So, you’ve just returned from a networking event, clutching a stack of business cards with scribbles like “SEO whiz,” “good coffee recs,” and “wants job ASAP!” scrawled on them. Your cheeks still ache from smiling, your social battery might be running on fumes, and you might be wondering, “What in the world do I do next?” Fear not, oh fearless networker! How to send a follow-up email after a networking event is where the real magic happens, and we’re here to make sure you do it right.
In this mammoth guide, we’ll walk you through everything from why following up is almost as critical as the event itself, to exactly how to craft the perfect email. We’ll share stats, tips, and even introduce ways to automate tedious tasks when writing heavily personalized follow-ups. Ready? Let’s jump in.
Why the Follow-Up Is Almost as Important as the Event
Picture this: You attend a big industry conference. You skillfully navigate conversations, exchange business cards, and even share a few laughs about your mutual love of old-school vinyl records. The evening ends, and you’re feeling pretty chuffed. But if you just let those connections fade—no follow-up, no message, no “Hey, remember me?”—all that goodwill and excitement can go straight down the drain.
Reason #1: The human brain is forgetful. After a day or two, your new contact might not recall who told them that hilarious anecdote about an alpaca farm (it was you, obviously).
Reason #2: Networking events can be chaotic. People meet dozens of new faces, and if you don’t stand out after the event, you risk blending into the crowd.
Reason #3: Relationships require nurturing. A single conversation at a loud cocktail mixer seldom cements a robust professional relationship. A thoughtful follow-up message, though? That’s where you move from “random person I chatted with” to “someone I can see myself collaborating with.”
In other words, not following up is like planting a seed in the garden… and then never watering it. Good luck growing anything that way.
Statistics That Prove the Power of Following Up
You might be thinking: “But do I really need to follow up? I’m sure they’ll contact me if they liked me.” Let’s see what the data says:
- According to GlockApps, over 70% of professionals state that effective follow-up after a networking event often leads to valuable partnerships and job opportunities. That’s quite the chunk of folks who see follow-ups as a major deal-maker.
- A study by The Muse found that nearly half of people who effectively follow up after a networking event receive a response or introduction that benefits their career down the line.
- LinkedIn’s research shows that building ongoing, consistent connections after initial introductions significantly increases your long-term professional network quality. Translation: Send that email, keep the conversation alive, and you’ll get better-quality contacts.
In short, if you’re not doing follow-ups, you’re very likely missing out.
Essential Preparation: Taking Notes, Packing Business Cards, and More
Come Prepared
Showing up at a networking event without business cards (or at least some form of contact exchange) is like going on a road trip without your phone charger—pure madness. Yes, it’s 2025 (or whenever you’re reading this), and we have LinkedIn, smartphones, and air-drop biz info. But guess what?
Business cards still matter.
- They make you look prepared and professional.
- They provide a tangible reminder of you, which helps your new contact recall who you are.
- Not everyone loves scanning LinkedIn codes in a dimly lit conference room.
If you meet someone who only has a laminated, glossy card, keep a fine-tip Sharpie handy—otherwise, your notes will smudge or vanish entirely. And yes, bring a pen or two. Or five.
Take Notes ASAP
When you get a card, or as soon as you have a free moment (i.e., you’re not actively blocking the buffet line), jot down tidbits about your conversation:
- Their role or industry niche
- A memorable personal fact (“Has a dog named Einstein”)
- A mutual interest (“We both love 90s hip-hop!”)
Come follow-up time, you’ll have actual details to reference instead of sending a generic, “Nice to meet you, maybe?”
4. When to Follow Up (Based on Data and Best Practices)
Timing is everything. Here’s the golden rule from many industry insiders:
- Follow up within 24 hours if the conversation was particularly engaging or you promised to send something (like a link or a resource).
- Follow up within 48–72 hours if it was a more casual exchange or the event was massive, and you need time to sort through all your new contacts.
According to GlockApps, following up quickly helps you stay fresh in the other person’s mind. Wait too long (say, 2–3 weeks), and they might just respond with “Who dis?”
How to Write a Great Follow-Up Email
Subject Lines That Grab Attention
Your subject line should be short, sweet, and relevant. Examples include:
- “Great meeting you at [Event Name]!”
- “Following up on our chat about [Specific Topic]”
- “Hello from [Your Name]: Checking in after [Event]”
Body of Your Email: The Core Ingredients
- Personal Greeting: “Hi [Name],” is fine. Or “Hello [Name],” if you want to be a tad more formal.
- Remind Them How/Where You Met: Mention the event name, the panel discussion, or the conversation topic.
- Show Genuine Appreciation: “It was wonderful chatting about X,” or “Thanks for sharing your insight on Y.”
- Add Personalization: Reference any personal details you remember—“Hope Einstein is doing well!”
- State Your Purpose: Are you seeking advice? Collaboration? A future meeting for coffee?
- Closing: A friendly “Looking forward to staying in touch” or “Hope to chat again soon!” followed by your name, title (if relevant), and contact info.
- Signature: Hyperlink your LinkedIn profile, website, or portfolio if you have one.
Introducing Skail: Save Time While Personalizing Your Outreach
What if you could skip the mental gymnastics of crafting 20 unique follow-up emails without sounding like a robot? That’s where Skail, AI personalized email solutions, comes in. Think of Skail as your personal AI-driven wingman for email outreach. Skail pulls data from your CRM, the recipient’s company website, and even social media, so it can pepper in those personal touches (like references to Einstein the dog) automatically.
- How it works: You feed Skail some background info, and it crafts an email that sounds like you. Then you can tweak, add emojis (if that’s your jam), and fire it off.
- Why it’s awesome: Instead of writing 20 emails from scratch, you make 20 slight edits to highly personalized drafts. This can save hours.
