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How To Follow Up After A Business Networking Event (without being pushy)

Networking events and conferences are great ways to meet up with new people who might have some future impact on your business or career. But to capitalise on those meetings, it’s what happens after the conference is over that really counts.

If you get the follow up right it can elevate a brief chance encounter at the event into a long lasting profitable professional business relationship. But there’s a fine but well distinct line between being seen as persistent and being over pushy.

In this article we’ll show you how to successfully navigate the art of the business follow up to make sure you maximise the potential connection without being too persistent that you become a nuisance.

Timing Is Everything

The art of the follow up starts with knowing exactly when to send a follow up message. There are three golden rules that govern the follow up which are;

1. The Initial Follow Up Should Be Sent Within 48 Hours
   You should try to send your follow up message within the first 24 to 48 hours after the event ended. By doing so, you ensure that your initial meeting is still fresh in both of your minds.
2. Think About The Context
   If you agreed to connect within a week, stick with that. If you follow up too soon, you could come across as too eager or needy.
3. Follow Up During Business Hours
   Unless you agreed to speak outside of business hours, you should stick to sending messages during office hours. Sending follow up messages late at night or early in the morning can seem like an intrusion.

Writing The Most Effective Follow Up Message

The tone of your initial follow up message will affect all subsequent communications and your potential future business relationship. As such, you should do the following;

• Make Your Message Personal
  If your message is too generic it will be forgotten easily. You should take the time to make reference to specific details from your previous conversation. This helps remind the recipient and shows that you were genuinely interested and engaged.
• Keep It Short
  Remember time is tight for all successful businesses so keep your message short and to the point. All you really need for the initial follow up are a few well crafted sentences.
• State Your Intention Clearly
  It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for advice, a collaboration or just want to stay in contact, be sure to state it clearly to save time.
• Finish With A Call To Action
  At the end of your message, offer meeting up for coffee or a phone call. But always keep things casual, don’t put pressure on the recipient.

Example Of A Follow Up Message

Your message should be short and sweet yet contain everything you want to convey, try something like;

Hi [name],

It was great to meet you at the [networking event/conference] yesterday. I really enjoyed our discussion about [whatever you spoke with them about].

I’d like to continue that conversation and maybe explore the possibility of future collaborations. Would you like to meet for a coffee sometime next week?

Looking forward to hearing from you [your name]

Ways To Provide The Other Person With Something Of Value

The best way to secure a follow up is to give something beneficial to the recipient. They’re more likely to respond if there’s something in it for them. You should;

• Share Any Relevant Information
  If you were talking about a specific interest or challenge, attach an article, tool or podcast that they might find helpful.
• Introduce Them To Useful Contacts
  If you know someone that might make a useful contact for them, suggest making an introduction.
• Keep Any Promises
  If you said you would send them a certain resource or a useful contact during your initial meet up, be sure to send details in your follow up.

How To Handle Different Personality Types In Follow Ups

Not everyone responds to follow ups in the same way. Some people prefer direct and concise messages, while others appreciate a more personal and conversational approach. Consider these personality types when forming your message:

• The Direct Communicator
  Keep your follow up short and to the point, stating exactly what you want without unnecessary fluff.
• The Relationship Builder
  Add a personal touch by referencing a shared interest or something from your previous conversation.
• The Analytical Thinker
  If they showed an interest in details, provide a relevant article or insight to add value to the conversation.
• The Social Butterfly
  If they are highly active on social media, engaging with their posts before following up can help keep the connection warm.

Following Up After A Virtual Networking Event

With the rise of virtual conferences and webinars, follow ups after online events need a slightly different approach. Here’s how to make an impact:

• Reference The Event
  Mention specific aspects of the conference or session you both went to to jog their memory.
• Use A Number Of Channels
  As virtual events often involve digital interactions, following up via LinkedIn or email works well.
• Send A Personalised Video Message
  As you likely didn’t meet in person, a short video can help create a stronger connection.
• Use Event Communities
  Many virtual events have online groups or forums, engage in discussions there before sending a direct follow up.

