What are the best ways to follow up with a new contact after a networking event as an introvert?

It is important to be strategic and selective when building a network, therefore, ensure that you have a clear mission of interest when following up with a contact. Not every contact that you approach requires a three-step plan immediately , however, be your authentic self, and communicate why you would like to stay connected. People, value genuine interest and a balance of forward thinking perspective so be clear identifying mutual interests, return on investments and potential opportunities for future initiatives.

As an introvert I seek out the attendees of any event (in person or online) in advance and reach out to connect on LinkedIn. This way when I enter the event space I'm always recognised / greeted and it really makes the initial entrance less awkward and helps me relax. Essentially my LinkedIn profile and DMs are the warm introduction and help to build on the know, like and trust factor and when we meet again the relationship has already started. If I can't find attendees ahead of the event I reach out afterwards explaining that we were at the same event / talk and start a simple conversation like 'what was your biggest takeaway'? Everything starts with a simple hello...if I want to go the extra mile I comment on their content.

Your Network is your Net-Worth. I am sure you've read this statement a zillion times. And your network can come in handy when you least expect it. But I believe, CURATING your network is way more crucial than randomly connecting with a bunch of people. As an introvert, I am always hesitant to reach out to people whether in person or online. It feels as though I am encroaching on their personal space. Targeting people whose ideas and perspectives resonate or add to my knowledge is my way to go. I usually approach them with a connection request and a brief message, usually a positive comment on their post.

At networking events, you generally tend to meet tons of people, and exchange contacts and Instagram IDs but then tend to never speak again. The magic here is to follow-up. One of the templates that you can follow here is: "Hi, I'm (your name). Remember we met at (event name). It was such a pleasure meeting you then but we didn't get enough time to actually speak and get to know each other. How about meeting sometime again in the coming week and sit and chat over a coffee? Let me know if something like this works for you. Cheers!" Using this template has actually worked for me in most cases. Pro note: don't try and talk about work first. Try and get to know the person first. Hope this helps :)

For me, this is very easy! I would send a connection request via Linkedin. Also, exchange WhatsApp/Telegram numbers. If you are looking to boost your networking then you have to join a big professional association. Thanks.

As an introvert, you can connect using social media with an individual after the networking event. And yes, within 24 hours works great! If there was any interaction with that individual, you can use that context in your message. On LinkedIn, you can use the add a note feature while sending a connection request. Over there, you can mention your interaction and that you’d love to stay in touch. If you didn’t have any interaction, you can still mention that you noticed them in the networking event and you would like to get to know them or stay connected. You can also send an email of course but social media, especially LinkedIn, is a better place to stay connected.

Frankly, I'm at least not an introvert at networking events. But after the events, I do like to find a quiet corner to think about who I talked to and how to follow up. Before going to events, I prepare a LinkedIn QR code and save it as a picture on my phone for easy sharing with new people. Usually, after a simple chat, I ask if we can connect on LinkedIn. I don't hesitate to give compliments, even if there's no immediate connection between our work. For important contacts, I use a free CRM tool to remind me when to follow up. Sometimes, a simple holiday greeting on LinkedIn can help maintain the connection, even if we haven't collaborated yet. LinkedIn has been the best way for me to make connections and find business opportunities.

If you got their telephone number and prefer voice notes or WhatsApp, tell them. Be honest. Transparency is key AND they have similar preferences. Then drop them a note. In this note, tell them the above, talk briefly about how nice it was to meet them, be clear as to how you might be able to help them and how they could you, and suggest that you carry on the conversation one day when the time is right.

In your personalized email, reference a specific point from your conversation, share relevant insights or resources, and propose a mutual benefit. This demonstrates your attentiveness and willingness to provide value. For instance, if you discussed a common interest in a specific industry report, attach the report to your email and express your anticipation of their thoughts on it.

Email is great but I think Social Media is a better way to follow up if you don't know them. Emails can easily be missed, especially if they're from a new contact. This is one reason I love LinkedIn! Not only can you send a personalised and concise note, but it's linked to your profile so the respondent can jog their memory of who you are - remember, they may have met a lot of people and this will help.

LinkedIn is the best way to stay in touch with your network. Try to reach out as soon as possible after the first meeting so that you are still fresh in their memory. Send an invitation to connect with a personal note that helps them remember where you met and your conversation. That note will stay in your Inbox and be a useful reminder for your own reference later.

