Attending food science conferences and events can be a great way to network, learn, and showcase your work. But what happens after the event? How do you follow up with the contacts you made and maintain those relationships? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your food science connections.
The first thing you should do after an event is to send a thank-you note to the people you met and exchanged information with. This is a simple but effective way to show your appreciation, interest, and professionalism. You can use email, LinkedIn, or other platforms to send your message, depending on the context and preference of the recipient. Make sure to personalize your note, mention something specific you discussed, and express your desire to stay in touch.
Another way to follow up with your contacts is to share relevant resources that might be useful or interesting to them. For example, you can send them a link to a blog post, a podcast, a webinar, or a research paper that relates to their field, project, or challenge. This shows that you are paying attention, adding value, and providing helpful information. You can also ask for their feedback or opinion on the resource, to spark a conversation and learn more about them.
If you want to build a stronger relationship with your contacts, you can invite them to connect with you on social media, professional networks, or online communities. This way, you can stay updated on their work, achievements, and interests, and also share your own. You can also use these platforms to comment, like, or share their posts, and show your support and engagement. However, be respectful and avoid spamming or oversharing. You want to be visible, not annoying.
Here are my suggestions: - Connect with them on LinkedIn (include a note) - Congratulate them on their job changes - Keep in touch - Reach out to offer support - Request to meet 1:1 for a quick chat - Request for specific support (I need guidance on xx and yy or I would love to pick your brain on xx and yy) - Always be willing to give back how you can
One of the best ways to follow up with your contacts is to offer your help or collaboration on something they are working on or need assistance with. This can be a great opportunity to showcase your skills, expertise, and value, and also to learn from them and create mutual benefits. You can offer to share your insights, feedback, advice, or contacts, or to work on a project, a paper, or a presentation together. Just make sure that your offer is genuine, relevant, and respectful.
Finally, you should keep in touch with your contacts regularly, but not too frequently. You don't want to lose the connection or the momentum, but you also don't want to be intrusive or annoying. You can use different methods and occasions to reach out, such as sending a congratulatory message, a birthday wish, a holiday greeting, or a relevant update. You can also ask them how they are doing, what they are working on, or what they are planning to do next. The key is to be friendly, authentic, and respectful.
This is the best way to follow up … - It may not be the right time to provide your services but if you keep in touch now and then, then it becomes personal and you will be remembered. When the time is right, you will be the first one on the list. - this also gradually improves the attention towards your company - do not spam with newsletter, your services or generic emails.