Turning Connections into Opportunities: 7 Post-Conference Follow-Up Best Practices

Attending industry conferences can be an exhilarating experience, especially for first-timers. Last week, I attended the Africa Energy Forum in Barcelona, a gathering that, as always, was well attended and full of interesting sessions. As I’ve always told people, if you are shortlisting 2 to 3 conferences in the sector worth attending in the sector, do make sure #AEF is always one of them.

Over the past 10 years, I've had the privilege of attending numerous conferences, and I've learned that while making connections at these events is crucial, the real magic happens in the follow-up. Here are some best practices to help you turn those initial connections into valuable opportunities.

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1. Organize Your Contacts

After an event like the Africa Energy Forum, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of new contacts. To manage this effectively, make it a priority to organize your contacts as soon as possible.

Steps to Organize:

• Collect Business Cards: Gather all the business cards you’ve collected and digitize them using apps like CamCard or Evernote.
• Segment Your Contacts: Categorize contacts into groups such as potential clients, partners, investors, and fellow industry professionals.
• Add Notes: Add any notes about the conversation you had, the context of the meeting, and any follow-up actions needed. This helps personalize your future communications.

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2. Personalize Your Follow-Up

Generic follow-up emails rarely make an impact. Instead, take the time to personalize each message based on your conversation and the individual’s interests.

Tips for Personalization:

• Reference Your Conversation: Mention specific topics you discussed during the event.
• Provide Value: Share articles, insights, or resources that are relevant to the interests they expressed.
• Be Genuine: Show genuine interest in their work and express your enthusiasm for staying connected.

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3. Be Timely

Timing is crucial when it comes to follow-up, if not EVERYTHING. Reaching out too late can result in your new connections forgetting about you, while reaching out too soon may seem pushy. However, if I had to choose I’ll rather go for the latter than the former.

Timing Strategy:

• Initial Follow-Up: Send your first follow-up email within 48 hours of the event.
• Scheduled Follow-Up: Schedule another touchpoint a week later if you haven’t heard back, and then periodically after that to maintain the relationship.

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4. Use Multiple Channels

Don't rely solely on email for your follow-up. Utilize multiple channels to connect with your new contacts.

Channels to Consider:

• LinkedIn: Connect on LinkedIn with a personalized message referencing your meeting.
• Social Media: Follow them on relevant social media platforms and engage with their content.
• Phone Calls: For particularly promising contacts, consider a follow-up phone call to strengthen the connection.

5. Set Up Meetings

The ultimate goal of your follow-up is to move the relationship forward. Suggest a meeting to discuss potential collaborations or partnerships in more detail.

How to Propose Meetings:

• Be Clear: Clearly state your intention for the meeting and what you hope to discuss.
• Be Flexible: Offer several time options to accommodate their schedule.
• Use Calendly or Doodle: These tools can simplify the process of finding a mutually convenient time.

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6. Keep Track and Follow Through

It’s essential to keep track of your follow-up efforts and ensure you follow through on any commitments you make.

Tracking Tools:

• CRM Systems: Use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to log your interactions and set reminders for follow-ups.
• Spreadsheets: If you prefer a simpler solution, a well-organized spreadsheet can also do the job.

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7. Nurture the Relationship

Building a strong professional relationship takes time. Continue to nurture your connections by staying in touch and offering value.

Long-Term Nurturing:

• Regular Updates: Send occasional updates about your projects, company news, or relevant industry trends.
• Invite to Events: Invite them to any relevant events or webinars you are hosting.
• Check-Ins: Periodically check in with a friendly message to maintain the relationship.

Turning conference connections into valuable opportunities requires a strategic and thoughtful approach. By organizing your contacts, personalizing your follow-up, using multiple channels, setting up meetings, and nurturing the relationship, you can transform initial introductions into meaningful professional connections.

Over the past decade, these best practices have helped me maximize the value of the conferences I attend, and I’m confident they can do the same for you.

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Tony Tiyou?is the founder and CEO of?Renewables in Africa (RiA)?is a Clean Energy Company raising Awareness about Renewable Energy in Africa and across the globe.

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