Social media is a great way to stay connected with people that you meet at an event! When I'm networking (and I'm a shy person who has to overcome this!) I will ask them if I can write down their name and connect with them. I'll then send a connection request and when they (hopefully) accept that, a message to say that I was pleased to meet them and enjoyed our chat about (whatever we spoke about). Make sure to customise it! I often feel more comfortable in a 121 meeting situation so I'll add a "it would be great to meet up again over coffee or Teams/Zoom and continue our conversation" Make sure that you interact with their content too to help LinkedIn know that you're interested in people like them! Never network and ghost!

This has worked for me since 2011. Sending a personalised message on LinkedIn after meeting at a networking event has worked like a charm. It not only helps in showing intent but it shows that you’re fast. And everyone is looking for problem solvers, and the ones who show intent and are fast, always stand out.

For professional - LinkedIn/business whatsupp is the best way to keep sharing industry updates, personalised posts, tagging people related to them or resources that might add value to their life For personal- whatssup/number/text messages

Feedback is so important to us all but most of us hate asking for it. I will always message speakers from events I attend to thank them for sharing their views/experiences and share one thing that I particularly enjoyed - it could be a lesson you learned, something you will try to implement yourself or perhaps complimenting their authenticity/confidence on stage - it will be appreciated! I'll also make an effort to send their boss a note too if I know them. We're all rubbish at highlighting our successes so this is my way of ensuring that the speaker gets the praise they deserve internally as well as externally. This works for attendees too - share an article or offer an intro that could help with the challenge you discussed with them.

This can also be done by sharing valuable information or resources that is related to a discussion you had during your meeting that may pique their interest. If you’re going to comment on any of their work, make sure to actually spend time on it to build a perspective so your feedback is not generic.

Yes! And No! Both. Positive feedback and honest openion matters to the people - yes! No! Never ever criticize your connections on social media platforms. I have seen people taking it personally, no matter how open they are to feedback.

A gamechanger for me is to send an email every few months updating people on what I'm working on now and what I will be up to in the coming months. I also ask if any of my priorities align with theirs, so we can collaborate and learn from each other. This has led to some real meaningful conversations and connections.

When you follow up, it is essential to remember what you are working on with your network and create intentional touch points that bring something to both sides. This will allow you to stay organized but genuine in contacting your network. This aligns with accountability, too, as you consistently try to keep in touch and not reach out to touch base.

WhatsApp status, LinkedIn posts, articles, their birthday notifications, work anniversary, personal events if they have shared - every human likes to feel special and you make sure that you make them feel that way

Remember this one thing, the most successful people are good at networking. And no, they were not born that way but they worked on it and went out of their comfort zones to network. Trust me when I say you can do this even when you are an introvert. The first few times can feel intimidating and very uncomfortable but it will get better with time. Happy networking! ?

That’s an interesting question to me as I have always enjoyed networking with people at events. What you need to understand is that there will be 50 other people trying to connect with that one person after the event. The question is, how do you stand out and build a relationship with that person? Simply writing an email or sending a LinkedIn request saying “we met at the event” won’t help much. Start by introducing yourself in a concise and impactful way. Mention something specific that you liked about that person. Then, maintain the relationship by interacting with their posts and sharing things that would be of interest to them. Avoid spamming and focus on adding value. Treat it like any other relationship and nurture it accordingly.

Relationships matter but if someone is not responding or reciprocating, don’t take it personally. Maintain respect and know when to call it quits. There could be a million reasons for this lack of engagement but don’t assume one of them is that there is something wrong with you.

As an introvert when you find yourself in a networking environment choose a few people to network with ask questions stay memorable. The interactions will help to follow up by sending a thank you note mentioning one or topics you discussed with them and also show interest in what they do professionally if you have done some research on them. Remember that networking is a game you need to be consistent and genuinely show genuine interest in the other person to become at it.

Networking doesn't come naturally to most us and is especially hard as an introvert. Just remember, done is better than perfect as perfect will never get done – perfectionism doesn’t exist! Be your authentic self and give it a try without worrying what others are doing. Some people might not like you but the people you do meet will appreciate you! Nothing bad will happen, I promise!