhelmed and not completing the tasks at all.