How to Follow Up After a Creative Conference

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

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).

“Just following up…” isn’t a strategy. It’s a stall. And I get it...follow-up can feel awkward. You don’t want to be annoying. You don’t want to seem desperate. You just want to re-open the convo without sounding like a robot. So let me show you 3 better ways to follow up...and when to use them: 🔹 1. The Callback This one’s personal. You reference something they said on the call. “You mentioned wanting to raise your rates without losing clients...still thinking about that? I am here to dig deeper when you’re ready.” ✅ Use it when: They were warm, the convo was real, and you just need a re-entry point. 🔹 2. The Disruptor Humor. A GIF. A voice note. Something unexpected. This one’s a pattern interrupt. I've sent a GIF of a guy standing in the rain...soaked, waiting. No words. No pressure. Just a quiet nudge. The person replied within minutes. ✅ Use it when: You’ve been ghosted or left on read and want to show up without pushing. 🔹 3. The Shift Sometimes the original thread is dead. So… pivot. Change the energy. Bring something new to the table. “Just saw this article and thought of our convo. Curious if you’ve been seeing this trend too?” ✅ Use it when: The trail is cold, but the relationship is worth keeping warm. Bottom line? 📌 People don’t ignore you because you followed up. They ignore you because you didn’t give them a reason to care. So stop “checking in.” Start reconnecting...with strategy, creativity, and a little heart. 💬 Curious: Which one do you tend to use? And which one do you want to try next? Yaacov 🎙🙏🏻 --- 👉 Struggling to sell your creative work? Hi, I’m Yaacov 👋🏻—I help agency owners & solopreneurs land more clients without feeling like a salesperson. 💡 My clients have hit 200% growth in 60 days and closed $50K in 3 weeks. Let’s fix your sales process.