The Networking Speed Trap
Most advice about how to follow up after a networking event tells you to move fast. You're told to quickly send a general "thanks" or "just checking in" note to everyone you meet within 24 hours to stay on their mind. However, focusing on the clock instead of the message content is a mistake. Being fast is not the same as being helpful, and sending a message just to complete a task often shows you don't have anything important to say.
When you care more about being fast than being useful, your messages go nowhere. You spend a lot of time writing what you think are good messages, but you only get silence or short replies. It feels like you are busy, but you are actually just doing unimportant work that leads to no real chances. You are not building connections; you are just adding more clutter to someone’s email.
To fix this, you must stop being generally polite and start offering specific help. Stop "checking in" and start building a real connection. This means looking closely at how you talk to people. Your goal should change from just being remembered to actually being helpful. Looking more carefully at your outreach is how you stop sending empty messages and start giving useful things that turn a quick meeting into a lasting work relationship.
Key Takeaways
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01
Building Relationships Stop seeing contacts only as a way to get your next job. Focus first on how you can help them reach their goals to build a relationship based on trust between you both.
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02
Momentum Messages Don't just say it was nice meeting; share a specific helpful item, article, or idea you talked about. This proves you listened and keeps the talk going forward.
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Regular Contact System Don't just keep names on a list. Use a simple plan to stay in touch often so your network is ready to help before you actually need them.
What Is a Networking Event Follow-Up?
A networking event follow-up is a personalized message sent to someone you met at a professional event—within 24 to 48 hours—that references a specific detail from your conversation and offers something useful. The goal is not to be polite; it is to continue a conversation that has real potential.
Most people treat follow-ups as a formality. The professionals who build strong networks treat them as the actual beginning of the relationship. According to research consistently cited by LinkedIn, 80% of professionals consider networking vital to career success—yet the quality of follow-up is what separates those who benefit from those who don't. A 2025 survey by Wave Connect found that 54% of U.S. workers who got hired through a personal connection credited ongoing relationship maintenance, not a one-time email, as the reason the door opened.
Checking Your Follow-Up Messages
Check #1: The Mistake of Just Being Polite
Right after an event, you rush to send "Great meeting you" emails to everyone you talked to, even if the talk was brief.
Sending a message only to be "polite" just creates more digital clutter. When you send a common note with no real point, the other person feels they have to reply with another common note, which helps neither of you. Speed doesn't build a relationship; having something meaningful to say does.
The Bridge of Specificity
Only follow up if you can mention one specific thing you discussed that needs a next step. If you can't think of a good reason to talk more, don't email yet—wait until you find something helpful or relevant for them. It also helps to end conversations well; see our guide on how to exit a networking conversation gracefully so you always leave a memorable impression before the follow-up begins.
Check #2: Making People Do the Work
Your follow-up messages end with vague offers like "Tell me if I can help with anything" or "We should get together sometime to talk ideas."
You are accidentally making more work for the other person by asking them to figure out how to use your help or when to schedule a meeting. Busy people usually ignore vague offers because it takes too much mental energy to turn your "polite offer" into a real plan. If it's hard to reply, they usually won't reply at all.
Send the Useful Thing First
Replace vague offers with a clear "gift" of information. Send a link to a tool they said they needed, or an article that solves a problem they talked about, with a simple note: "I remembered you said [Problem], this made me think of our chat."
Check #3: Getting Lost in the Noise
You feel bad and stop reaching out completely because your last few "checking in" emails got no response.
Your messages aren't being ignored because of you; they are being filtered out because they look like everyone else's. Important people get tons of low-effort emails every day and they have learned to skip over general professional talk. If your email looks like a copy/paste job, it will be treated like junk, even if you met the person face-to-face.
Re-enter with High Impact
Stop trying to stay in touch just by sending emails often. Instead, wait until you have a strong reason to contact them—like an introduction to a potential customer or a thoughtful answer to a question they had—to make sure your name is connected with helpful progress, not just bothering them.
The 24-Hour Action Plan
Quick Capture (Within 1 Hour)
Don't trust your memory. As soon as you leave the conversation or the building, do this:
- Voice Notes: Open a note app on your phone. Say the person’s name, one specific thing you talked about (like their favorite trip, or a project they are doing), and anything you promised to check on.