What to Do If They Don’t Respond

We all lead busy working lives so it’s not impossible that your message got swept aside. This will mean that you don’t get a reply to your follow up. Here’s what you should do next;

• Let 7 Days Go By
  Some people are slower to respond than others so it’s always best to allow a full week before sending a second message.
• Don’t Put Them Under Pressure
  Remember to keep your tone light and friendly and start by saying I expect that you’re really busy. Then mention the prospect of meeting up again.
• Make It Easy For Them To Say No
  Not everyone will be interested in continuing a brief conversation and you just have to accept that. Give them an easy way to decline politely to your offer if they’re really not interested.

Example Of Second Message

Hi [name],

I hope you’re keeping well. I understand how busy things can get, but I’d like to follow up on my previous message about getting together for a coffee.

If you’d like to but now isn’t the right time, feel free to let me know when you might have more time. And if you’d sooner not meet at all that’s fine I understand completely.

All the best

[your name]

Using Video Or Voice Notes For A More Personal Touch

Instead of just a follow up by text or email, you could try recording a short video message or voice note. This makes your follow up more personal, memorable, and engaging. 

Seeing your face or hearing your voice can create a stronger connection, making it harder to ignore. Keep it brief, friendly, and natural.

What You Should Do When A Follow Up Leads Nowhere

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a connection doesn’t respond or engage. Here’s what to do;

• Give It One Last Try
  After your second follow up, wait a few weeks and send a final message.
• Switch The Connection
  If direct follow ups don’t work, try staying in touch passively on social media.
• Know When To Move On
  If there’s no response after multiple attempts, it’s okay to let it go and focus on other connections.

Use Social Media For Follow Ups

Using emails and direct messages are not the only way to follow up on connections, social media can be a great way to stay on someone’s radar without being too pushy. Think about:

• Engaging With Their Posts
  Liking, commenting, or sharing their content on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram can help keep the connection warm.
• Sending A Thoughtful DM
  If you see a post that lines up with your conversation, send them a quick message referencing it.
• Tag Connections In Posts
  If you write a post about the event, tag the people you met, giving them an opportunity to engage.

How To Use Technology To Follow Up Effectively

You’re likely to meet multiple potential new contacts at a business event and it can be difficult to keep up with them all. Using a personal CRM (customer relationship management) tool can really help. Using a personal CRM you can;

• Keep All Of Your Contacts In One Place
  You can keep all of your contacts together and include notes about your previous interactions with each one.
• Schedule Reminders
  To prevent any potential connection from getting forgotten, you can set reminders for follow ups.
• Keep Track Of All Interactions
  You can log all follow up attempts to make sure you’re not coming across too needy or pushy.
• Personalise Each Connection
  CRMs allow you to use tags and notes to help you recall personal details, letting you make better, more personalised follow ups.

How To Build Long Lasting Business Relationships

You need to remember that the purpose of following up after an event isn’t just to tick a box. It’s to attempt to build a lasting business relationship with a mutually beneficial contact. The best way to achieve this is by;

• Being Consistent
  You should keep in contact with people in your network regularly. Even when you don’t need help with something.
• Sharing When You Can
  Sharing business insights, giving congratulations on achievements and offering to help where you can.
• Taking Your Time
  Some connections can take longer to develop than others. You need to be patient and stay positive and keep on gently nurturing the connection.

By following these tips, you can successfully turn new contacts into valuable professional relationships, without being pushy.

Making Follow Ups Work For You

Mastering the art of the follow up is the secret to transforming short term meetings into long term business relationships. By being timely, thoughtful, and providing value, you can grow professional connections without feeling intrusive. 

Remember, networking isn’t about collecting contacts, it’s about making useful relationships. You need to approach follow ups with authenticity, patience, and persistence, and you’ll find that your efforts lead to meaningful opportunities and lasting partnerships.

SEE ALSO: 20 Business Networking Event Tips (to sky-rocket your career)

Frequently Asked Questions