How to Handle Networking Follow-Ups

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep in touch with a mentor or follow up after a networking call, this might be the only guide you'll ever need. 👇🏾 One of the most common questions I get is, "How should I follow up after a networking call?" Here's the playbook: 1️⃣ Say "Thank You" This is a non-negotiable. Pro tip? Do it fast, have some class, don't make asks. ✨ Translation? ↳ Same day, ideally within 60 minutes. ↳ Be specific, concise, and genuine. ↳ Don't ask any questions or for any favors. ↳ Bonus: Use a loom video to make it personal and unforgettable. (it's the "handwritten card" of 2025). 2️⃣ Close the Loop Have you heard of the 99/1 phenomenon? ↳ 99% of the time you have a coffee chat, the other person will mention a book, article, person, or resource to leverage. ↳ Only 1% will do something with this info. 💡 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 1% 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆. 3️⃣ Add Value You can: ↳ Find out what lights them up and help them accelerate toward it ↳ Find out what keeps them up at night and present a solution to it ↳ Amplify their work ↳ Celebrate their milestones ↳ Aggregate existing data or create new data Ultimately, the secret here is no secret at all. Offering real value demonstrates character and builds relational capital. 💰 And you need to have something in the bank before you make a withdrawal. 4️⃣ Give A (Non-Invasive) Update People 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 to see stories of growth. But people 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 to be a part of someone else's growth story. So, what can you do? Share a quick update on your recent wins or progress. Pro tip: ↳ Keep it relevant and concise. ↳ Tie it back to their investment in you, if relevant. 5️⃣ Make An Ask This comes last for a reason. ↳ Only make an ask after you’ve provided value. ↳ Timing and reciprocity are everything. ↳ When you're done, you're back to #1. Rinse and repeat. ---- Great follow-ups aren’t about pestering—they’re about adding value, showing you care, and staying unforgettable. Master these tactics and watch your relationships transform, forever. 🌱 What’s your favorite follow-up move that I forgot? Drop it below! 👇🏾 ---------------- ♻️ Repost to finally give the blueprint to active job seekers and networkers in your community! 🔔 Follow 🔥 Chauncey Nartey, SHRM-SCP, ACC to stay on the cutting edge of modern career wisdom.

>>>𝗡𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽? 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽. That’s the rule I’ve set for myself after too many missed connections at great events. You know the drill: → You leave a room buzzing with ideas, names, and conversations. → You promise to stay in touch. → Then real life kicks in—and the momentum disappears. I’ve learned this the hard way. Now, I don’t attend unless I’m ready to do the follow-up work too. Now I'm trying something new: → I teamed up with an accountability partner to debrief post-event. (Thanks Elina!) → We share notes, fill in gaps, and add next steps. → That accountability makes a huge difference. I’ve also added two tactics that make a real impact: → Book follow-up meetings on the spot. If the convo’s going well, lock in a next step before you part ways. → Post your takeaways publicly. Share a few insights or reflections from the event. It signals value and helps people reconnect. If you're not using a CRM, here’s my simple follow-up playbook: → Input all the people you've met in a spreadsheet. → Use LinkedIn as your mini-CRM. Be very specific in a DM how and when you met. → Personalize your connection requests or your 1st DM. Mention the event. Reference your chat. Two lines are enough. → Follow up while it’s still fresh. Send the article, make the intro, or just say “great meeting you.” → Engage publicly. Comment on their latest post. Like something they shared. Stay visible. → Make your profile do the heavy lifting. Clear headline. Updated summary. Recent post. Your profile should reinforce the connection. IRL is just the spark. What you do after—that’s what turns a name tag into a relationship. What’s your follow-up system look like? Photos from Tuesday event at Technology Park Ljubljana where we talked about dos and don'ts of opening new markets.

