Steps to Networking – Step 87: FAQ’s and fact sheets

STEP 87: FAQ’s and fact sheets

Write a list of frequently asked questions about yourself, your product or service and their answers (FAQs). Also write instructions explaining how to perform specific tasks or fact sheets on your area of expertise, products or services. Be informative. Establish your expertise and attract potential network partners by displaying your knowledge.

• Include FAQs on your Web site,
• Submit FAQs to discussion groups that permit them,
• Turn FAQs into articles and
• Update FAQs to reflect changes with you, your product or service.

Many discussion groups allow that do not allow advertising or self-promotion, permit FAQs and useful information. FAQs can build your name recognition and establish you as an authority. Again, distribute FAQs only to discussions groups that accept them because the group may turn on you.

When you receive questions that your FAQs could not answer, obtain the questioner’s contact information and answer them. If you thing the question and answer would make a good addition to the FAQ list, add it. Hard questions also serve the purpose of informing you about problems with your products or materials so formulate a policy for addressing problems because they will arise.

Add a form to your FAQ page so readers can e-mail questions to you that the FAQ may not have addressed. When you receive questions submitted on your form, you will know that they came from your FAQ page, which makes it easier to manage the information. And, you can also get the questioners’ names and contact information in the event you want to consider them for your network.

(Excerpted from NETWORKING MAGIC: Making Connections That Will Change Your Life By Rick Frishman and Jill Lublin With Mark Steisel)