Recently I had met with a new client from France here in Miami, to teach him the steps to start his US business. He found me through a mutual French contact who referred him to me. This contact also wants to start his own business in the US next year. This is actually the fifth referral he sent me since we met online a year an a half ago. I learned from my new client that they both met only two months ago at the gym in south of France! Their conversation moved to starting a business in the US and my contact said “I have the perfect person for you. I know a consultant that helps French entrepreneurs start their businesses in the US and she can definitely help you reach your goals and dreams.

“He is a raving fan and that’s what you need to look for: people to promote your business. Nothing else has a better impact on your target market; not advertisements, not newspapers, not newsletters, not blogs. (Just remember that without the other tools prospective clients won’t be able to verify your legitimacy.)

I can say to a potential client “I am great and THE ONLY contact for you to start your business in the US”, but why would they believe me? Now if a client or a prospect says to somebody else that I am THE solution for them, the sale is already done.

How can you get more of those raving fans that will send you referrals on a regular basis?

1. You have to make sure that people know exactly what you do. Explain your services very clearly so your contacts can adequately understand and repeat the important parts. If people don’t understand what you do, they is no way that they will buy from you or send you referrals. Have a very clear and concise elevator pitch.

2. Follow-up with your contacts, clients or prospects. Contact them on a regular basis to see how you can help them. They will appreciate that you take the time to do it. For example this Frenchman who sent me 5 referrals in the last year and a half receives my bi-monthly newsletter, but I also call him at least every 3 months to see how his projects evolve and how I can help him.

Don’t rely only on virtual contact, even if you don’t meet in person, call them. I never meet this contact in person, he first found me via my website. Within the first few months we built a relationship and our relationship lead to him sending me referrals.

3. Put your follow-up system on auto-pilot; it will work for you for the following months and even years from now. Statistics show that 80% of sales are lost due to lack of follow-up. Lots of clients tell me that “Oh yes I follow-up with my contacts. I called them once but they were not interested by my services.” Then they tell me they don’t want to bother them again or they don’t know what to say the next time. Have an effective follow-up system in place so you won’t have to worry about what to say and when to say it. The system is designed to do the work so you don’t have to. You will attract a lot more clients and a lot more raving fans that will send you referrals on a regular basis.

Creating a follow-up system is an integral part of Power of Networking Secrets. You will discover the step-by-step process to integrate and customize simple, yet effective strategies to put your follow-up system on auto-pilot. You will do the set-up work once then let your system work for you! Check Out “Power of Networking Secrets” NOW

(c) 2009 Biba F. Pédron