How to Follow Up After Meeting New Contacts

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

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.

Someone said "You should teach a transition class at events like these" while at the Air & Space Forces Association annual event in DC yesterday I explained that I have done that before...but attendance at these major events typically fell into 2x buckets: 1 - many of the senior leaders attending weren't even thinking about their transition, so they focused on talking with friends, attending events & industry engagement 2 - the ones in their transition window were hell-bent focused on "finding a job" by going to pitch themselves to every major defense contractor in attendance #quinnsights Going to these booths and saying "I'm the ...." doesn't tell them anything about what you want or can do Companies don't come to these major events to hire (they come to sell and form partnerships) And that events like these (AFA & AUSA) don't typically "get you a job" They give you an entry point (someone to speak to & maybe build a relationship) #militarytransition But the key to every event is FOLLOW UP What should you do? 1 - connect with them on LinkedIn every time Show them your QR code right there and wait for their connection request to come through (sneaky way to ensure they do) 2 - Go into My Network each night and look at your newest connections They are organized chronologically, so they will all be people from the event 3 - Send them a quick note on LinkedIn saying how great it was to meet them at (insert event name) and that you would love to stay in touch for advice This locks in that you met face-to-face in their Inbox...always leaving a reminder there in case either side reaches out (not a cold pitch) 4 - Make a networking spreadsheet that tracks the people you met AND who responded For the ones that responded, asked some simple questions or for a short advice phone call, if appropriate For the ones that didn't - send an additional follow up message one week later to thank them again and add a short easy question (they'll be back from the event & likely have more time) #militarytransition Once you get to the calls, ask questions to learn and listen more than talk to find your success Questions? Is there anything you would add? And will I see you at the AUSA Fireside Chat/Transition Panel on Tuesday Oct 15 from 1300-1500 in Rm 147A/B in the Washington Convention Center?