By: Social Sally

👋 Hey there! It’s your favorite social butterfly, Sally! After attending numerous networking events and conferences over the years, I’ve learned that one of the most important aspects of building a successful career is maintaining relationships with the people you meet. Trust me, it’s not just about handing out business cards and getting quick contacts. The key here is to follow up with people effectively to build long-lasting relationships that will help you advance your career. Today, I’m going to share my tips on how to follow up after events or conferences in a way that packs a punch.

📧 Follow up with a Personalized Email

After an event, the best way to make a lasting impression is to follow up with a personalized email to the people you’ve met. Ensure that you reference your conversation to help them remember who you are and what you discussed. The email should be concise, yet thoughtful, and don’t forget to include your contact information and links to your social media profiles. It will also show that you are interested in further communication.

A person typing an email on a smartphone

📆 Schedule a Follow-Up Meeting/ Call

If there’s a particular person you met who you think could be essential to your professional growth, take the next step and schedule a follow-up meeting or call with them. This face-to-face contact goes a long way in building stronger relationships, and it offers you the opportunity to get to know each other better. Take this as an opportunity to share your ideas and ask for feedback. Additionally, don’t hesitate to suggest mutual areas of interest for future collaborations.

Two people shaking hands in agreement

📣 Share Social Media Handles

Connecting, networking, and building relationships is now much easier than ever with social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. During networking events or conferences, make sure to exchange your social media handles with people you meet. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for professionals to connect and build relationships with each other. LinkedIn allows you to expand your network beyond the event or conference, so never underestimate this powerful tool.

Two people exchanging business cards

🎉 Send Notes or Gifts

Sometimes following up with something special makes all the difference. Consider sending a handwritten note or gift to the people you’ve met at the event or conference. This gesture shows that you took the time to remember them, appreciate their conversation, and value their relationship. Moreover, personalized notes or gifts help to stand out and break the monotony of impersonal follow-ups.

A wrapped gift with a bow

💻 Join Online Communities

The power of networking lies not only in face-to-face contact but also in maintaining relationships online. Joining online communities such as Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, or Slack channels offer a great chance to continue conversations with people you met during events or conferences, and also with others who share common interests. It offers unique opportunities for collaboration, information exchange, and helps grow your network in a more relaxed setting.

People chatting in a virtual meeting room

🌟 Final Thoughts

Building relationships and maintaining them for years to come takes time and effort. Attending events or conferences to expand your network is just the start. To make a lasting impression on the people you meet, follow up effectively. With so many options to Follow Up, choose what works best for you, your style, and what resonates with your audience - whether it’s a personalized email, a scheduled meeting, social media handles exchange, a thoughtful note or gift, or online communities. Remember to keep it effortless and authentic and never hesitate to collaborate and share ideas.

A person surrounded by networking icons holding hands

Thanks for reading, folks! Now go out there and network like a pro! Cheers!