You sat across from a nice person at a networking lunch, had a nice chat. Maybe you even heard about their kids or told them about yours. Fast forward two weeks.

You're at another networking event. You walk up to this person you had the nice visit with and say, "Hi." Because you're a good networker, you say your name in case they forgot it. And this person, this person you had a nice visit with two weeks ago, says, "Nice to meet you."

How does that make you feel? Has this person just become a trusted part of your network? Is it someone you're eager to give a referral? Someone you're willing to trust with your customers?

One clichéd phrase has completely ruined someone's credibility.

Here's my story. I belonged to a trade association for a couple of years; went to almost every monthly meeting for two years; made it a point to introduce myself to the officers. Intentionally sat at the tables where the leaders sat during luncheons. I show up at the organization's annual expo. I walk up to one of the officers. She and I had had several pleasant conversations over the years. She says, "Nice to meet you." Then, five minutes later, another board member says to me, "Nice to meet you." And this was not the first time either of these people said, "Nice to meet you." I'd had enough.

I quit going to those monthly meetings and didn't renew my dues that year.

So, here's my advertising tip this month. I guess it's more of a networking tip. But, as you probably know, I consider networking to be your most basic form of advertising.

The tip is this: Take the phrase, "Nice to meet you" and throw it away. Crumble it up into a little ball and toss it in your permanent trash can in your head.

Try, "Nice to see you."

"Good to see you."

"How are you today?"

"Great visiting with you."

Any one of these is a vast improvement over, "Nice to meet you."

This is the first of these monthly advertising tips. I hope you'll reply to this email so we'll know you want to receive them. We won't send the next one unless we hear from you.

Now go out there and grow your business!