Here's how you can effectively follow up with contacts after networking events in Partnerships.
Networking events can be a goldmine for establishing valuable partnerships. They offer a unique opportunity to meet a diverse array of professionals and potentially forge connections that can lead to fruitful collaborations. However, the real work begins after the event when you need to follow up with the contacts you've made to capitalize on the potential of these new relationships. Effective follow-up is crucial in converting these initial meetings into lasting partnerships. By understanding the best practices for post-event communication, you can set the stage for successful and mutually beneficial partnerships.
After a networking event, your first follow-up message is pivotal in re-establishing the connection you made. It's best to reach out within 24 to 48 hours while the conversation is still fresh in both your minds. Personalize your message by referencing specific topics you discussed or mutual interests that came up. This shows genuine interest and helps the contact remember you among the many people they met. Keep it concise, express appreciation for their time, and suggest a next step, such as a meeting or phone call, to discuss potential partnership opportunities further.
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Following up with contacts after networking events in Partnerships is crucial for relationship building. Start by connecting on LinkedIn, referencing the event and a memorable topic discussed. For a more personal touch, use email, mentioning specifics from your conversation. If possible, obtain their cell number for a direct text, a live interaction ensures accurate contact information and strengthens the connection. Consistent, genuine follow-ups demonstrate your interest and commitment, fostering fruitful partnerships in the long run.
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I couldn't agree more! It's also a good idea to include a personal element or observation that sets your meeting apart, such as a shared joke or an unexpected common interest. This not only makes the message more personal, but also creates an emotional connection that makes future collaboration more promising. Including a value proposition or an idea of how you might work together will demonstrate your commitment and seriousness about a possible collaboration.
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In my experience, the first follow-up after a networking event is crucial. You want to remind them of your interaction without overwhelming them. For instance, after a conference last year, I reached out to a potential partner we met who showed interest in EasyWeGo's global eSIM solutions. My email was concise—thanking them for their time, recalling our discussion about how our eSIM technology could help their travel agency streamline communications for international clients, and proposing a short meeting to explore this further. This approach sets a professional yet personal tone, paving the way for meaningful conversations.
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Para acompanhar contatos após eventos de networking, comece com uma preparação pré-evento, identificando os participantes e estabelecendo metas claras. Ao iniciar conversas durante o evento, seja transparente sobre suas intenções e faça anotações importantes em um bloco de notas para lembrar detalhes essenciais. Após o evento, seja ágil no follow-up, retornando em até dois dias para manter a conversa fresca na memória de ambos. Essa abordagem estratégica estabelece relações sólidas e efetivas, facilitando o avanço para os próximos passos, seja uma negociação ou o fortalecimento do relacionamento.
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So I would disagree with the 24 - 48 hour rule especially if it was a big conference or show. A lot of time you have people traveling across the world or traveling before they get back home. Then playing catchup and being bombarded by everyone. I would say its best to way 3-5 day or a week, after the networking event/ show to reach out to potential partners in the space.
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Follow up with a personalized email and mention key points discussed during your conversation. Schedule a meeting where you can talk more about your common interests, goals, and potential areas of collaboration. Ensure to offer value that aligns with their interests and challenges.
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The Follow Up is literally EVERYTHING - be it a formal or informal meet-up or meeting of some kind, a presentation, a dedicated industry networking event, conference or trade show. This is how you expand your base of prospects and business potential. One thing that I have now found challenging, is the lack of Business Cards that are shared now, compared to years ago. Many folks simply do not have them any more. But years ago, when I would arrive home from a large Trade/Industry Event, I would have 100+ Business Cards, and this would be my guide for the Follow Ups. Now - I have to go more on memory, or utilize an Attendee List from the Event! Still - the Follow-Up is essential and done!
Personalization goes beyond adding a name to the top of an email. Reflect on your conversation and mention something that stood out, whether it's a shared interest, a challenge they're facing that you might help with, or a mutual connection. This approach demonstrates attentiveness and a genuine interest in them, not just the business opportunity. Personal touches can distinguish your follow-up from others and build a rapport that is essential for successful partnerships.
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Adaptation and customisation are essential keys to building successful partnerships. Recognising and valuing each other's expertise not only aligns your goals, but also creates a synergy where each party brings unique value. By focusing our collaboration on this complementarity, we create a mutually beneficial relationship where learning and growth are shared. By emphasising these values of adaptability and customisation, we stand out in an often impersonal business world. This enables us to build relationships based on trust and mutual respect, which are essential to the success of any partnership. Together, using our respective strengths, we can reach greater heights in a spirit of shared growth and success.
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One thing that I have found helpful is genuinely personalizing follow-up messages. Take notes during your conversations at events; these details are invaluable. For example, if a contact mentioned struggling with reliable taxi services for their corporate clients in Cambodia, reference this in your follow-up. Offer insights into how EasyWeGo’s integrated local taxi booking can provide a solution. Such personalized touches show your attentiveness and commitment to addressing their specific needs, helping you stand out from others who might just send generic follow-ups.
