How can you effectively follow up after a networking event?

Part 1 Following up with people that you met at a networking event can be a very rewarding activity or an activity of futility if it needs to be done more strategically. The work begins before the event. First, set your goals for the event. Your arrival and departure time, the program for the event, what you will wear, business cards, etc. Determine the ten most influential people you want to meet. Be sure to review their LinkedIn profile, their posts, any news about them, and their top contacts. Be sure to eat before the event to focus on networking, not eating and drinking. it will be essential to have a drink in your hand to fit in with the activity. Part 2 up next

My answer is from my sales perspective: 1) Immediately or the next day, send/accept LinkedIn invitations. 2) As soon as connected drop a line summarizing the conversation topic. 3) If in the networking you promised to do something, do that in 2 business days. 4) Qualify, qualify and qualify...

Here are some tips to help you follow up! 1. Follow up within 24 hours of the event to reinforce the connection before the person forgets the event or you. 2. Mention a conversation or topic you discussed at the event to jog the person’s memory. 3. Offer to help the contact before asking for a favor. For example, connect them with someone you know or forward an article you were discussing. 4. Suggest a time to meet up for coffee if you live in the same area. If you’re not local, suggest a video chat or phone call. 5. Connect with the contact on a professional platform like LinkedIn to strengthen your professional relationship further.

After a networking event, effective follow-up is key to forging strong connections. I start by organizing contacts, noting interesting details from our conversations. Within 48 hours, I reach out with personalized messages, referencing our discussion to reignite the connection. I suggest a clear next step, like a coffee meet-up or a call to explore collaborative opportunities. It's not just about adding contacts; it's about building relationships. By showing genuine interest and offering value, I turn brief encounters into lasting partnerships. Follow-up is where the real magic happens.

The best way is by agreeing at the event and diarising it with them. That includes using the LinkedIn QR code connection link on the mobile app. You then have a qualification filter of real interest.

Professional peer group is always helpful to understand the new technology and adopt it. Personally I found it quite a good platform to ask any technical help to my LinkedIn Connect and most of the time i received advise from my friends around the world through this platform.

In terms of setting goals for the initial outreach after a networking meeting, do some research on LinkedIN on their company to find common ground and show you’re willing to take the time to do so = credibility.

In my experience, the best channels to nurture a new relationship from an event is LinkedIn and email. While meeting someone for the first time at an event, I will ask if it is okay to connect on LinkedIn. Today, that is the modern way to exchange "business cards." I will send a nice message that briefly shares our conversation and that I am grateful to be connected. A new channel that is emerging that I see is text messaging. If you have a strong connection, and they give permission, this is another nice way to get connected with a networking contact.

Choosing the right channel for follow-up after a networking event is crucial. Consider the nature of your connection and industry norms. Email is versatile and professional, suitable for detailed follow-ups. LinkedIn is excellent for professional networking, allowing you to connect, engage, and share insights. Social media platforms like Twitter can be effective for brief acknowledgments or casual follow-ups. Tailor your approach based on the context and preferences of the contact. Selecting the appropriate channel enhances the likelihood of a meaningful and well-received follow-up after a networking event.

Send a personalized connection request on LinkedIn, referencing your meeting. This not only helps keep the connection alive but also provides an additional platform for future communication.

A simple note the day of or day after is best. While at the event ensure you create a followup or action with that person so your email can solidify that verbal agreement. First to reach out often wins.

I think it's important to follow up as close to the networking event as possible. The best practice would be to do so right after the event. I take a few minutes while waiting to leave in my car or Uber to get messages from those I connected with at the event. I always try to practice the idea of "Smart Brevity" and share something that stands out from our conversation.

For timely and concise follow-up after a networking event, send a brief email promptly. Express appreciation for the connection, reference the event, and highlight a key takeaway or shared interest. Keep it concise, focusing on a clear purpose, like suggesting a follow-up meeting or expressing interest in collaboration. Attach relevant resources if applicable. Being prompt and to the point demonstrates professionalism and ensures your message is well-received in the busy post-event period.

It’s really good point! I always write follow up letters to colleagues and separate to customers within 12 to 24 hours after the call or the event. This letter can be used like starting step to future conversation and it really show to opponent your pursuit to warm negotiations.

