How to Follow Up After Meeting an Influencer

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.

“Just checking in…” When I was in sales, the death knell for a potential sale was when I reached out to a prospect with this line. It's vague and uncreative. It wastes their time. But worse, it's easy to ignore. My “just checking in” masked the fact that I hadn't done a good enough job building a relationship with the person I was selling to. I hadn't uncovered the pain that they were hoping to solve with our product. The same is true with jobseekees and their networking, which is just selling by another name. You're building relationships and know that you need to stay in touch, especially because they mentioned a job that you would be a perfect fit for would be posted any minute. But how you check in is as important as actually doing it. And the best networkers check in without making it so obvious they're doing so. The best networkers make the outreach one that doesn't just benefit them as a jobseekeer, but also the person they are networking with. Some ideas on how to check in that aren’t “just checking in:” Make an introduction: Perhaps this is a long-term relationship you're building and the person you're connecting with has a shorter term problem that isn't in your wheelhouse. Introduce a friend who could help. It's a nice thing for your friend and makes you look generous and helpful. Show your research: Maybe your contact or a colleague of theirs recently gave an interview or appeared on a podcast. Reach out and ask a good question that came out of what you learned. You'll signal your interest in their firm and their work and help them see how you think. Solve a problem: Sometimes you can ask directly what's a big problem they don't have the bandwidth to solve, but sometimes you just have to pay careful attention in your networking conversation. And then follow up with a brief overview of how you might tackle that problem. You're not doing free work for them as much as you're validating their impression of you as a thoughtful and intelligent potential colleague. Checking in is great when you get to a hotel. If you're networking, though, you're better off taking a more assertive, creative approach that will keep you top of mind and reinforce how you might help them down the road.

Most of my clients land work on the 5th or 6th follow-up. (It usually doesn’t happen on the first try — and that’s totally normal.) Here’s why: Timing is everything. So you sent a connection request. They accepted. You DM them an intro message. You know they saw it. And now… nothing. It’s tempting to read into that silence: “Did I say something weird?” “Maybe they’re not interested…” “Ugh, I’m probably being annoying.” But, no response just means not now. People are busy, overwhelmed, pulled in 3 directions by layoffs, budget freezes, or just too much on their plate. And yes – when they finally respond, clients will be grateful you followed up. One said to me, “Thanks for being so persistent; we really need your help right now.” Another said, “I’m so glad you reached out again. Can we meet this week?” So, here’s how to follow up — without being creepy or annoying: 1️⃣ Intro Message (right after connect): “Hey [Name], thanks for connecting! I’m a [your service] freelancer for [your niche]. I saw you're [job title] at [company]. I love getting to know other [type of worker you are] in my niche – glad we can connect.” 2️⃣ First Follow-Up (2 wks later): “Hey [Name], do you ever work with freelancers at [Company]?” 3️⃣ Second Follow-Up (2 wks later): “Hey [Name], I’ll be available for new projects starting [Date]. Any freelance needs on the horizon at [Company]?” After that, switch to quarterly check-ins (once every 3 months). That’s when most project budgets actually shift. Don’t quit early – your next message could be the one that converts.

“I’ve met a lot of great people during my internship, but how do I actually stay in touch with them?” Here are 7 simple ways to keep those relationships alive. But first, let's be clear — you do NOT need to stay in touch with everyone you meet. Focus on the people who added the most value to you and who you genuinely want to stay in touch with. ("Value" is subjective — it can be anyone whose advice, example, or thoughts inspired you.) — 1.  Ask for a second conversation The simplest, most direct approach. If you found value in the first conversation, let them know and ask if they’d be open to staying in touch: “I really appreciated our conversation — would love to reconnect down the line once I’ve made progress on [X]. Would that be okay?” This sets the tone for an ongoing relationship instead of a one-off exchange. — 2. Send a thank you after your internship If someone helped you during your internship, send a thank-you message before you leave. Make it specific: “Thanks again for all your support on [X] this summer, Jamie. Your advice on [Y] helped me a lot — I’ll definitely carry it with me going forward!” Gratitude builds goodwill and reinforces the connection. — 3. Action item updates During your conversation, ask what they'd recommend you do to grow in your field. This could be a podcast, a person to connect with, a skill to build, etc. Then do it. Afterward, send a quick update: “Hi Rob! Thanks again for the recommendation to [do X] — I just got done and gained a lot from it. Here's what I learned...” This simple note shows follow-through and keeps the relationship active. — 4. Share a relevant resource If you come across an article, podcast, or another resource that might be relevant to them, send it. "Hi Sally! I came across this [resource] this morning and thought it might be useful. See below. Hope it's helpful!" A low-effort, thoughtful way to engage. — 5. Engage with their content If they post content, a simple like or a thoughtful comment keeps you on their radar without the need to send a full DM or email. These are smart, light touch points in between your other communications. — 6. Send an update or a question Every so often, reach out with purposeful updates or questions related to something you've previously discussed. "Hi Ed! Last time we spoke, you recommended I take a course on Organizational Behavior. I just wrapped up the semester and loved the course! Are there other relevant courses you think I should look into?" — 7. Celebrate their wins If they announce a promotion, launch a project, or speak at an event, send a quick message: “Congrats on the promotion, Mel! I know you'll do well in the new role.” It shows you’re paying attention and rooting for them. — PS. Staying in touch is not just about constant messages or grand actions. Even light check-ins (done well) can lead to long-term professional relationships.