The main considerations for speed of follow-up are the prospective customer's decision-making style, their form of follow-up preference and your ability to get over your reluctance to do it! Here's how:

1 - Your main goal in sales follow-up is to help take a prospective customer to the next step, at their speed. It could be another conversation, or an appointment, or a demonstration, or a commitment. Keeping in mind that it's just a next step, and what that next step is, can help your speed keep up.

2 - Hot and warm leads need to hear from you within 24 hours. If you get a lead from a marketing department then get something into the hands of your prospect immediately. The customer may have already been waiting! If you have control over a lead, then make a telephone call within 24 hours.

3 - If it's determined that you have a cold lead, then you can slow your follow-up down. A cold lead is usually determined so because of the timing of when they say they would want a solution. Certainly a first follow-up call might wait for a 48-hour follow-up with a cold lead and, then it could be an email or a telephone call.

4 - Marketing Sherpa, a research firm specializing in tracking in all aspects of marketing, "found that nearly four in 10 leads move from initial inquiry to being sales-ready. And almost the same ratio moves from sales-ready to a qualified prospect." As you might surmise, yes getting someone to a next stage deteriorates - and quickly! The sales-ready funnel fills with often just three in 10 qualified prospects becoming a buyer. Clearly, if we follow-up, then more of our original hot or warm leads are going to be actually qualified and will earn a position in a 120-day plan for follow-up.

HOT TIP: If you discover your prospect is a faster decision-making style, about once every week to 10 days continue with a follow-up plan. If they are a slower decision maker, continue with a longer time between contacts.

It seems that speed is everything today. Cell phones clog with voice mails, text message because - you can't wait, email can often seem slow. Speed is as important is sales and networking follow-up. And it is certain that in all types of product and service sales follow-up is a must do.

You can get your excerpt of the complete guide of actions -what to say and when - to from 24 hours to 120 days of sales and networking follow-up: Taking the Mystery Out of Follow-up Reluctance at http://www.followupwithcare.com

How Fast Should You Follow Up For Sales? is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

You often don't know how what YOU know can help so many other people. And that is what Michele thought I might be able to do with an introvert perspective. Who knew?

Here is how I started the post titled: Are You An Introvert? How To Feel Safe In The World

While not exactly on the same level, the introvert and people who struggle with PTSD share some similar feelings. Borrowing from an introvert’s strategies for managing in a loud and mostly extrovert world can be helpful. If you can’t choose the environment you’ll be in the next best thing is to make the environment comfortable for yourself. Here are some things that can be an asset for you at almost any time.

Now, please head over to Heal My PTSD to continue reading.

Introvert PTSD Perspective How To Feel Safe In The World is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

How to Care for Introverts (link takes you the old and the new side by side) has gone from an old newspaper column-like cut out to a new colorful poster. Same wisdom, totally different look.

Even though the original idea itself dates back to a wildly popular, almost cult-like, 2003 journal article, the wisdom has taken on new life: same ideas almost a decade later still apply for introverts.

What have you found on Pinterest to be of interest? An image? The way it works? Any tips for those of us just getting started?

Oldie, How to Care for Introverts, Becomes New Again is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

One of the things you can find all over the internet are quotations. There are quotations that inspire and motivate; others that give you courage and insight. Shane's new book has that but even more.

The format is a shared quotation along with attribution, which he might have heard from someone or saw shared online. The quotation is followed by encouraging commentary with his own thoughts about it's meaning. The reason this is so unique is that Shane is, visually impaired. Not that he (nor I) make a big deal about it but just think about it. If you have found inspiration to get you through your own challenge through quotations, and you can share your interpretation of those with others, wouldn't you think the quotation then becomes more mentally engaging?

But what does that quotation mean? Shane didn't stop with a commentary. He gives ideas for action steps followed by space enough to write, your own thoughts. Now he's touched the heart of those of us more introspective: a structure to actually take time to think about something just read or heard.

A while back on my FaceBook someone posed the question, "What is the point of sharing a quotation online?" There may be some truth is that question. Likely on the surface, just a quotation may not inspire you. Yet, when someone is willing to elaborate about how a particular quotation inspires them, it could further trigger your own thinking to more depth about what it means to you.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

That’s one of the quotations in this new book. As you can imagine if you are an introvert, this one resonates with me. Not knowing I was an introvert was likely a blessing for a long time. Then when I learned I was, my goodness, nasty negative myths started to have me questioning myself. Was it true I was anti-social? Could I be aloof? Well I'm here to say the Dr. Seuss is right. It was likely I may have appeared to "be" the myth when I wasn't being myself and instead was trying to fit in. It's a much better feeling when I am who I am!

