You had a great conversation at an event, you swapped cards, and you both said "let's stay in touch." Whether that actually happens usually comes down to one short message, sent in the next day or two.
What makes a follow-up work
The follow-ups that get replies have four things in common:
- They're fast. Within 48 hours, while the other person still remembers your face.
- They're specific. They mention where you met and one detail from the conversation. "Great to meet you at the conference" could have been sent to anyone.
- They're short. Three to five sentences. The goal is to restart the conversation, not to finish it.
- They end with one clear next step. A question, a link, or a proposed time, not a vague "let me know."
Before you write: find your notes
If you wrote something on the back of the card or in the contact's notes, start there. It's the specific detail that makes the message feel personal. If you didn't, see what to do with business cards after a conference for a routine that captures it next time.
Templates
Adapt these. A message that's obviously a template defeats the purpose.
Email: when you promised to send something
Subject: The report we talked about at [Event]
Hi [Name],
Great talking with you at [Event] about [topic]. As promised, here's [the thing you promised].
[One sentence on why it's relevant to what they told you.]
Would it be useful to talk it through for 20 minutes next week?
[Your name]
Email: when there's no obvious next step yet
Subject: Good to meet you at [Event]
Hi [Name],
I enjoyed our conversation at [Event], especially what you said about [specific detail].
[One sentence connecting it to your work, or a relevant link.]
I'd love to stay in touch. If [topic] comes up on your side, I'm always happy to compare notes.
[Your name]
LinkedIn connection note
LinkedIn connection notes are short, so get to the point:
Hi [Name], great meeting you at [Event] and talking about [topic]. Would be good to stay connected.
In many regions WhatsApp is the normal channel for business, and people often share their number for exactly this reason. Keep it even lighter than email:
Hi [Name], it's [Your name] from [Company]. We met at [Event] and talked about [topic]. Great to meet you! Here's the [link/thing] I mentioned.
Only message someone on WhatsApp if they gave you their number or it's on their card. Don't hunt it down.
Mistakes to avoid
- Waiting a week "to be less pushy." By then, you're just another name in their inbox.
- Opening with a pitch. Restart the conversation first. The pitch can come later, if it fits.
- Sending the same message to everyone. People compare notes, and generic messages are easy to spot.
- Adding everyone to a newsletter. Swapping cards is not consent to marketing email.
If they don't reply
One polite nudge a week or so later is fine. Add something new, like a relevant article or an update on what you discussed, instead of "just bumping this." If there's still no reply, let it go. Not every conversation needs a next step.
Make it easier next time
Following up is much easier when every contact is already on your phone, with a note on where you met. uKeep scans a business card into a full contact, finds the person's LinkedIn, and lets you message them by WhatsApp, email, or phone straight from the card, so your follow-up is a tap away instead of a search through a pile of paper.