Touchpoints: Helpful System for You

Trebek: “For $600: Touchpoints are…?” You: “What is 18 months & a circle of 150.” What am I talking about here? What does this mean? Recently, I was at a seminar and did some follow up reading on this topic. For example, in the Chiropractic & Dental professions it is common knowledge to doctors that an active patient is someone who has been “touched” at least once in the past 18 months. Have you been to the Chiropractor (plug: Silveria Chiropractic) or the Dentist in the past year and a half? If so, you would be considered an active patient. However, a doctor may have over 5,000 patients on file with records but only the ones who have been in to see the doctor or had contact with he/she are considered active. Moreover, I’ve read that humans can process more than 150 “friends” at one time. 150 was the scientific number behind research that shows we aren’t meant to have active relations with more than 150 other humans at one time. Now that we’ve set the stage for this blog, let’s talk about touchpoints and a system for how you can maximize human potential.

Webster defines a touchpoint as, “any point of contact between a buyer and seller.” Ultimately, the best form of a touchpoint is when you have face-to-face interaction with someone. However, in the digital world we live in touchpoints have expanded to texts, likes, comments, snaps, and messengers. The world we live in makes it easier more than ever to have contact with others but meaningful human interaction will always take precedent.

Is there a system you use to touch and stay in contact with friends? Say you were friends with someone in high school and 10 years after graduation you haven’t talked with or seen them, what to do? I recently read that the best form of action to increase touchpoints is to message 3 people a day on Facebook (i.e.- social media platforms). However, it’s not just a “Hi! How’s it going?” What about that high school friend from 10 years ago? Are you just going to out of the blue one day be like… what’s up? You might as well take those talents to Tinder! What this book said was to at least check out each of these three “friends” Facebook feeds and see what they’ve been posting about. What are they interested in? If they have a website, it would be encouraged to read some of their blogs and reference something you read. These are tips to make a meaningful and powerful touchpoint. A touchpoint that will rekindle the interest in one another. Social media is a powerful tool when used correctly. A final note here, comes from the great Dale Carnegie, “To be interesting we have to be interested.” Be genuinely interested in other people and message 3 people each day for a month and in a month come back to me and share what has come from those thoughtful 90 conversations.

Today I had lunch with a friend who I hadn’t seen in a few months. She inspired me to write this for you. I shared with her this knowledge about touchpoints and thought it could be helpful for you to hear as well. Why? Because I’m going to make it my goal to eat my own words here and reach out to three people per day and see how they are doing in their lives. Expect an update around Christmas of what has come from these conversations. I wish you the best with your touchpoints. We are who we surround ourselves with. Remember that 150 number. Be intentional about the people you spend time with. Spend time with those that value you.

Bridgette, it was a true pleasure to share lunch and stories with you today. Very grateful for our friendship and much love to you! You are good people!