You dressed to impress, effectively mingled, collected an abundance of business cards, and crushed all the networking events you attended that were either near you, sponsored by a business networking organization, or at a conference or convention. That’s a lot of time and money you’ve invested, so it’s critically important that you make the most of the connections you’ve made so that you can achieve your ultimate goal—to create relationships that are mutually beneficial to your businesses or careers. Your next move must be to follow up as soon as possible after the event and provide value.

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Give before you get

Providing value to a new business contact after a networking event is crucial for building trust and fostering a strong relationship. If your first follow-up is a request—whether for a meeting, a favor, or a sale—you risk coming across as self-serving, which can turn people off and damage potential opportunities. Networking is about creating mutually beneficial connections, and that starts with offering something of value first. Consider these suggestions:

• Share a helpful resource. Send an article, podcast, or tool relevant to their industry or business challenges.
• Make a strategic introduction. Connect them with someone in your network who could help them with a challenge or offer valuable insight.
• Invite them to a relevant event. Extend an invitation to an industry seminar, webinar, or networking event that aligns with their interests.
• Engage with their content online. Like, comment on, or share their posts to stay on their radar and demonstrate support.
• Offer a collaboration opportunity. Suggest a way to work together, such as cohosting a webinar, guest posting on each other’s blogs, or cross-promoting services.
• Send them your personally branded magazine. These are enjoyable, professional publications their entire family will read, filled with engaging articles, recipes, DIY projects, and more.

These approaches show that you’re genuinely invested in the relationship rather than just looking for personal gain. By focusing on giving multiple times before asking for anything, you differentiate yourself from those who only reach out when they need something, increasing the likelihood that your new contact will want to engage with you, refer you to others, or work with you in the future.

Now that you understand why providing value in your follow up is of primary importance, here are three ways you can reach out to begin forming a relationship.

3 easy ways to follow up with new connections

1. Mail a handwritten note

If you truly want to make a powerful, lasting impression, then sending a handwritten thank-you note is the way to go. Taking the time to write a personal message shows sincerity and appreciation, making the recipient feel valued. Unlike a quick follow-up in an email, a handwritten note carries a sense of thoughtfulness that lingers, reinforcing the connection you made. It conveys warmth, respect, and genuine interest in building a relationship, which can turn a brief introduction into a meaningful professional connection.

2. Send an email

The good news is that your follow-up email after a networking event doesn’t have to be formal. Simply say that you enjoyed meeting them and do your best to include a reference to something you discussed during your initial conversation. A useful tip is to accept their business card and write a short note on the back to jog your memory. Ideally, you want to capture something that will help you determine what value you can offer once you get back home or return to the office, but even information you learn about their personal lives can provide fodder for following up. Let them know you that you want to keep in touch and that if you can help them in any way, they shouldn’t hesitate to ask. Continue to provide value.

3. Connect on social media

Ah, social media—the ultimate connecting tool. After an event, there’s no shame in searching for your new connections on social media, especially LinkedIn, which has an abundance of free tools to help you stay in touch in a professional manner. For instance, notififications of upcoming birthdays or work anniversaries can be used as reasons for sending a follow-up message. You can also view their interests, who else they follow, if they’ve written articles published on the platform, and what news may have been posted about their company. All of this information can be used as leverage for starting conversations and identifying what they may find useful.

The takeaway

At the end of the day, networking is an intricate part of business, but your responsibilities don’t end once the event is finished. Making it a priority to provide value and putting these three networking follow-up ideas into practice will help you build your sphere of business contacts in ways that lead to mutually beneficial relationships.