Elizabeth, Author at Yellow Dog Consulting

Great Questions to Ask When Networking

08.16.2017 by Elizabeth // 1 Comment

When I was growing up, if we had a friend come over for dinner my dad would do interview questions. One person asked the question, everyone answers and then the next person asks, and so on and so forth. It was a way for us to get to know the distinguished 10 year old and to keep the conversation going. Questions ran the gambit but they usually included:

What’s your favorite TV show?
What’s your Favorite Book?
What’s your favorite movie?
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
Who’s your favorite basketball player/team?
Who’s your favorite parent? (kidding!)

I love the interview questions, and now that my friends have kids who are at a good age for this distraction from eating dinner, it still pops up on occasion.

Why am I telling you about this random family meal activity?

Because it holds up in business. A couple of weeks ago I arrived early for a networking event and there was one person to talk to. So, I sat down and started chatting, and quickly realized this person was not going to ask me questions in return. But they were pretty happy to keep talking about their self. So, I start the interview…where do you live? where are you from? kids? pets? favorite restaurants in town? did you go to the recent event that compliments this event we’re attending?

Sometimes the conversation does turn to pop culture, which always makes me happy. And sometimes it stays on business. Having a stack of interview questions in my back pocket when I’m networking usually means I learn something personal and interesting about this person that I’ll remember way longer than all the spewing about how they’re different from every other CPA firm in town…

What are your go to questions when networking to keep the conversation going?

3 Ways to Automate Your Follow Up

08.09.2017 by Elizabeth // Leave a Comment

I had a call today and we ended up talking a bit about how you automate your follow up. It may sound weird that you would automate something so personal. Sure if someone downloads something from your website you should automate that process and then add them to your newsletter (right?) But what about someone you met networking? How do you “automate” that process? Here’s 3 ways you may not have thought of…

Social Media – If you’ve followed your Kickass Follow up Templates then you’ve already connected with them on social media right? Right. Don’t nag them or harass them. Instead be ACTIVE on your social media. Stay on brand and make sure that if they are also active on that social media platform that they have the opportunity to see you’re alive and kicking and available to connect and be hired.
Your Newsletter – I think of my newsletter as a long term drip campaign. It’s a way to get my name in your inbox and to educate you about my awesomeness. This is what it would look like to work with me. This is how my mind works. This is what you’re missing out on. If I have met with someone and sent them recommendations or a proposal for work, I consider that implied consent to add them to my newsletter list. You may decide to be more (or less) explicit about it, and that’s up to you. But don’t underestimate the power of the newsletter. It’s brought me more business than I could have expected.
Networking – Yes, networking. That thing you did where you met that prospective client you don’t know how to follow up with for the 7th time. People need to see you. They need a reminder you’re alive and kicking and a REAL person. Leave your office, put pants on and go to a networking event. It may take months or even years for someone to finally realize they’re ready to hire you. If you keep showing up, it’s a visual reminder that you are alive and kicking and ready to work with them. When the time is right.

How else can you “automate” such a personal process? In your business can a more formal email automation work or does it need to be more personalized?