Most seller-experts freeze up at follow-up. Not because they don’t know what to do. Because they're afraid.. "What if I'm bothering them?" That fear has quietly killed more deals than bad pricing ever could. Here’s what I’ve learned after 20+ years: Silence doesn’t feel respectful. It feels like abandonment. When you go quiet, clients often assume: ❌ You found something better ❌ You weren’t that interested ❌ You’ve already moved on Meanwhile, the data reminds us: ➟ 80% of sales need five or more follow-ups ➟ 44% of professionals stop after just one Your competitor? Still showing up. The truth is, being strategically helpful is never annoying. But going dark usually is. Here are 7 follow-up moves that add value instead of noise: 1/ Share a Fresh Insight “Saw how [competitor] tackled [specific challenge]. Three smart ideas you could borrow...” 2/ Ask a Sharp Question “How’s [initiative] progressing since we last spoke?” 3/ Highlight a Win “Just helped [company] cut [metric] by 30%. The surprising unlock? [insightful tactic].” 4/ Offer a No-Pressure Give “I’ve got 15 mins Thursday. Want to see what worked for [peer org]?” 5/ Reconnect Through a Connector “[Mutual contact] mentioned you’re focused on X. I know someone who cracked that. Want an intro?” 6/ Use a Trigger Event “Saw the [trigger] news. 3 competitors noticed too. Here’s what they might miss.” 7/ Close with Clarity and Warmth “Sounds like Q4 is tight. I’ll check back Jan 15 when you’re planning next year. Sound good?” Every follow-up is a choice. Be forgotten. Or be invaluable. Your prospects are juggling more than ever. They need what you have. But they won’t chase you for it. So pick one stalled opportunity. Make one thoughtful move. Today. Because while others are hesitating, you’re building trust. It’s always your move. Share this to help someone in your network.

I attended my first conference, made some interesting connections, and collected their business cards (LI wasn’t a thing yet). Back in the office, I placed the cards on my desk to send follow-up emails… And got busy. Of course, I forgot all about the follow-up. Until I opened a (hardly ever used) desk drawer 8 months later and saw those business cards. Oops. Most lawyers waste their networking efforts (like I did back then) because they don’t do the ONE thing that matters most: Follow-up. This is you, even if you send that initial email and vanish thereafter (or give up after only a few touches). You need more - much more - to make networking work for you. Follow up: ➡️ Not just once (or twice or three times). ➡️ Not just when you feel like it or “have” the time. ➡️ Not just to vaguely check in. Why do so many lawyers drop the ball? Here’s what I often hear: - Too busy. - Wanting to find the “right” time. - It’s been too long to re-engage. These aren’t the real reasons. The simple truth? You aren’t prioritizing follow-up. But not because you’re trying to avoid it (on purpose). If you’re like most lawyers, it’s because: ⇒ You worry about bothering them. ⇒ You don’t want to sound transactional or inauthentic. ⇒ You fear they won’t reciprocate. But you are NOT bothering them; you don't have to sound (or be) fake, transactional, or inauthentic; and they WILL reciprocate, IF you follow up properly. I’m talking about relevant, personal, intentional (i.e., strategic) follow-up. It's the rainmaker’s secret weapon. And what I (finally) changed that made all the difference for building my multi-million dollar book. So, what does this look like? >>> Send a WSJ article about their industry's new regulations with a note: “This reminded me of your challenge with X” >>> Three weeks after talking, send an email with: “How did the [deal] closing go? Did you ever [insert something specific that they were battling against when you last spoke]?” >>> Invite them to join you at an industry event with a note: “I remember you wanted to meet XXX. She will be there, and I am happy to introduce you.” What works best depends on: → What you know about them. → What’s going on in their world. → What you’ve already talked about. You don’t need to be clever or pushy. Just be strategic, helpful and human (and also, consistent!). XO, Heather ~~~ I’m Heather Moulder, a former BigLaw partner turned business coach who built a multi-million dollar law practice on my terms. Now I help lawyers grow 7-figure practices they actually enjoy. Want to do the same? Get my anti-hustle strategies inside Success Without Sacrifice, my weekly newsletter (link in profile).

