Mastering the Art of the Follow-Up: How to Stay Connected After Events

In anything you aspire to do in life, following up and following through are essential for success and moving the needle forward. One of our members tells the story about a friend whose son is a high school basketball player who attends collegiate camps. He thinks it’s old-fashioned when he’s told to follow up with an email or text, thanking the inviting coach and adding a tidbit to help the team remember who he is. Few people do this, and even fewer achieve the results they are looking for to play on a college team. However, doing this has yielded results, as he has been invited to other collegiate camps to gain more exposure.

If it translates in basketball, it certainly will resonate in corporate or business events. That’s why 20% of business owners get results – it’s that 20% who follow up. The follow-up is where the real magic happens in networking. It’s about turning those brief conversations into lasting business relationships that help each other grow their business. You’ve got about a 48-hour window of opportunity after meeting someone new. Within this time frame, they’ll still remember your face and conversation clearly. Wait longer, and you risk becoming just another forgotten handshake.  Send a quick email expressing gratitude for the conversation. Reference something specific you talked about. This personal touch shows you were actually listening, not just collecting contacts.

The biggest mistake you can make is immediately jumping into your sales pitch. Instead, think about what you can offer them first. You may know a great CPA who could use their services, or you may have read an article that relates to their business challenge. People like to talk about themselves, so let them and meet a need.

When you consistently provide value to your business relationships, you establish yourself as a trusted resource. People remember those who help them solve problems, not those who constantly pitch services. Remember, people do business with those they know, like, and trust. This doesn’t happen overnight. You’re building the foundation for long-term professional relationships that could benefit both businesses for years to come. The best networkers understand that growing professional relationships is a marathon, not a sprint. When you master the art of the follow-up, you transform casual networking contacts into a robust business network that helps everyone reach their goals.

That’s why a community networking group is so important!  You know the members and have a wealth of trusted people to share information with when you meet someone.

Connect with us today and come have lunch on us to see if you’re a good fit!