To follow up after a networking event, send a short email or LinkedIn message within 24 hours that says who you are, names one detail from your conversation, and suggests a single next step. Offer two specific times if you want a meeting. If you hear nothing, send one more note, then switch to light check-ins every few months.
When to follow up after a networking event
Follow up within 24 hours of the event. Indeed says to follow up quickly, “ideally within 24 hours,” and the University of Oregon and the University of Michigan’s engineering career center give the same window.
The 24-hour and three-month steps below come from those career centers. The rest is my own habit.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| At the event | Get their details and ask if you can connect on LinkedIn |
| Same evening | Write a one-line note about each person while you remember |
| Within 24 hours | Send the first follow-up message |
| About a week later | One short nudge if there’s no reply |
| Every three months | A brief update to keep the contact warm |
Capture the contact before you leave the event
A good follow-up starts at the event, because you can’t write a personal message to someone whose name and story you’ve forgotten. The University of Oregon advises asking “for business cards and/or if it’s okay to connect with them on LinkedIn” while you’re still talking.
It also suggests asking questions you can follow up on, like what someone is reading or listening to. Then you have a reason to write back: you looked it up.
Most guides skip the memory note. Right after each conversation, write one line: “Priya, logistics startup, hiring a designer, loves cricket.” Tomorrow, that line is your personal detail.
A digital card lets the exchange run both ways. On QRCard, Mutual Exchange (Pro and Team plans) lets the person who opens your card send back their name, email, phone and a short note, and those leads land in your dashboard with CSV export. The catch: sharing is optional, and plenty of people will save your card without sending theirs. Ask for their details in person anyway.
If handing over your details feels awkward, read our digital business card etiquette guide.
What to write in a networking follow-up email
A networking follow-up email should reintroduce you, mention one specific moment from your talk, offer something useful, and ask for one clear next step. Keep it short enough to read on a phone.
Indeed splits it into four parts:
- Subject line: “brief and intriguing.” Use their name, where you met, or a shared interest.
- Who you are: your full name and your area of work, plus the event.
- Something of value: an introduction to someone they should meet, or an article you discussed.
- The ask: “Try to offer your new contact at least two dates and times when you’re available to meet.” Suggest coffee if you’re local and a phone call if you’re not.
The University of Michigan adds two points for recruiter conversations: bring up memorable points from the talk, and include your phone number and email.
An example:
Subject: Great talking logistics at the Founders Meetup
Hi Priya, this is Arjun Rao, the product designer you met at the Founders Meetup on Thursday. You mentioned you’re hiring your first designer, so here’s the hiring checklist I talked about. Would a short call on Tuesday or Wednesday morning work to compare notes?
Arjun
How to follow up on LinkedIn instead of email
A LinkedIn connection request works as a follow-up when it includes the same memorable detail an email would. The University of Oregon lists LinkedIn and email side by side for the 24-hour message.
Add a note: “Hi Priya, enjoyed our chat about hiring designers at the Founders Meetup. Would love to stay in touch.” A blank request from a stranger is easy to ignore.
If your digital card is on your profile, people who accept can save your details from there. Sharing your business card on LinkedIn shows where the link goes. The same message works on WhatsApp if they prefer chat; see how to share your contact details on WhatsApp.
What to do if they don’t reply
If your first follow-up gets no reply, send one more short email that makes it obvious who you are, then stop. Indeed includes a sample for exactly this case and advises being very specific about who you are or where you work.
One nudge, never two. I wait about a week, reply on the same thread so the context is right there, and keep it to two lines. A third unanswered message turns a warm contact into someone who avoids your name in their inbox.
Then move the person to your three-month list.
How to stay in touch after the first follow-up
Staying in touch means sending a short, useful update a few times a year, not daily likes. The University of Oregon suggests you “block out time on your calendar every three months” to send updates by email or LinkedIn.
Write when you change roles, read something that fits their problem, or can introduce them to someone. If your phone number or title changes in between, a card you can edit keeps old contacts from dialing a dead number. Here’s how to update a digital business card without reprinting anything.
Sales teams run this as a pipeline; see digital business cards for sales professionals.
FAQ
How soon should I follow up after a networking event?
Within 24 hours. Indeed, the University of Oregon and the University of Michigan’s engineering career center all give the same 24-hour window.
Should I follow up by email or LinkedIn?
Either works. The University of Oregon suggests a LinkedIn connection request or an email, as long as it includes a memorable detail from your conversation.
What do I do if they don’t reply?
Send one more short email that says clearly who you are and where you work, as Indeed’s sample for an unanswered follow-up does. After that, move them to your regular check-ins.
How do I stay in touch after the first follow-up?
Block time on your calendar every three months to send short updates by email or LinkedIn, which is what the University of Oregon recommends.