Numbers are interesting things. They’re especially interesting when they’re followed by several zeros and preceded with a dollar sign, or your currency symbol du jour. But, before you can laugh all the way to the bank, you’ll need to let folks know you exist and that your service can help them reach their goals.

Consider these two ideas. First, if you’re like most people, you know roughly 200 other people when all is said and done. Each of those 200 are likely connected to another 200. Next, mull this over. There’s a theory called “six degrees of separation.” It states that everybody on the planet is connected through a chain of just six people. The theory was first proposed in 1929 by the Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy in a short story called “Chains.” Social psychologist Stanley Milgram tested the idea in a postal experiment conducted in 1967. Don’t believe it? Check out this article in New Scientist.

These are two very powerful ideas. Just do the math. 200 X 200 = 40,000 potential prospects are just six people away. That can keep you busy for a while.

In a previous post, I mentioned a networking site called, LinkedIn. The idea behind LinkedIn is creating a network of contacts and leverage it for introductions to people you’d like to meet and perhaps work with down the road.

If LinkedIn isn’t in the cards for you, try this. Start by making a list of everybody you know. If you’re really ambitious, start listing everybody you’ve ever met in your entire life. Then begin to rekindle some relationships.

It’s easy to lose touch. We get busy. We move. Things change. We simply forget. But, it can also be just as easy to stay connected. All you need is a plan and some well placed reminders so you don’t forget.

Make up your list. Then, send off a couple of emails with some links your friends and/or business associates might find useful. Shoot off a holiday or birthday card. Mail some promo postcards. Maybe send off a handwritten note. Those are pretty rare these days and, as such, often have a lot of impact. Or, give someone a call and get together for lunch. Easy, right?

This doesn’t need to be any hard sell. Just keeping in touch to remind folks you’re still alive and well. When the time comes, and it will, that they need your services, or know somebody that does, your name’s at the top of their mind.

Let me give you an example. Many moons ago, I worked for a guy at a large publishing company. He was my boss, but also became a friend and a mentor. I’ve known this guy for the better part of 30 years. During that time, he left the publishing company, moved out of state and started his own company. When he needed graphic design, he called me. Several of his clients also became my clients. A few years later, he moved again and took a position with another company. Guess what? When they needed some brochure work done, they called me. Later he took another position and the whole thing started again.

Simply by keeping in touch with one guy, I picked up several clients along the way. It cost me little to nothing in terms of marketing dollars. Okay … maybe a few bucks in long distance calls, but I would have made those calls anyway.

Until the next
Marketing Minute
all the best,
nt