Managing a Contact List
NOTE: Today’s Blog is by Lillian Brummet,
Host and Executive Producer of the Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show
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Developing a strong networking system with reliable contacts is the key to any marketing plan – yet it is also one of the most difficult and time consuming tasks that an author will face. If done correctly you will have a team of individuals across the globe who are hungry for news about you and who volunteer to share information about your work through their circles.
When I approach an organization I want to network with I consider what their audience will get out of it, and focus on letting them know how I intend to drive traffic their way. For instance, I would mention promotions of any upcoming event to my contacts via social networking sites, the Brummet’s Muse newsletter, Brummet’s Conscious Blog, Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show, various forums, etc. Or I might offer them a spot on the radio show or blog in exchange for their support.
Remember to keep your initial query email as brief as possible and don’t send along attachments. Be concise in a paragraph or two and close with your signature and website address – where all your information should be available. This way, all they have to do is click to find out more about you – rather than reading a huge email with pages attached.
Simply getting connected with an organization, or individual, is not enough. The real bonus comes in over the years as you continue to exchange promotional materials, articles or interviews, and invitations to events.
It’s important to let them know about your efforts to promote their work and to express your appreciation for their support. This creates a working relationship with your contacts and pretty soon they are recommending resources and individuals that might increase publicity for your work.
NOW you have a working relationship with your contact list that you can continually refer to for the rest of your career… and this is an encouraging feeling for anyone who’s trying to stand out like a purple snowflake in a snowstorm of peers in the marketplace
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~ Lillian Brummet: Award winning author, book marketing guru, owner of the award winning Brummet’s Conscious Blog, and both the host and executive producer of the Conscious Discussions Talk Radio show. (http://.brummet.ca
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Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results
and
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HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews.
