How to Stay Engaged with Your Network as a Small Business Owner

I landed back in Los Angeles after a 4-day legal convention in Vegas and realized something: People are great at networking in the moment, but struggle to follow-up and keep relationships after an event like a major convention. To make sure all of the connections you made are sustained long-term, here's a step-by-step guide to effectively follow up post-convention: 📝 Personalized Note Writing: Always begin with a personalized note. Thank your new contacts for their time and highlight specific topics or moments you shared. A handwritten note can make a deep impression in today's digital world, signaling thoughtfulness and genuine interest. 📲 Organize Contact Details: Compile a database of the addresses, emails, and other contact details you've gathered. Tools like Microsoft Excel or CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot can be great for this. This not only helps with immediate follow-up but aids in long-term relationship management. 🤳🏻 Engage on Social Media:   Connect with your new contacts on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, IG, Facebook and TikTok. Engage with their posts to foster online rapport, but ensure your interactions are meaningful. 📩 Newsletters:   If you have a newsletter, consider adding your new contacts to the mailing list (with their consent). This keeps them updated on your activities, insights, and the latest happenings in the legal field. 🔄 Share Your Work: If you've written books, articles, or other publications, share them. It not only positions you as an expert but provides value to your contacts. ✅ Regular Check-ins:   Set reminders to touch base periodically. You could share relevant articles, wish them on holidays, or update them about significant milestones in your career. 👏🏼 Tips and Insights: Offer helpful tips or insights from the convention or from your experience. It’s a non-invasive way to remind them of the value you bring to the table. 🤝 Long-Term Relationship Building Relationships are not about transactions but genuine connections. Ensure your interactions are not always business-focused. Learn about their interests, congratulate them on personal achievements, and be there during challenging times. 📚 Recommend Books: If you've come across insightful books (including ones you've written), recommend them. It's a subtle way to showcase your expertise and share knowledge. 🎉 Events and Reunions: Consider organizing or attending reunion events for convention attendees. It's a way to rekindle connections and stay updated on each other’s progress. Remember: post-convention networking is an art. It requires genuine interest, persistence, and patience. By investing time and effort into nurturing these relationships, you'll not only grow your network but also enrich your professional journey. Remember, it's not about how many contacts you have, but the depth and quality of those connections. #networking #lawyer #success #relationshipbuilding

Here’s the best networking advice I’ve ever heard: Don’t wait until you need something to reach out. Networking shouldn’t feel like a business transaction. It’s about showing up for people —consistently and authentically. Relationships thrive on genuine, consistent effort. And I’ve seen these 7 strategies open doors I didn’t even know existed: 1️⃣ Be Real ↳ Show genuine curiosity. Approach with sincerity and a desire to help. People can sense authenticity a mile away, and it’s the key to meaningful connections. 2️⃣ Celebrate Their Wins ↳ Recognize their milestones: promotions, new ventures, even personal achievements. A simple "Congrats!" goes a long way and keeps you on their radar in a positive way. 3️⃣ Engage on Social Media ↳ Drop a comment or DM your contacts when you see their posts. Even better—send them posts or articles you think they'd appreciate. It's about showing you care. 4️⃣ Catch-Up Chats ↳ Every so often, suggest a casual coffee (virtual or in-person). No agenda needed. Just connect and strengthen that relationship over time. 5️⃣ Quick Notes ↳ Send a short, friendly check-in message. Mention a recent achievement they posted or something relevant you came across. Takes three minutes, tops. 6️⃣ Share Relevant Content ↳ Found something that could help or inspire them? Share it! (For example, “Hey, this AI tool reminded me of your project...”) 7️⃣ Track and Follow Up ↳ Use a system—spreadsheet, CRM, anything, to stay organized. Life gets busy, but connections matter. Overwhelmed? I get it. I felt that way too. So I started small, three quick interactions a week. It’s manageable and works wonders over time. The truth is, networking is not a "when you need it" thing. It's about being human and building trust. Try it and watch opportunities start showing up. P.S. What’s one way you’ve built meaningful connections in your professional life? Photo Credit: Colby Kultgen — If this resonates, give it a share. ♻ And follow Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉

If you struggle to keep conversations going during networking, this tip will increase your response rate. Talk about people’s passions. Why? After getting more than 17,000 followers and networking with hundreds of job searchers, I can confidently say that: People love talking about what excites them. It’s an easy way to build rapport. Here’s how I’ve helped 50+ data professionals leverage this strategy to increase response rates and build meaningful relationships: 1️⃣ Do some research. Look at their LinkedIn or portfolio. Find something impressive. 2️⃣ Start with flattery and curiosity. Example: “Hey [Name], I noticed you [accomplishment/project]. That’s incredible! What’s the part you enjoy most about it?” 3️⃣ Follow their passion. Ask questions to show genuine interest. Let the conversation flow naturally. 4️⃣ Find common ground. When they mention something you relate to, dig deeper. Build the connection. 5️⃣ Tie it back to your goal. Shift the conversation to their role or company. Example: “Oh, does your team work on X?” “How does your company approach Y?” For instance, let’s say their passion is travel. You: “That’s awesome! Where’s the most interesting place you’ve been?” Them: “I loved Thailand!” You: “That’s on my list! Did you manage to work remotely while there?” From there, the conversation naturally moves toward their job. Pro Tip: Not everyone will engage, and that’s okay. You don't have to be "perfect" to start networking. Yes, you will still get rejected, that’s part of the game. But you'll get better after multiple iterations. Focus on connecting with the right people. Try this next time you’re stuck in a conversation and let me know how it went.