5 Secrets for Organized Business Networking

Today we celebrated Labor Day, a day generally regarded as a day of rest and a celebration of the labor movement and American business.  Many of our Organizing Clients are business builders-- they understand that in order for their company to be successful, they need to know the right people and have the right contacts.  In a post last week where we interviewed Denise Kotula, Referral Marketing Expert, Denise cited the need for a "system" to keep in contact with people you meet.  This Labor Day we thought it would be interesting to explore what happens before you even receive a business card.  NAPO-LA (The National Association of Professional Organizers, Los Angeles Chapter) and Laurie Clarke of Life Simplified, also of Los Angeles, reveal here their "5 Secrets for Organized Business Networking."

1. "At networking events, wear something with accessible pockets and carry your cards in one pocket and cards that you collect in another.  Your cards are ready to go, and there's no fussing with your purse or wallet,"says Robin Valdez, owner of "Expert Organizers", a professional organizer service in Reseda, California.
2. "Take notes," Ann Gambrell of Creative Time-Plus of Torrance, CA and NAPO Founder states.  "Bring a pen and make notations on any cards that require follow up.  You might make a note on your own card before handing it over to someone so that they remember who you are."
3. What do you do with all those business cards once you get home?  If you haven't already, note when and where you met the person.  You can do this on the cards themselves and file the cards into your card file or business card book.  Even better is putting the information into your database.  Delores Kaytes of Highly Organized of Manhattan Beach, CA uses CardScan, a desktop devise that scans business cards and transfers the card's information into your database.  She has also set up clients with this system.
4. Tamara Zook of Quantum Space/Time Clean-Up in Los Angeles, CA, also uses a computer database to manage contacts for people she will follow up and makes notes in the database.  "Putting it on the computer saves me the task of keeping up a physical rolodex or business card notebook full of out-of-date information.  And there are no business cards stacked around my office waiting for me to decide what to do with them!"
5. Evelyn Gray, Organizing for Success, of Alhambra, CA, follows up with the people she's met within a week.  "I send a postcard that has my photo on it.  There is no envelope to open and they immediately see my information and will more likely remember who I am since there is a photo and it was a recent event."

The National Association of Professional Organizers is the premier national association dedicated to the organizing industry.  Today, there are more than 100 professional organizers in the Los Angeles Chapter (including OrganizingLA and John Trosko), and more than 3,200 professional organizers across the world.  Members include organizing consultants, speakers, authors and manufacturers of organizing products.

I'd like to hear from readers-- what organizing techniques help your business or personal networking?  What tips could you share with us?  We'd love to read your comments as we return back to work this week.