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Personalize each follow-up by referencing specific conversations or interests shared during the event. This personal touch shows genuine interest and strengthens professional connections.
Timing is everything in follow-up communication. While you want to be prompt, you also don't want to appear pushy. Striking the right balance is key. If you promised to send information or a proposal, do so within the time frame you indicated during your conversation. If no specific time was set, a good rule of thumb is to follow up with any promised materials within a week. This keeps the momentum going and shows that you're reliable and considerate of the partnership's potential.
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The first contact must be characterised by authenticity and emotional transparency, creating a special relationship based on closeness and sensitivity. You can't learn this at school, I'm afraid. Follow-up communication plays a crucial role in this dynamic, confirming the intensity of the first contact and demonstrating the partner's enthusiasm and reliability. It is important to find the right balance in the timing of follow-up to maintain the momentum of the relationship. Respecting commitments and deadlines builds trust and shows respect for the time and energy invested by the other party. This attention to detail is essential to building a lasting and meaningful relationship.
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Timing your follow-up can greatly influence the outcome. Once, after introducing our shared workspace booking service, I agreed to send more detailed information to a potential partner. Sending the promised details within two days demonstrated our reliability and keen interest in the partnership. It's important to deliver any promised information promptly, as this reinforces your professionalism and keeps the momentum of your initial meeting going, which is essential for building trust and progressing towards formalizing partnerships.
When following up, always aim to offer value. This could be in the form of a resource, a piece of advice, or an introduction to another contact who could be beneficial to their business. By offering something of value, you position yourself as a resourceful and supportive potential partner. This creates a positive association with your brand and increases the likelihood of a partnership being formed as it demonstrates your commitment to mutual success.
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In order to build solid and lasting professional relationships, it is important to provide added value beyond the products or services offered. This includes experience, expertise, energy, reliability and transparency in interactions. By consistently offering something useful, you become a committed partner rather than just a supplier. This builds trust and credibility and fosters fruitful partnerships based on mutual support and collaboration. By making a real contribution to each other's success, a mutually beneficial relationship is established for future collaboration.
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Always aim to offer something valuable in your follow-up. After a recent trade show, I sent a potential partner links to case studies highlighting how our services increased productivity for similar companies in their industry. This wasn’t just informative but also showcased our expertise and success in a relevant context. By offering value beyond what was discussed, you position yourself as a resourceful ally, not just another business seeking a partnership. It underscores your commitment to mutual benefits, a cornerstone of successful collaborations.
In your follow-up communications, encourage an open dialogue. Ask questions about their business goals, challenges, and how you might be able to support them. This not only shows that you're interested in a partnership that's beneficial for both parties but also invites further conversation. Keeping communication lines open is crucial for building trust and understanding, which are foundational for any successful partnership.
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By taking a proactive approach to communication, encouraging open and honest exchanges, you create a space where ideas and concerns can be shared freely. Asking specific questions about your contacts' business goals and challenges shows a genuine interest in their successes and needs. Not only does this demonstrate your willingness to build a balanced and mutually beneficial partnership, it also opens the door to more in-depth discussions that allow everyone to explore new ways of working together. By keeping these lines of communication open, you are laying the foundations for a relationship based on trust and mutual understanding - key elements of any successful partnership.
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Keeping the dialogue open is key to successful follow-ups. Ask questions about their current challenges and how you might help address them. For example, in a follow-up email, I might ask a travel agency about the difficulties they face with international communications and suggest a brief call to discuss how our global eSIM services could help. This approach not only shows your interest in their business needs but also facilitates ongoing conversation, which is vital for deepening relationships and building trust.
Lastly, have a follow-up plan in place. If you don't receive a response to your initial message, it's appropriate to send a gentle reminder after a week or two. However, be mindful not to bombard them with messages. If after several attempts there is still no response, it's important to respect their silence and move on. Remember, effective follow-up is about quality interactions, not just quantity. Keep nurturing other contacts and opportunities, as persistence and diversification are key in partnership building.
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Having a structured follow-up plan is essential. One time at work, after not hearing back from a contact, I sent a gentle reminder after two weeks, reiterating our service’s value and my willingness to provide further information. It's important to be persistent yet respectful; if they don’t respond after a couple of attempts, it’s best to back off and focus on other opportunities. Remember, effective partnership development is about fostering quality connections, not merely increasing email volume.
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Reflecting on numerous follow-up efforts, one lesson stands out: always adapt your strategy based on the feedback and signals from your contacts. For instance, if someone expresses interest in one specific aspect of your service, such as our flexible desk options in shared workspaces, tailor your communications to highlight that service more. It's about listening and adapting to their needs, which not only helps in customizing your offer but also in building a partnership that feels both relevant and exclusive to them.
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