What do you think of quotations? How have any helped your thinking?

If you want to see some of the best, along with a process to help get your best thoughts out of your head and into action, visit Shane's website at http://InspirationalQuoteBook.com

How To Inspire Yourself: Use Quotations And Follow These Easy Steps is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

1- Picture failure.

Do you have a recent photo in your online profiles? I don't mean one when you were 50 pounds lighter. Nor one when you were a brunette and now you are blonde. A photo that either is or at least looks professionally taken. If you are using one of the dreadful online default avatars, don't! Get yourself to a professional photographer, or have a friend take a good photo of you or as a last resort go ahead and use an outdated one. Just not that high school photo from 10 or more years ago, please. Would you go to a networking event with a bag over your head? Then show up online with your face.

2- Send the standard ho-hum, make me yawn, "I'd like to connect with you," invitation.

While it isn't always the situation I've found that many people who do this are merely interested in the numbers game. Sure you're busy! Aren't we all? How long does it take for you to scan a profile, comment on it, and then use that in your introduction? Doesn't this sound a heck of a lot better, "I noticed you've traveled to Italy several times? So have I. Would you like to connect here?"

3- What happens online stays online.

If you are networking you must want some kind of a connection. A client, a referral, a new job. Bridge the gap between the silence of online and the reality that you will likely have to either talk or meet in person for many outcomes. Ask your new connection to telephone talk, use Skype or if the geography warrants it, meet in-person.

4- You hesitate or don't state what you want.

Is it just me or do people who connect with you online often ask, "How can I help you?" For me I'm often project focused and from there I can clearly state my wants. Actually, having said that, I more times than not know exactly what I want and I have the courage to ask for it. If you cannot clearly tell someone what you want, figure out what's causing that and then, one person at a time, start to ask for what you want.

5- It's more about you.

I've recently been online and with in-person speaking events been talking about getting what you want from networking more quickly. Scary thought? The quickly part. It happens all the time. But the point of introduction, online or in-person, that is like a run-away freight train to derailing this is to start off by talking about you, your company, your product, your services and in a selling like manner. Look. Don't you know enough about yourself? How about turning things around and get to know the other person? Novel concept huh. Get to know your prospect before you go down the wrong track. Be other focused.

A few years ago my son, who plays guitar, introduced me to Elizabeth Cotton who wrote and sang a song, Freight Train.

The title makes me think about how so many of us lead parts of our lives like freight trains today, including our networking. Watch and listen to the video if you like. But then, go back to your online profiles, add your photo, and get back on track to making more meaningful connections.

What ways can you think of that either you or people you may have met have corrupted a networking connection with you?

Top Five Ways You Might Be Corrupting Your Online Networking Connections is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

These are great tips to effectively email people you want to correspond with, and these tips are great for establishing contact with anyone. Don’t forget sometimes when people don’t answer email, it is best to pick up the phone and give them a call. Some people just aren’t that into internet communication, and will, unfortunately for some of us introverts, demand for phone time to talk.

It's an art

First off, writing the perfect email is an art. You want to make it concise, articulate and friendly. It is easy for me to list these aspects, but it is much harder to balance all of them. How exactly does someone be brief without coming across as terse? It is not a simple question to answer, and it will vary from situation to situation. Of all those, being brief is the most important. Imagine that you have 100’s of email to answer a day, you don’t want to deal with someone who is taking their time at getting to their point.

Read it twice

Due to the complexity of sending an email that will get a response, you will want to revise and proofread. This will also avoid making grammatical errors that make it difficult for the reader to understand what you are trying to communicate. If the reader doesn’t understand what you are trying to say, it can be difficult for them to respond. Frequently, if you are unclear in your message the recipient of your email will feel like you couldn’t be bothered to think out what you wanted from them exactly.

Find the best moment

Timing is key on email. Sometimes people are busy and other days they are not. On the less busy days they are much more likely to want to correspond then days when they are swamped. If you don’t get a response from an e-mail it can be good to follow-up with another email asking the persons availability. Sometimes people need reminders and a little bit of nudging for them to put your e-mail in their to-do list. Don’t email obsessively, but maybe try a different time of a day or a different day of the week.

