5 Things to Do After a Networking Event

By Heather Halligan, Marketing Manager and Michelle Hoffman, Business Development Coordinator

You went to a well-attended networking event, you shook some hands, had some pleasant conversations, and left feeling optimistic about the connections you made.

Now what?

The relationship isn’t going to grow by itself. What you do after the networking event is just as important as what you did during the event. Following up with the connections you made builds trust and keeps your firm top of mind.

So, let’s discuss the five things you should do after you attend a networking event.

1. Add Contact on LinkedIn

Add your new connection on LinkedIn while they are fresh in your mind.

And don’t just click that “Connect” button and walk away. Add a note to your connection request, letting them know how great it was to meet and that you’d love to talk more.

But be aware that some people don’t check their LinkedIn regularly. If your connection request goes unanswered, try following up using another medium.

2. Send a Follow-up Email

Even if you do connect on LinkedIn, we recommend sending a follow-up email, usually within 48 hours of the event.

Personalize your email: Talk about the conversation you had at the event or ask them questions you didn’t have time to ask.

A prompt follow-up demonstrates professionalism and tells the other person that you are genuinely interested in building a relationship.

If you wait too long, you risk your contact forgetting who you are and losing the connection altogether.

3. Schedule Coffee or Lunch

If you’ve had some back and forth and feel like both sides are interested in building the relationship, take the next step and schedule a lunch or coffee meeting.

A one-on-one meeting allows you to dive into the details that came up during the networking event.

This meeting will undoubtedly set the stage for the relationship. You may find it will go nowhere and cut your losses. That’s OK. Better to find out now than months down the road.

Of course, it also could be the start of a worthwhile relationship that benefits both parties.

4. Provide Feedback to Your Team

Your goal should be quality over quantity for networking events. Attending more events, hoping to make up for other low-quality ones, is a waste of everybody’s time.

So, it’s essential to talk about each event with your team. What worked well? What didn’t work well? What connections did we make? Is this an event we want to attend regularly?

This is also a good time to refer the connections you made to others in your organization. It’s fine if you don’t want to pursue a relationship with a contact, but maybe someone else does.

5. Update CRM If Applicable

If you’ve determined your contact makes a good referral or prospect, update your CRM system (sooner rather than later).

Maintain organized records (notes from your initial meeting, follow-up date, mutual interests, business goals, etc.), so your team can follow up and build that relationship.

Let’s Connect

Networking events are among the best places to build meaningful relationships. With a bit of preparation, they can be fun and engaging instead of scary and daunting.

Want more tips on how to make networking events less stressful and more productive? Let’s talk about how we can help your organization flourish!