How can you effectively follow-up with new Aerospace Engineering contacts?

1 Choose the right channel

The first thing to consider when following up with a new contact is how to communicate with them. Depending on the context, you may have different options, such as email, phone, social media, or messaging apps. Choose the channel that is most appropriate for your purpose, your contact's preference, and your level of familiarity. For example, if you met someone at a conference and exchanged business cards, email may be the best way to reach out. If you connected with someone on LinkedIn and had a brief chat, you may continue the conversation on the same platform. If you have a mutual acquaintance or a referral, you may ask them to introduce you or give you their phone number.

2 Be timely and concise

The next thing to consider is when and how much to follow up. Ideally, you should follow up within 24 to 48 hours after your initial contact, while the memory is still fresh and the interest is still high. However, you should also avoid being too pushy or needy, as this may turn off your contact or make them feel overwhelmed. Keep your follow-up message short and clear, and focus on one or two main points. For example, you may thank them for their time, express your appreciation for their insights, share something relevant or useful, or suggest a next step.

4 Be consistent and respectful

The fourth thing to consider is how to maintain and nurture your relationship with your contact over time. You don't want to follow up once and then disappear, as this may make your contact feel neglected or forgotten. You also don't want to follow up too often or too randomly, as this may make your contact feel annoyed or harassed. You want to find a balance between being consistent and respectful. For example, you may follow up every few weeks or months, depending on the situation and the response. You may also vary your message content and tone, depending on the purpose and the rapport. You may also ask for permission or feedback before sending anything sensitive or asking for anything significant.

5 Use a CRM tool

The fifth thing to consider is how to organize and manage your follow-up activities and contacts. As an aerospace engineer, you may have dozens or hundreds of contacts from different sources and contexts, and it may be hard to keep track of them all. You may also have different goals and strategies for each contact, and it may be hard to remember them all. One way to solve this problem is to use a CRM (customer relationship management) tool. A CRM tool is a software that helps you store, organize, and update your contact information, as well as schedule, track, and automate your follow-up tasks. For example, you may use a CRM tool to set reminders, send personalized emails, monitor responses, and measure results.

6 Experiment and improve

The sixth and final thing to consider is how to improve your follow-up skills and results. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for following up with new aerospace engineering contacts, as each contact is different and each situation is unique. You may have to experiment and test different approaches and methods, and see what works and what doesn't. You may also have to learn from your mistakes and feedback, and adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, you may use a CRM tool to analyze your follow-up performance, such as open rates, click rates, reply rates, and conversion rates. You may also ask your contacts for their opinions, suggestions, or testimonials, and use them to improve your follow-up messages and offers.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?