7 Things to Do After Attending a Networking Event

Attending a networking event is just the beginning. You’ve met new people, exchanged business cards, and maybe even connected with industry leaders. But what you do after the event is just as crucial as the event itself. 

The follow up process can solidify those new connections and open doors you hadn’t imagined. This blog explains the things you should do after attending a networking event to ensure your hard work pays off!

Why Attend Networking Events?

Networking events are important for professionals and business owners to expand their networks and make new connections. Attending industry events is one of the best ways to continuously grow your network. Events allow you to meet many new people in a short period. 

You never know where a new connection may lead - they could become a new client, business partner, investor, or simply provide a helpful referral down the line. Taking the time to regularly attend networking functions is an important investment in your personal and professional brand.

Things You Should Do After Attending a Networking Event

Now that you've attended the event, there are crucial "Things You Should Do After Attending a Networking Event" to ensure you get the most value from your time.

The key is following up properly with your new connections:

1. Send Thank You Notes: 

It is important to send thank you notes to everyone you spoke to at the networking event within 24 hours of the event. A short personalized email or message thanking them for their time and any information or advice shared is sufficient. 

Thank you notes help you stand out and leave a positive lasting impression. It can help strengthen your connections and may lead to future opportunities.

2. Review Your Contacts: 

Spend some time reviewing any contact info you collected. Go through each info and note the person's name, title, company and any notes about your conversation. 

This allows you to remember details about the people you met and follow up with them in a timely manner. Reviewing your contacts after the event is vital for maximizing your networking opportunities.

3. Connect on Social Media: 

Look them up on LinkedIn and connect with them online. Adding connections on LinkedIn allows you to build and strengthen your professional relationships digitally. 

It is also a way to follow up after meeting in person at the event to maintain engagement. Connecting on LinkedIn can help you stay top of mind with the contacts you meet.

Also, Check the 10 Tips For Effective Networking Techniques

4. Follow Up on Commitments: 

Follow up on any commitments you made at the networking event. This could include sending someone information you promised, scheduling a meeting you discussed, or following up on an introduction you agreed to make.

Sending a short email or message within a day or two of the event to remind the contact of your discussion and next steps shows your professionalism and maintains the connection you made at the event.

5. Schedule Follow Up Meetings: 

Schedule follow up meetings with the new contacts you met. This allows you to continue the conversations you started and build stronger relationships. Following up shows that you are genuinely interested in learning more about their work and looking for potential opportunities to collaborate. 

Schedule time on your calendar within the next week to touch base again with attendees you want to get to know better.

6. Share Useful Content: 

One thing you should do is share useful content with the contacts you meet. You can share industry articles, reports, blog posts or videos on topics of interest through social media or email. 

This helps you stay top of mind with your contacts and also demonstrates your expertise, which can help strengthen those new connections and potentially lead to future opportunities.

7. Attend Future Events: 

Attending future networking events is important to continue making new connections and stay top of mind with the contacts you met previously. Going to follow up events is a great way to further existing relationships and potentially meet new people as well. 

It shows prospective partners and clients that you are actively involved in the industry and networking community.

Taking the time to properly follow up after attending a networking event through thank you notes, social media connections, follow through and future meetings is crucial for "Things You Should Do After Attending a Networking Event". 

How Fellow Founder Can Help You After Networking

Fellow Founder is a networking app for founders. It allows founders to exchange business NFC cards at events. This simplifies connecting with other founders you meet. The app helps you interact after the event through specific prompts. It allows you to follow up with founders from the networking event. 

You can use the app to schedule convenient times for 1:1 meetings. Fellow Founder helps founders make the most of networking by facilitating easy contact exchange and timely follow ups through a streamlined process within the app.

Download Our App

Conclusion

Networking events are crucial for growing a business and finding new opportunities. However, the real value comes from what you do after the event. By properly following up through thank you notes, social media connections, scheduling meetings and continued engagement over time, you can ensure that "Things You Should Do After Attending a Networking Event" sticks. 

FAQs - Related to Things to Do After Attending a Networking Event

1) What is the importance of networking events?

Networking events allow you to meet many new people in a short period from your industry. Attending these events regularly is important for growing your professional network and finding new opportunities.

2) Why should I send thank you notes after an event?

Sending thank you notes within 24 hours of the event helps you stand out from others and leaves a positive lasting impression. It strengthens your new connections and may lead to future opportunities or referrals.

3) How do I schedule follow up meetings?

Schedule time within the next week on your calendar to touch base again with contacts you want to know better. Continuing conversations allows you to build stronger relationships.

4) How can I stay on top of my mind after an event?

Sharing useful industry content through social media or email helps you stay top of mind with your new contacts and demonstrates your expertise. This can strengthen connections over time.

5) Why is follow up important after an event?

Proper follow up through thank you notes, meetings and continued engagement over time ensures the value of attending the event by solidifying new connections that can potentially lead to opportunities down the line.