When you have developed your strategic model that defines what you will be offering your high end clients, along with features and benefits, make sure you also present this document powerfully. You can use it as a consultation tool, a feedback tool, or to open conversations.

I like to print my strategic design model on high gloss paper, in full color, and I take this with me to speaking events, and use it in addition to business cards. When I make a connection with someone who might be a good fit for one of my programs, or a good partner to refer others to me, I am sure to pull out a copy of my design model and walk them through the graphic so they understand what exactly my company does.

These designs models can make you stand out, and it’s funny, because when you hand out a few at a networking event, suddenly everyone wants one. This is the strategy I used when I attended the networking event with Sir Richard Branson a couple of months ago. At this event, rather than relying solely on copies of my book (or my business card), I also set up packages with my design model in four color, on high gloss paper. So they looked really professional, and were perceived as high value.

Where other people were handing out the same size business cards or the same size books as everyone else, my one page sheets got much more attention. That enabled me to connect with a few people and opened the conversation up with several others.

So when you are attending networking events, take your system or model with you. Use it as a tool to consult from, to speak about, and to present your ideas as powerfully as you can. It’s no accident when they say that a picture is worth 1,000 words.