Research the person

Beyond composing and sending the email, you want to know about the person you are email. Do your homework! There is nothing more rude then trying to interview someone, and not knowing basic information about them. This tells them that you couldn’t spend the time to google or research them. Also, like most things in life, “please” and “thank you” go a long way. Make sure you show your gratitude for the person willing to dedicate sometime to answering your email.

LookupExpert is one of the most recommended email finder services.

Art, proofreading, timing and researching - all within the introvert preferences. Which one tip or which tips resonate most to boost your courage?

The Secrets to Emailing Important People is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Thanks to Roxana Núñez, the Procrastination Princess, another introvert perspective on how online social networking can open doors for even the most introverted of us. Consider her perspective on an experiment as research:

The world of the Internet has opened a big door to all of those who consider themselves introverts.  It allows you to create a persona that is big and bold, sassy and brassy, honest and true.  You decide what image you want to portray on the web.  This is its charm.  Social media is great for introverts, if you use it right.

I am in the process of starting an experiment that might prove my point.  I am hoping that you will participate in a similar experiment.  It is after all, the age of social media, and I think we are doing it wrong.

Here’s the thing.  I am a master procrastinator, and even though I’ve had a Twitter account since 2009, I am now about to break 1,000 followers (as of this writing, I have 985).  The main reason is because I procrastinate.  I took the easy way out.  I connected my Facebook page to Twitter and everything else so that one post travels through all of social media.  I then waited for people to find me. That was my first mistake.

The second mistake I believe we are all making is that we have settled on the idea of collecting people as opposed to connecting with them.  Let’s face it.  Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, it is very easy to sit and click on people’s profiles or accept invitations and say Hi and not much else.  There is nothing going on.  You have an amount of followers, friends or connections and nothing more.  This is not very social.

And this is where my experiment comes in.  An experiment that I hope you will emulate.  I decided to approach the main four media I use: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube.  The idea is very simple.  Pick five people on each and approach each one on a personal basis.  Something as simple as going to their profile, checking out what they are commenting on and either give your opinion or approach them for more information.  Maybe even ask them about what they do or who they serve.  Ask them how can you help them spread their message.  Remember, this is about them, not about you.  You want to be real, you want to engage.  And you know what, if they are not at all compatible with you, then let them go.

This is my first week attempting this experiment.  I don’t know where it will lead.  I do know that to me, talking to people online is usually easier than talking to them face to face.  Twenty is a manageable number.  One person for each weekday.  And as you start connecting, you will see who answers back, who is debate worthy, who you consider to be a moron or an opinion that you might not agree with but like to debate with.  Instead of just collecting followers, start connecting.  See where it leads.  You never know.  Stop procrastinating on your dream to expand your circle of influence and start talking to all those interesting people around you.  You never know what you will discover until you get out of your shell and visit somebody else’s.  Procrastinate tomorrow.

 For me this is a terrific idea! I've written in previous posts about what I call "corrupt connections!" If you just collect people instead of connect with them  as Roxana points out, then things are just not in anyway social.

What do you think about her experiment suggestion?

Thank you to guest blogger, Roxana Núñez, the Procrastination Princess.  She has been living with and studying procrastination since she was a teenager. Now in her 40's, she understands that many women procrastinate on themselves by putting all their other responsibilities ahead of her dreams.  She wants to encourage women over 40 to take care of themselves first in order to be an asset to their families, their companies and live a more fulfilled life.  You can find Roxana at http://www.procrastinationprincess.com

Introverts Can Open Doors with the Age of Social Media is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

Rub #1: People follow on Twitter and then never have the first @. You, as the one they followed, never receive the first engaging tweet. The DM is automated - oops. I'm guilty of that one! Let me rephrase that, the DM is an automated sales pitch. It tells you to go to a link and get a fabulous gift, which by the way, you never really wanted. Whew, my automated DM upon attracting a follower is not that.

Most of the tweets of your new follower use a link to sell you something. And, if you make the effort to open a public conversation, you never do hear that 2 back. That's just awful for in particular, the shy and reluctant marketer. Come on people - the days of lurking in online forums is long gone. Besides, it's one thing to lurk in a forum, and quite another to attend a party and totally ignore all, if not most of the people who you initiated a connection with. Twitter is like that party.

