You’ve gone out, you’ve charmed everyone at the networking event, and you’re coming home with dozens and dozens of business cards, new contacts, and endless opportunities on the horizon. Congratulations! Now, what do you do with them? Obviously, you need to be using them with your contact apps, checking in with current and previous customers, and calling them up when there’s an opportunity for both of you to tackle together. But what about before that?
The key to getting the most out of those contacts and always having them on hand is organization.
It’s not enough to just have the business card or information all tucked away in your contacts app on your phone. It could be weeks or even months before you need that info again, and in that time you’re only going to see more information, more people, and more capital. If you can remember everything about that first encounter, including where, when, who, and what you learned in that moment, good for you for your exemplary memory!
But for the rest of us, we might need a little extra help. We need a contact manager.
Contact Apps
Keeping all of your contacts standardized and updated in one place is the key to knowing exactly where to find whatever you need whenever you need it. Not only is it better for you to always know where your contacts are, they’re always on hand in case someone else needs them.
Having contact management software takes all of the seemingly endless work out of organizing your contacts list.
Apps and softwares made specifically for this purpose are showing up everywhere and getting familiar with them is invaluable.
But you might be asking: “What else could I need besides ‘Name,’ ‘Phone Number,’ and ‘Email’?” Well, the answer to that could be “Nothing,” or “Everything.” It depends.
What kind of information are you keeping? Do you need information about other colleagues and companies or are you a business that’s constantly working on bringing on new customers?
CRMs and More
There are some CRMs that allow you to create your own digital business card so you exchange information instantly. Some will automatically update as you change it, too!
A lot of these apps also have built-in calendars directly linked to important meetings. Contact management apps like StayTouch also have different notes functions (text, audio and pictures) for whatever you need. StayTouch notes include three types: text, audio, and pictures. To make your life easier, audio notes can also be transcribed!
There are some apps that have a built-in B2B and B2C client portal. With this, customers can login and access information about their accounts with the company. If you’re a business with a rewards program, you might just need an email or phone number. But if you offer a credit card, you’ll need a lot more information than that. StayTouch offers web portals for both business to business (B2B) clients.
Choosing a system with a customizable interface and a lot of options will help you get the most out of your contacts. Do some research, find an app or software that works for you, and start organizing!
Interested in a smart networking platform that can provide digital business cards, contact management, relationship building, calendars, messaging, and more? Check out the StayTouch app here!