What are effective ways to follow up with professionals from different cultures and geographies?

Define your unique selling proposition (USP) to highlight what sets you apart. Tailor your message to resonate with your contact's interests, emphasizing mutual benefits. Research their background, recent achievements, or shared interests to personalize your approach. Be concise and respectful of their time. Express genuine curiosity and openness to a reciprocal exchange of knowledge. End with a clear call to action, whether it's scheduling a meeting or suggesting a specific topic for discussion. Keep the tone professional yet approachable, fostering a positive impression. Regularly reassess and adapt your outreach strategy based on feedback and evolving goals.

When following up with professionals from different cultures and geographies, it's important to consider their cultural norms, communication preferences, and time zones. Familiarize yourself with the cultural norms and practices of the professionals you're contacting. Pay attention to factors like communication styles, formalities, and appropriate levels of directness. Adjust your approach accordingly to show respect and adapt to their cultural expectations. Take into account the time zone differences between you and the professionals you're connecting with. Avoid contacting them outside of their normal working hours or during weekends, as this may be considered intrusive.

Consider the time zones of your contacts to ensure timely communication. Utilize appropriate language and tone based on cultural nuances. Emphasize the importance of active listening and responsiveness in fostering effective cross-cultural communication. Additionally, stay informed about global events and trends that may impact your contacts' regions or industries, demonstrating cultural awareness and relevance in your interactions. Adapting your communication style to align with the preferences and expectations of your diverse network enhances professional relationships and promotes successful collaboration across borders.

Dealing with time zones can be a challenge, but it's a matter of respect. I've found it beneficial to use tools like World Clock to find suitable meeting times that work for both parties. It shows consideration for different time zones and reflects professionalism.

Ensure you have an organized method for documenting success in each channel. Evaluate what is effective in each channel, and concentrate on enhancing that core element.

You don't want to wait too long and risk losing the connection's freshness, but at the same time, you don't want to come across as overly eager or intrusive. A general rule of thumb is to follow up within 24 to 48 hours after the initial interaction or event. However, it's important to adapt to various factors like time zones, work schedules, and cultural expectations. For instance, some cultures highly value prompt responses, appreciating a quick follow-up as a sign of enthusiasm and commitment. In contrast, other cultures may prefer a more relaxed pace, where immediate follow-ups might be seen as pushy.

Do NOT reiterate the points from your initial email ! Introduce a lead magnet or propose a new value proposition. If you want to propose a demo, make a short video of 2-3min to show what you can do

Prior to reaching out to a prospective client, I always encourage providing value through the content they are sharing first and foremost. This could look like engaging in their LinkedIn post and learning more about their views, and the things they find important. This could also look like signing up for their company newsletter to do additional research on the organization that they’ve dedicated much of their time to. However, you go about it, it’s important that you provide value and engagement before trying to solicit and sell somebody something.

Time kills opportunity. Begin a strategy of reaching out directly after connecting in person to establish deeper rapport. People are more likely to accept an invite and respond to someone they just met in person. Ensure you have a way to provide value prior to reaching out. You have one opportunity at a first impression.

I agree Hugo, I have found following up with short visuals along with valuable insights gained from discussions and objectives you intend to achieve as an extremely effective approach while reaching out to new contacts across the globe and across cultures. While being emphatic and honest engagement should be a natural process.