Developing a Contact List- Part One
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by Nancy Roebke, Profnet, Inc.
One of the most essential things to successful networking is your Contact List. When you start a business, developing one is the first step in promoting and marketing your company. As you write your business plan, it is helpful to make this list to start to develop an idea of who your customer base will be. The first source of clients would your family and current friends and acquaintances. Depending on your product or service, these people may actually become your clients, as well as being family and friends! When making this list, it is important to write down everyone you know- EVERYONE! Not necessarily because they will become your customer, but in Part Two of this article, we will discuss how these people will LEAD you to customers. The following is called a MEMORY JOGGER. It is used to...you guessed it...JOG YOUR MEMORY! You may find it helpful to save this list to a file, and print it out to work on over a period of time. Write down everyone- not just the ones who you think would be clients.
| RELATIVES | WHO IS MY: | WHO SOLD ME MY: |
| Parents | Milkman | House |
| Grandparents | Mailman | Car/Tires |
| Sister | Paperboy (Parents) | T.V./Stereo |
| Brother | Dentist | Fishing License |
| Aunt | Physician | Hunting License |
| Uncle | Minister | Business Clothes |
| Cousin | Florist | Wedding Rings |
| Lawyer | Glasses/Contacts | |
| Insurance Agent | Vacuum Cleaner | |
| Accountant | Boat | |
| Congressman | Camper | |
| Pharmacist | Furniture | |
| Veterinarian | Office Equipment | |
| Optometrist | Appliances |
| Nurse | Golf Pro | Student | ||||
| Fashion Model | Security Guard | Sheriff | ||||
| Fire Chief | Secretary | Welder | ||||
| Music Teacher | Art Instructor | Seamstress | ||||
| Carpenter | Pilot/Stewardess | Bus Driver | ||||
| Bank Teller | Garage Mechanic | Editor | ||||
| Lab Technician | Printer | Restaurant Owner | ||||
| Office Manager | Surgeon | Librarian | ||||
| Real Estate Agent | Interior Decorator | Lifeguard | ||||
| Fisherman | Waitress | Notary Public | ||||
| Antique Dealer | Contractor | Chiropractor | ||||
| Electrician | Motel Owner | Dietitian |
| Lives Next Door | Is my Barber/Hairdresser | Teaches My Kids | ||||
| Was my Best Man | Was My Maid of Honor | Was my Photographer | ||||
| Is My Baby-sitter | Was My Navy Buddy | Goes Bowling with Me | ||||
| Is my Former Boss | Was my Teacher | Repaired my TV | ||||
| Teaches Ceramics | Was in my Car Pool | Cuts my Grass | ||||
| Painted my House | Owns my Apartment | Is in Rotary, Lions | ||||
| Is in my Book Club | Dry Cleans my Clothes | Hung my Wallpaper | ||||
| Sells me Gasoline | Delivers Parcels & Packages | Sells Ice Cream |