Sample Templates: 10 Follow-Up Emails to Try
Ready to see some examples? We’ve got you covered.
1. The “We Totally Clicked” Email
Subject: Great Talking [Favorite Topic] at [Event Name]
Hello [Name],
I had a blast chatting with you about [topic you discussed]. Thanks for sharing those insights—I’m already looking into them! I’d love to continue the conversation. Would you be up for meeting for coffee or hopping on a quick call sometime next week?
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[Your Name]
2. The “We Geeked Out Over Something Unique” Email
Subject: Loved Our Chat About [Specific Interest]!
Hey [Name],
Our discussion about [specific interest] was the highlight of the event for me. I haven’t met many people equally obsessed with it! Let’s stay connected—perhaps there’s a chance we can collaborate in the future.
Best,
[Your Name]
3. The “I Promised You a Resource” Email
Subject: Here’s That [Resource] We Talked About
Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well since [Event Name]. As promised, here’s the link/resource we chatted about. If you find it helpful or have any questions, feel free to let me know!
Cheers,
[Your Name]
4. The “I Admire Your Work” Email
Subject: Thanks for the Inspiring Conversation at [Event Name]
Hello [Name],
It was fantastic learning about your experience at [Company Name]. Your work on [specific project] really resonates with me. I’d love to learn more about your approach—maybe we can schedule a coffee chat?
Regards,
[Your Name]
5. The “General Follow-Up” Email
Subject: Awesome Meeting You at [Event Name]!
Hi [Name],
I enjoyed connecting at [Event Name]. It’s always great to meet people passionate about [industry/field]. Let’s keep in touch and see if we can help each other out down the road.
Take care,
[Your Name]
6. The “We Laughed a Lot” Email
Subject: Still Smiling About Our Chat at [Event Name]
Hey [Name],
You had me in stitches with that story about [funny anecdote]. Thanks for making the event extra memorable! Hope we can continue our chat soon—let me know if you’re up for grabbing a bite or coffee.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
7. The “We Exchanged Serious Career Intel” Email
Subject: Following Up on Our Career Discussion at [Event Name]
Hello [Name],
Thank you for sharing your insights on [career topic]. I’ve been thinking about what you said about [specific advice] and would love to dive deeper. Let me know if you have time for a quick call or coffee.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
8. The “You Mentioned You Needed Help” Email
Subject: Support for Your [Project/Challenge]?
Hi [Name],
It was great meeting you at [Event Name]. You mentioned needing support in [project/challenge]. I have some ideas and resources that might help—would you like to chat?
Best regards,
[Your Name]
9. The “Let’s Set Up a Time” Email
Subject: Coffee Next Week?
Hey [Name],
It was wonderful meeting you at [Event Name]. Any chance you’re available for coffee next week? I’d love to continue our conversation about [topic]. Let me know what your schedule looks like.
Best,
[Your Name]
10. The “Soft Follow-Up After No Reply” Email
Subject: Checking In From [Event Name]
Hi [Name],
I hope you’ve been well since [Event Name]. Just wanted to circle back in case my last email got buried. If you’re still open to connecting, I’d be happy to coordinate a quick call.
Take care,
[Your Name]
How to Stay in Touch for Less-Exciting Contacts
Let’s be honest: Not everyone you meet will be your new best friend or your future boss. Sometimes the conversation is lukewarm or the synergy just isn’t there. That’s okay! If you still want to maintain a casual connection (maybe you sense they could still be a valuable contact in the future), you can send something a bit more generic.
Sample “Generic” Follow-Up (Good for Mild Connections)
Subject: Good Seeing You at [Event Name]
Hey [Name],
It was nice meeting you the other day. I appreciated hearing about your role at [Company]. Let’s keep in touch if any collaboration opportunities arise.
Best,
[Your Name]
Or, you can let Skail take a crack at it—Skail can generate a toned-down version that’s still somewhat personalized but doesn’t require 20 minutes of your life to compose.
Where to Find More Networking Events
Now that you’re a follow-up pro, you may be itching for new places to meet more people. Why limit your newfound superpowers to just one event? Here are some sources to help you discover upcoming gatherings:
- Meetup.com
A treasure trove of local meetups centered on shared interests—startups, marketing, coding, board games, you name it. - Tradeshows & Conferences
Keep an eye on industry-specific websites for event listings. For example, if you’re in tech, visit places like Techmeme to see who’s hosting the next big expo. - LinkedIn Events
LinkedIn has a robust events feature. Simply click on the “Events” tab to see what’s happening in your network. - Virtual Events
In the post-2020 world, virtual gatherings have skyrocketed. Platforms like Hopin and Eventbrite list thousands of virtual panels, workshops, and conferences. Don’t underestimate them—remote events can still yield great connections.
(Pro Tip: If you can’t find something that aligns with your interests, consider starting your own meetup. Hosting can be a great way to position yourself as a connector in your field.)
Conclusion: How to send a follow-up email after a networking event
That’s it, folks! We’ve covered why follow-ups matter so much (don’t let your brand-new contacts forget you), how to prepare (business cards, pens, scribbled notes), when to send that all-important email (within 24 to 72 hours), and what to say (personalize, reference your conversation, propose next steps). We also introduced tools like Skail that can make your life easier, and offered template examples for every imaginable post-networking scenario.
Remember, following up doesn’t have to be scary, tedious, or time-consuming. Think of it as a chance to transform a fleeting interaction into a meaningful professional relationship.
So, pick one of the templates above, tweak it, and hit send! You’ve got nothing to lose—except for that warm lead if you let too much time pass.
Go forth, follow up, and happy networking! And if you find yourself drowning in a sea of “Nice to meet you” emails, consider letting an AI buddy like Skail handle the heavy lifting while you focus on what really matters: building those connections and leveling up your career.