A networking event is a kind of Hop-On Hop-Off tour with a meet-greet-repeat approach in a given time period. The span of attention and remembrance thereafter is very limited. Conveying value and personalization in follow-up conversation is important. Bringing human connection of previous meeting by combining value-based offerings and forward-looking actions, is most effective.

When making the initial outreach, one should have taken some notes (physically on the person’s card or mentally) to have found out what’s important to them and how you can help them. The Go-Giver mentality is important.

Beyond mentioning a common interest, I believe it’s more efficient to provide insights related to a specific interest the person we met mentioned: trends in this area, related articles, new ideas the person we met might not have thought about. When I meet someone, I try to help this person with my unique perspectives on things: this approach has served me well having people who look forward to meeting me again because I have “an interesting conversation. To keep the conversation interesting, I try to bring a very new context to any situation, from other industries, another use case etc… and tell stories.

Ask politely for their business and do your homework on their requirements. No good talking if nothing comes from it, so move on to the next one.

Everyone likes personalisation Connect on the event - and leave a hook , so that you can pick it up later after the event or online. Best way going forward.

After a networking event, emphasize a clear call to action in your follow-up. Craft a concise email expressing gratitude for the connection and proposing a specific next step, like scheduling a follow-up call, meeting, or collaboration. Clearly outline the benefits of the suggested action and propose a time frame for response. A proactive call to action demonstrates initiative and helps move the relationship forward. Keep the message focused, inviting a concrete response for continued engagement.

When including a call to action, be thoughtful and polite. All too often I will see folks reach out and want to meet on their terms and what is convenient to them.

Absolutely and it's simply usually as I will add you on LinkedIn and we can a arrange a coffee in the city. Networking, the follow-up afterwards should be natural. What's important is you do as you say but some of the clear and specific details can be worked out later on.

Propose a specific action for moving forward, such as a follow-up meeting, coffee, or a more in-depth discussion. Make it easy for them to agree or suggest an alternative.

In addition to being thoughtful, show that you have done your research as part of the call to action. An example of what is not great is just sending your resume and asking if there are any jobs. Done differently, this can be you taking the time to review openings and shortlisting a position or two to discuss with your networking follow-up. Do take the time to think through why you want a job, even if you are in need of any job - fully understanding that there are challenging economic conditions in the job market.

I agree with the the other contributors with their points. Networking, takes time and time should be budgeted for that activity. For me, I use my lunch break and reach out to people via Linkedin. A quick hello, how are you, its been awhile type message. I practiced this approach for years. Six months ago, I met a gentleman who told me that approach was just "OK". I was puzzled - he told me you lose personalization with short notes - its nice but its rarely a conversation. He told me, David, you have to call people and say those words - conversations are two way streets and everyone appreciates a call and hearing your voice. I thought about that and my 2024 resolution has been to call people and simply to say hi.

For starters, never talk about sales or pitching your products right away. When following up, mention something about your conversation, if you met them personally. If not, then talk about any main event talk and ask about thier perspective. This is to open up the conversation and get a response, from there try to build up rapport and continue the conversation.

When networking, prioritize quality over quantity. It’s more beneficial to have a smaller group of meaningful connections than a large network of superficial contacts. Take the time to nurture these relationships. Regular check-ins, sharing relevant information, or offering assistance can strengthen these connections. Remember, effective networking is a two-way street – it’s as much about what you can offer as what you can gain. In the digital age, LinkedIn is an indispensable tool for networking. To leverage it effectively, ensure your profile is not just a resume, but a reflection of your professional persona. Share content that aligns with your expertise and interests, engage with posts by commenting thoughtfully.

If your someone junior you said you will reach out - actually do. Sometimes people don't take action and assume the person they connected with may not want to hear from them - I suggest don't make assumptions, take action and risk a reachout! The worst is they will not respond.

Always try to put yourself in their shoes when engaging with new contacts. Why would they want to connect with you? How can you provide value to them today or sometime in the future? When I was younger and less experienced, curiosity about someone's journey went a long way. Folks enjoy talking about themselves and sharing their journey. It makes them feel good that they might be able to pass on some wisdom to you and your journey.