Eraser #1: thetwitcleaner.com/ I found this on a day I got more spammers than normal. It occurred to me I might have people who spam and I just didn't notice it. In the past I've unfollowed people one at a time after I either @ or DM a message to them and didn't hear back. But thetwitcleaner does this and more for you: it tells you who is tweeting what percentage of links, who has had little to no activity, what percentage of content is being pumped out from feeds, who has little original content, and so much more. It's quick, it's easy and it's free.

Rub #2: There's little insight into why, or even when, people who you are interested in, might stop following you. Was it something I said? Is it my breath? Can I have a clue? This introvert is curious. After all, even to network online will have to lead to meaningful conversations or else, it's hardly worth the effort, and most certainly an energy drain.

Enter Eraser #2: http://tweeteffect.com/ Twitter notifies you when someone follows you. But what about what was the event that might have caused someone to unfollow you? For certain there are so many variables - Twitter and non-Twitter related - that could affect someone to unfollow you. What tweeteffect does is analyze your latest updates and flag those that made people either follow or leave you. It too is quick, easy and free.

Online social networking has tremendous potential when we realize the operative word is social!

What pet peeves do you have on any of the more popular venues online? Or even a not so well known venue?

And what "erasers" have you found to be helpful?

Rub Out Disengaged Twitter Followers and Find Unfollow Feedback is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

One question posed in their survey of 12,000 people was, How have you developed your networking skills?

The choices were: reading books or articles, taking seminars or classes, being mentored by someone, working on my own and participating in networking groups.

More women tend to want to learn, maybe best practices through: books, seminars, mentoring and being active in networking groups.

More men want to: learn on their own.

If you had to answer the question, How have you developed your networking skills, what would you answer?

What’s Sex Got to Do with How You Network? is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer

It is not every day that one has a life changing experience, but there are defining points in everyone’s life when they experience something which makes them look differently at the way they live. This article will consider some of the life changing experiences that happen throughout life and suggest places where such experiences can be sought.

Brisbane CBD (Photo credit: brewbooks)

1.     The realisation that work does not need to be all consuming

In the society in which we live, we are grown and shaped from an early age to believe that the ultimate goal is a good job. Everything we do from the age of 4 to 18 is focused on getting us a job in the future, and rightly so. However, it is easy to forget that life is there to enjoy and that working all of the time is not the way to go. A visit to an apartment in Brisbane will enable you to consider the world of working life alongside that of beaches and relaxation. Australians have an excellent attitude towards work, and really know how to relax. Working should never be all consuming and the witnessing the practice of surfing before work will bring this home to you. Spending a week in a serviced apartment in Brisbane will help you to relax and may bring a bit of perspective to your life as well.

2.     The realisation of love

This is one that cannot be found in any particular area, but it will not necessarily just happen either. It is important to find someone with similar hopes, dreams and interests to you. It is important not to force love, but it can often be found closer to you than you expected. Take a hobby to a new level and take classes in it to help you improve. Who knows, you could find your soul mate at a pottery or cooking class.

3.     The cessation of habits

Sometimes one will just awaken with a sudden urge to stop drinking, smoking, or participating in some addictive habit. It is important to grab onto these feelings and make them a reality when they come, but sometimes it takes more than just a realisation. With smoking for example, it takes a few painful weeks before you will begin to feel the positive difference, but when you do you will appreciate having your health back and will be encouraged to stop forever.

4.     Near death experience

A near death experience is obviously not something that you want to happen but it does often change lives. You can replicate this sensation without risking yourself by engaging in adrenaline pumping activities. This can be as simple as lifting weights in the gym or playing sports. Alternatively you can engage in activities such as white water rafting or bungee jumping. This will get your heart racing and you will achieve the same feeling. Adrenaline can inspire a change in lifestyle to become more healthy and much more.

5.     Contentedness

Another realisation which can change your life is the realisation that you are happy and do not need anything more. This feeling is obviously not one which can be found or bought, but one which requires hard work and toil. Reaching this stage is the greatest feeling of all and your life should be geared towards finding this happiness at all times. If something makes you unhappy then stop doing it, and if something makes you happy do it to your heart’s content.

What would you discover if you stopped and just reached for what's in the present? Would you recognize that life is here to enjoy? Or that love is closer than you think? What would you discover?

5 Life Changing Experiences is a post from: Courage Coach for the Reluctant Marketer