After Network Meetings

When you get home you should record the salient points of the meeting itself on the individual's record sheet, including the names of companies and individuals, market intelligence, etc. It is always important to remember who knows who. You may need to create new records for any individuals mentioned in the meeting - remember to record who introduced you to this person. For new contacts you will need to know their full name, company name, position in the company, telephone number/extension, address, relationship to your contact (e.g. supplier) and any other information you have on them.

You will also need to update the records of any companies mentioned in the meeting or create new records if necessary. Write down any market intelligence you have gathered, including details of potential new contracts they are bidding for, new contracts already won, acquisitions, take-overs, changes in personnel within the company (Who is on the way up? Who is leaving/joining?), the names of people within the company and who referred you to them (it is useful to duplicate this information).

Make a note on your 'to do' list or in your diary to contact these new referrals. If you have added some new companies to your list of companies you may want to do a bit of research on the company before proceeding further, including obtaining press cuttings and perhaps their annual report.

Thank you letter

If you feel it appropriate you might want to write a letter to thank the person for meeting you. Writing a thank you letter will also make you stand out as few people these days bother to say thank you properly. See below for an example letter.

24 Mansfield Drive,     Cheadlee,     Manchester M23 4DJ.     Tel: (0161) 234 1234       Mr Robert Brown,   10 January, 2009 Production Manager,     Express Foods Limited,     125 Waters Lane,     Crewe,     Cheshire, CW3 4FF.         Dear Mr Brown, Thank you for meeting me last Wednesday. Your suggestion to contact Jack Robinson from Empire Foods has already born fruit and I have set up a meeting with him next Monday. I have been thinking about the problem you are having with your current quality system. As I said to you during our meeting last week I believe we had a similar problem at Gepo Foods. I have spoken to Tim Bruce about this and will call you next week when he has come back to me with the solution we implemented. Thanks again for your advice. Yours sincerely, Christopher Jones Christopher Jones.