How many people do you know? 200? 250? 300? 500? Have you ever stopped to count them? Have you ever written down the names of all the people you actually know? Do you know the information on how to reach them - their street address, their home or mobile phone numbers, their email address, their IM address? Do you know their birthdates, their childrens names and ages, or their spouses names?

Most likely you know some of above information on each person you know.

Everyone has a network. The people you know are your networking contacts. The people you eventually meet and get to know will also become part of your network.

Have you ever considered categorizing the people you know based on how often you communicate with them? You probably do without having a definitive method. How often do you communicate with your close family members, close friends, clients, potential clients, colleagues, and others? You most likely communicate with them on a weekly, monthly or annual basis without having a structured method for communicating.

Do you think you need a structured method to communicate with the people you know?

• If you are employed and your employer does sales of any kind, you need a structured method of communication.
• If you are unemployed and looking for work, you need a structured method of communication.
• If you are in sales of any kind, you need a structured method of communication.
• If you are self-employed, you definitely you need a structured method of communication.
• If you are an entrepreneur, you most definitely need a structured method of communication.
• If you own a business, you most definitely need and must depend upon a structured method of communication.

Think it's a good idea have a structured method of communication for your network?

Great! Here is how to create one.

You must use a software database application of some kind to get the most effect. Using one on your computer, laptop, Palm Pilot, or other electronic device will work. A paper-based database will be too cumbersome.

On a few sheets of paper (or a computer document) list the names of every person you know that you wish to keep in contact. It is a lot work, but it is necessary.

Create four categories: A, B, C and D.  The 'A' category will be the contacts you communicate with on a weekly basis.  The 'B' category will be the contacts you communicate with monthly. The 'C' category will be the contacts you communicate with quarterly. The 'D' category will be the contacts you communicate with biannually.

Next to each person's name on the sheets of paper, write the category in which they should belong - this is your list - don't let others decide for you.

Using the software database application, create the categories, add each networking contact into the database, and group each networking contact into the designated category.

Decide on how you plan to communicate with your networking contacts within each category. Consider communicating with your networking contacts by phone, email, fax, letters, postcards, and in-person.

For the 'A' category, communicating by phone, email and in-person may be the best method for this category. Email is one of the easiest, quickest and most convenient methods of communication for this category. Your networking contacts in this category may be your closest friends, closest family members, closest colleagues, and clients.

For the 'B' category, communicating by phone, email, fax, postcards, and in-person, are good methods for this category. Your networking contacts in this category may be your customers, colleagues, vendors, investment club members, etc.

For the 'C' category, communicating by phone, email, fax, postcards, and letters are good methods for this category. Your networking contacts in this category may be your prospective customers, colleagues, neighbors, etc.

For the 'D' category, communicating by letters and cards may be the best method for this category. Sending a birthday card and a holiday card will constitute your biannual communication for this group.

There is a lot of activity in communicating with your network.  But you must in order to avoid becoming invisible.  Plan on spending at least two hours a week communicating with your network.  If you don't, think of how many referrals you may miss, how many business opportunities you may lose, and how many people will keep you in distant memory. If you don't communicate, maintain and nurture your network, you will find that you don't really have a reliable network.

© 2007 nPower Consulting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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