Using E-mail For Referrals

By Daryl Logullo | October 15, 2007 | Popularity: 6% | 1,203 views

AP had a story recently entitled, "Fridays Go From Casual to E-mail-Free." It partially read…

Overwhelmed by e-mail? Some professionals are fighting back by declaring e-mail-free Fridays – or by deleting their entire in-box. Today about 150 engineers at chipmaker Intel (INTC) will kick off "Zero E-mail Fridays." E-mail isn't forbidden, but everyone is encouraged to phone or meet face-to-face. The goal is more direct, free-flowing communication and better exchange of ideas…

Now there's a novel concept: Get people to communicate face-to-face! (Foot in mouth Duh).

The story quoted executive coach Marsha Egan. She say white-collar workers often receive 140 messages a day. (Perhaps on a good day. I know I get more than that!) There's a simple lesson for you in this story as you try to build your referrals.

Egan went on to give the following advice:

  1. Don't use e-mail to avoid unpleasant tasks.
  2. Don't constantly check for new messages.
  3. Respond to important messages first–even if they're difficult.

So what does using e-mail have to do with you generating more referrals?

Email has always been a communication tool, but a rather casual one–let's not forget that.

Should it be a way for you to stay in touch with your referral network? Yes. Should it be your primary means of cultivating and saying hello to others? No. Will it generate referrals for you faster and easier? of course not.

Quit hiding out behind e-mail and your PC all day. Nothing trumps inactivity with your current referral "flow" than having genuine, face-to-face conversations with others.

Especially those strategic alliance partners you are trying to build relationships with.

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