- Card Notes: If you got a business card, write the same details on the back immediately.
- The Point: Write down the "hook"— the unique detail that proves you were actually listening.
The Specific Message (Within 24 Hours)
Timing matters. You want to reach out while they still remember you. For a deeper look at the full post-event strategy, see The Post-Event Follow-Up Strategy That Actually Works.
- Send the Message: Email or send a LinkedIn message.
- Use the Hook: Don't start with "Nice meeting you." Start with: "It was great talking about [Specific Topic] yesterday. I looked up that [Book/Article/Tool] you mentioned—thanks for the suggestion!"
- Give Something: If you said you would share an article or link during your talk, include it here. This shows you keep your promises.
Secure the Link (Day 3 to Day 5)
If you haven't already, make the connection permanent on professional sites.
- Send LinkedIn Invite: If you emailed them in Step 2, send a LinkedIn connection request now.
- Make it Personal: Include a note mentioning the event again. "Hi [Name], enjoyed our talk at the conference this week. Wanted to connect here!"
- The Point: Change the relationship from a one-time message to a permanent presence in your feed.
The Ongoing Loop (Every 1 to 3 Months)
Most people fail because they only reach out when they need something. This step keeps your network warm.
- Schedule a "No-Ask" Reminder: Put a note in your calendar to check in with this person in two months.
- The Update Check-In: Send a quick message when you see something that relates to them. "Hey [Name], saw this news about [Topic we discussed] and thought of you. Hope things are going well!"
- The Point: Keep the relationship going without asking for anything. This builds the trust you'll need later when you do have a career request.
How Cruit Helps You Connect Better After Events
For Contact Details
Networking ToolWrite personalized follow-up messages by finding shared topics and brainstorming things to talk about based on your meetings.
For Sharing Value
Journal ToolKeep track of your successes so you can easily offer helpful, specific information to new contacts.
For Clear Signals
Application TrackerSee your connections visually so you know when to stop sending friendly updates and focus on sending high-impact messages showing progress.
Common Questions
What if I don't have a specific article or resource to share?
You don't always need a link to something new to provide value. Sometimes, the best "resource" is just a thoughtful comment on a specific point they made during your talk. Mentioning how you tried out a piece of their advice or sharing a quick thought from a project you are working on shows you were really paying attention. The goal is to prove you listened, which is worth more than any random file you attach.
Will they forget me if I don't message them right away?
A high-quality message sent two or three days later that refers to a unique detail from your talk will remind them of you much better than a generic "thanks" sent right away. If your message brings up something specific from your talk, it will instantly make them remember you. People rarely remember the person who sent a standard email; they remember the person who brought up something interesting.
How can I offer value if I am a student or new to the field?
Offering value isn't only about giving expert advice; it's about being helpful. You can share your fresh view on a new trend, mention a useful tool you use for staying organized, or just give sincere feedback on a recent talk or post they shared. Being a learner who follows up shows that you are proactive, which many experienced people appreciate and find worth their time.
How long should a follow-up email after a networking event be?
Keep it short. Three to five sentences is ideal. Start with one specific detail from your conversation, include a single offer of value or question, then close. A concise message signals respect for their time more than a long one does.
What subject line works best for a networking follow-up email?
Skip "Great meeting you" — it blends in with hundreds of other emails. Use a subject line that references your specific conversation, like "The project you mentioned at [Event Name]" or "Following up on our chat about [Topic]." A specific subject line is the first proof that your email is worth opening.
Focus on what matters.
Stop sending those boring, automatic messages that go into inboxes and get ignored. When you focus too much on being fast instead of being useful, you aren't building a career—you are just having a bunch of empty talks that lead nowhere. When you choose to be helpful instead, you bring real energy back to your work network and make sure your name is linked with quality, not just with spamming people. Take a close look at your recent messages today and trade those empty "check-ins" for messages that actually build a bridge. Start your check-up now and you'll move faster when you stop rushing. You have the knowledge; now go turn those quick meetings into lasting chances.
Start Check-Up Now