My Guide to High-ROI Networking in 2026 (I Logged 2,345 Networking Activities in the Past 365 Days) Before anything else, let’s define terms. A “networking activity” is not: • Collecting LinkedIn connections • Spraying cold DMs • Awkward coffee chats with no follow-up A networking activity is: Any intentional interaction where a real relationship is built, strengthened, or advanced. That includes: • 1:1 calls • Thoughtful DMs • Reconnecting with former coworkers • Following up after a post or comment • Helping someone without expecting anything back Over the past year, I tracked 2,345 of these interactions. Not to flex…but to learn what actually compounds. Here’s what worked. And what I’ll keep doing in 2026. 1/ I optimized for trust, not reach ↳ I’d rather have 5 people who’d take my call instantly ↳ Than 500 who vaguely recognize my name ↳ Real opportunities come from warm relationships 2/ I treated follow-up as the real work ↳ Anyone can have a good call ↳ Very few people send the follow-up note, share the resource, or check back in ↳ That’s where trust compounds 3/ I never showed up without context ↳ “Would love to connect” is lazy ↳ I always anchored outreach in why: “Saw your post on X..:had a similar experience at Y” ↳ People respond to relevance, not volume 4/ I gave before I asked…every time ↳ Intros ↳ Feedback ↳ Sharing an opportunity ↳ Reviewing a resume ↳ Networking accelerates when it’s not transactional 5/ I stopped trying to be impressive ↳ No polished pitch ↳ No resume-walking ↳ Just curiosity and honesty ↳ “Here’s what I’m building” beats “Here’s why I’m great” 6/ I kept relationships alive between moments of need ↳ Promotions ↳ Job changes ↳ Big launches ↳ I checked in during the quiet times ↳ That’s when relationships become durable 7/ I tracked relationships…not just activities ↳ Who do I want to stay in touch with quarterly? ↳ Who do I owe a follow-up to? ↳ Who did I say I’d help? ↳ Organization turns networking into a system, not a scramble Here’s the biggest takeaway: High-ROI networking doesn’t feel like networking. It feels like being a decent, consistent human over time. That’s what I’ll keep doubling down on in 2026. 📬 I write weekly about careers, leverage, and long-term growth in The Weekly Sync: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6qAwEFc What’s one relationship you should probably invest in before you need it?

You just got off that networking call and it went great. But now you have no idea what to say or do next. The “Open Door” Strategy can fix that, here’s how it works in 7 simple steps: 1. Getting “Stuck” After A Great Call Most of us get stuck in this trap. You worked so hard to get this call. You jump on, ask your questions, and it went great! Then you realize you have no idea what to say or do to keep the relationship going. 2. The “Open Door” Strategy I ran into this same problem during my job search. And I created the “Open Door” Strategy as a solution. Once I began implementing it, I always knew exactly what step to take next. That led to referrals and, eventually, job offers. 3. The Overarching Concept At a high level, the goal of the “Open Door” Strategy is to create a plan to keep the door open for the next step. When you set this as an intention, you can proactively plan around it. This gives you multiple options to “open the door” no matter how the conversation goes. 4. Start With A Brainstorm First, start by brainstorming different ways you could use to create a “Door Opener.” Ex: You could ask for a piece of advice, then you could ask if it’s ok to follow up after you take action on it. You could ask about a specific challenge, then ask if it’d be ok to follow up with some ideas around it. 5. Keep Several Options On Hand When you book your next networking conversation, keep you list of “Door Openers” on hand. When it feels natural in the conversation, introduce one of them and see what kind of response you get. If they don’t bite on one, introduce another option from your list when it makes sense. 6. Get A Follow Up Commitment This is the most important part. After you use the “Door Opener,” ask if it’s ok to follow up by X date. When they say “yes,” you’ve essentially added a placeholder in their mind for the next step in the relationship. Now you can confidently follow up knowing you both agreed to it! 7. Repeat At Each Relationship Stage The best part about this strategy is that it works at every stage and touchpoint. Your goal should be to never leave a networking conversation without leveraging it. If you adopt that approach, you’ll always know the next step you need to take and your contact will have the same expectations set on their end! 🧭 Want a clear roadmap for building powerful relationships that lead to more referrals and job offers? 👉 Grab a free 30-min Clarity Call: https://lnkd.in/gdysHr-r

I watched a talented professional send 127 follow-up emails after interviews. Got replies from 3 companies. 2.3% response rate. Then she showed me what she was writing. I immediately knew why recruiters ignored her. Here's the truth about follow-ups: Most people remind recruiters they're desperate. Not that they're valuable. The typical follow-up: "Just checking in on my application..." "Any updates on the timeline?" Translation: "Please don't forget I exist." Recruiters read anxiety, not confidence. After years of coaching professionals, I've noticed: The follow-ups that get responses don't ASK for updates. They DELIVER value. Stop following up on YOUR need. Start following up with THEIR solution. Think: → What problem did they mention? → What insight can I share? → How can I make their decision easier? One client rewrote her follow-up: Instead of: "Any updates on the position?" She wrote "Hi [HR Manager Name ], been thinking about the bandwidth challenge you mentioned. Found an approach that might help—similar to what I used before. Would love to share if useful. Recruiter replied within hours. She shifted from "remember me?" to "I'm already solving your problems." The difference between ignored and responded follow-ups? One reminds them you're waiting. The other reminds them why they need you. Your follow-up isn't about checking their timeline. It's about them seeing you as the solution they can't ignore. People who add value get calls back. People who add pressure get silence. Stop checking in. Start showing up as the answer. PS: For more such content subscribe to my newsletter. Check out my feature section.

