Conferences provide valuable opportunities to develop your professional network, but only if you answer them. Even though it can be difficult to get a stack of business cards from new business contacts, your efforts can pay off in the short and long term. When the excitement of a conference dissipates, it can be tempting to skip communication with all the potential for collaboration and connection. To make the task easier to manage, organize the collected business cards into three groups: high, medium, and low. This makes it possible to segment the task into manageable steps. While the conference is fresh, be sure to take notes on each of the business contacts in your high and medium priority groups. Make a note of what you remember in each conversation and make a note of the collaboration opportunities. These notes help you to remember each person, which makes tracking easier. If you prefer a digital recording, enter the notes in a contact file for each person; It’s a great way to stay productive on a long flight home.

Send a follow-up e-mail

Send them a message “Nice to meet you”. In this email, tell who you are and what you talked about. Give them your contact information so they can fill out your listing in their address book. Since e-mail address books can contain pictures of people, add a small picture. Most people are afraid to remember the names, but they are too embarrassed to admit it. They make life easier by helping them rejoin your name and face. Most contact management programs allow you to create an entry for yourself and then export it as a special file with your address book entry called vCard. Attach your vCard to the message so you can enter all your information in your address book with one click. If you have promised to send them information, do so now.

Plan your next contact now

• So far, we have created a wave of activities right after the conference. Everyone sends an e-mail to everyone else and they can contact you. Her “Nice to meet you” is not enough. You have to consolidate the relationship. Select a date for a phone call or, if possible, a face-to-face meeting. Choose a date 2 to 6 weeks in the future, so they have a chance to relax in their routine. Make it easy for them to answer with a quick yes or no.
• Avoid sending standard messages after sending a follow-up e-mail after a conference. Although they save time, they are impersonal and forgetful. Write a short personal message relating to the things you talked about at the conference. If you mentioned a specific project or article, send a link or attachment to let the contact remember. Ask a question or send an invitation to continue the conversation. This builds a relationship.
• Idealist Careers also recommends that you follow them on social media in order to start an instant online interaction. Look for each new contact or check the links on their business cards and become a follower or friend. Remind them who you are by adding a short note to the conference. Look at LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Use your judgment to follow the profiles; a business page is appropriate while a personal Instagram account with family photos is not. Social media is also a great way to track low priority contacts when pressed for time. When the opportunity arises, initiate a meeting with your most valuable new contacts. Send an invitation to a business event, schedule a coffee, or invite the person to check your facilities. Consider your invitations and send them only to people with real potential for collaboration or partnership; This saves you time and energy and allows you to maintain the most valuable relationships. The process of keeping in touch with the people you meet at conferences takes time, but can lead to important partnerships and valuable resources for future career development. Tracking in an organized manner facilitates communication for more effective and efficient communication.
• To increase the success of your follow-up after the conference, plan the emails carefully. There is no point in starting new contacts immediately after the conference – your email will probably be lost in the amount of other conference-related news. Give the dust a chance to settle for two or three days to get your new contacts going again. If you are upset, write your emails earlier and plan to send them a few days later