Turning Your Everyday Encounters Into Real Business Leads

Have you ever stood in line at your local coffee shop or grocery store and thought about striking up a conversation with the person in front of you, but then decided against it? Approaching strangers is weird, and feels uncomfortable, you may have thought, and they probably don't need a real estate agent anyway.

BUT....they might be considering buying or selling a house - - and even if they're not, you could still benefit from meeting them. By starting a conversation with people next to you on the train, at the bank, and in public places, you can unearth a world of new clients. This method of drumming up new clients is called, "random networking", or the art of turning your everyday encounters into real business leads.

Here is a bit of advice for making connections:

LEARN TO LOVE MEETING NEW PEOPLE. Believe in your soul that the world is a friendly place. People today are starved for connection with others...not just online, but in the physical world. So don't think your words won't be welcomed. Anyone who is in a public place is fair game, and remember that every conversation has value - whether it is with someone who might be a future client of someone who can teach you something new about life.

BREAK THE ICE NATURALLY. Think of some easy quips about what's happening in the moment. For example: "Thank goodness for caffeine", while waiting in line for coffee,or "I like Sour dough bread too, good choice," when standing in line at the deli ordering your lunch or "How do you like your iPad?" People love to share their opinions about electronic toys. Follow up with questions that uncover potential opportunity: "Do you live nearby?" or "What kind of work are you in?"

GET OFF THE BEATEN PATH. We tend to repeat patterns on a daily basis and sit in the same spot, use the same locker at the gym, stand in the same area at the bar. And so does everyone else, which means you're bound to see the same people over and over. You will be a more successful random networker when you go where you've never gone before.

HELP YOUR CONTACTS. If you've met a promising lead, follow up right away to keep the connection alive and cultivate the relationship. Send an e-mail or put a note in the mail with some relevant information related to whatever you talked about. These follow-ups are designed to position you as a valuable resource.

Now it's time to make your everyday encounters into real business leads...too often we assume that people don't want to be interrupted, but they wouldn't put themselves in public if they didn't want to be met. Strangers are potential clients waiting for a hello.

What are you waiting for? Go say HELLO to someone new!