Module 9 · Networking · Lesson 7 of 9

Following up

The follow-up is where most networking quietly dies — or starts.

6 min read · Level: Beginner · Free — no account needed to read

The idea

Most networking fails at the follow-up. You meet someone interesting, say “let’s stay in touch”, and never do. A short message within a few days — mentioning something from your conversation — turns a meeting into the start of a relationship.

Follow-ups are not only after events: after someone helps you, tell them what happened; after an introduction, thank both people. A good follow-up is short, specific and often useful.

Why it matters

The follow-up is what separates a conversation from a connection.

See it happen

Kaisar has a great chat with a potential collaborator at a workshop. Weeks pass and he never writes.

The first reaction

He worries a message now would seem odd after so long.

With the idea

He sends, “Great talking at the workshop about community radio — I found the article I mentioned, here it is.” She replies within the hour.

What changed

A short, specific follow-up restarted a connection that was fading.

Easy to get wrong

• Waiting until you need something to follow up.
• Writing a long, formal follow-up instead of a short, warm one.

Try it now: Overdue follow-ups

1. List people you meant to follow up with in the past month.
2. For each, write one specific line from your conversation.
3. Send the most overdue one today.

Questions to think about

• Who are you avoiding following up with, and why?
• Who followed up with you in a way you appreciated?

Your challenge this week

Follow up with someone you met recently.