Early in my sales career, I’ll admit it—I was terrible at follow-up. I was so busy chasing the next big opportunity that I overlooked the gold sitting right in front of me: my existing prospects and customers. Looking back, I know I left a lot of business on the table simply because I wasn’t disciplined with my follow-up. Here’s what I’ve learned since then: follow-up isn’t just a task on your to-do list. It’s one of the most powerful ways to build credibility, deepen relationships, and grow your sales. A few lessons stand out: ✅ Consistency beats luck. A follow-up system—whether you use a CRM or a simple calendar reminder—keeps you top of mind. The real key is adding a personal touch so your follow-ups don’t feel automated or cold. ✅ Always bring value. Don’t just check in. Share an insight, a resource, or a perspective that helps your customer. I’ve even sent out books like Atomic Habits just to add value and spark new conversations. ✅ Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Build relationships with multiple people in the organization. If your only contact leaves, your opportunity shouldn’t walk out the door with them. ✅ Keep it simple. Your follow-up doesn’t need to be a long pitch. A clear, concise message about how you can help them achieve their goals goes further than a novel-length email. ✅ Know when to move on. If you’ve followed up five or six times with no response and the deal is small, it may be time to let it go. Save your energy for the opportunities that truly matter. The bottom line? Follow-up is where deals are won or lost. And if you’re intentional about it, you’ll be amazed at how much business you’ve been leaving on the table.

Your major donor prospect just gave $25,000 to another organization. You met with them first but never followed up. That gift should have been yours. Three months ago, you had the perfect meeting. They were engaged. Asked great questions. Said they'd "love to stay connected." Then you got busy. Other priorities came up. You meant to follow up but never did. Meanwhile, another nonprofit sent them a handwritten note the next day. Invited them to see their programs. Shared specific impact stories. Built a relationship while you built excuses. The organizations that secure major gifts don't just have better first meetings. They have better follow-up systems. Your prospect didn't choose the other organization because of their mission. They chose them because of their attention. Pull up your prospect list right now. Count how many people you've met with in the last six months who haven't heard from you since. That's not a prospect list. That's a list of missed opportunities. The most successful major gift programs I work with treat follow-up like oxygen - essential and non-negotiable. They send thank-you notes within 24 hours of every meeting. They schedule the next touch point before leaving the current one. They share relevant updates monthly, not when they need something. They invite prospects to experience their work, not just hear about it. Your prospect didn't forget about your meeting. They forgot about you because you forgot about them. That $25,000 gift wasn't lost to better competition. It was lost to better follow-up. Stop having great meetings that lead nowhere. Start building relationships that lead to gifts. Because in fundraising, its is in the follow-up, not the first meeting.

✨The Power of the Follow-Up: Where Deals Are Won (or Lost)✨ In medical sales, the initial conversation is just the beginning, but the real magic happens in the follow-up. How many times have you had a great meeting, only to let the opportunity slip because you didn’t follow up effectively? Here’s what I’ve learned: It’s not about being pushy, it’s about being present. Here’s how I approach follow-ups to add value and keep the conversation going: - Recap and reinforce: After a meeting, I send a quick recap of the discussion, highlighting the key points we covered and emphasizing how my solution can help. - Provide something extra: Every follow-up includes something valuable, an article, case study, or even a simple insight related to their challenges. This keeps me top of mind while building trust. - Stay consistent: I schedule follow-ups like any other meeting. Whether it’s a week later or a month, I stay committed without letting leads go cold. The best follow-ups aren’t just reminders, they’re opportunities to deepen the relationship and show you’re invested in solving their problems. Sales isn’t about the one big pitch; it’s about creating multiple touchpoints that deliver value every step of the way. What are your strategies for effective follow-ups? Share your tips below. I’d love to learn from you!