Recently I joined a group for women whose goal is to aid people in marketing their services or products to women. The owner seems professional and I look forward to networking with her. While on her site, I saw a cross marketing partnership she shares with someone who specializes in membership websites.
Interested, I submitted a form for more information. I received a response requesting the information that had been submitted on the form. I stated that I thought I had sent this but sent again. I never heard from her again.
A few years ago I met a man while networking at an event at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. He started telling me about his career experience as a financial advisor. Next thing I know he asks me how much money I was making. This was in front of other people I had just met. I walked off. On my way home he calls me to set up a meeting so that he can take over my financial planning. Wait. I never said I wanted him as my financial advisor. I don’t know what I said to him to make him think that within 5 minutes he had met his new client.
Now I look at how people are following up. I’ve submitted “contact us” forms and never received a response. I’ve received responses that show the person never read my comments nor did they read their comments. I’ve requested email follow-up but gotten follow-up phone calls, requests for calls before 3:00 pm but received calls at 5:00 pm. Why don’t people know how to follow-up? It’s as if these people think they’re doing you a favor by taking you on as a customer/client.
I know that following up can be tricky when you’re a solopreneur, but it’s essential to the success of your business. Here is your opportunity to make a good impression. If you can’t follow-up when requested, then why should a potential client trust you’ll be able to handle other requests?
