Planning For Virtual Networking Events

>>>𝗡𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝘂𝗽? 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽. That’s the rule I’ve set for myself after too many missed connections at great events. You know the drill: → You leave a room buzzing with ideas, names, and conversations. → You promise to stay in touch. → Then real life kicks in—and the momentum disappears. I’ve learned this the hard way. Now, I don’t attend unless I’m ready to do the follow-up work too. Now I'm trying something new: → I teamed up with an accountability partner to debrief post-event. (Thanks Elina!) → We share notes, fill in gaps, and add next steps. → That accountability makes a huge difference. I’ve also added two tactics that make a real impact: → Book follow-up meetings on the spot. If the convo’s going well, lock in a next step before you part ways. → Post your takeaways publicly. Share a few insights or reflections from the event. It signals value and helps people reconnect. If you're not using a CRM, here’s my simple follow-up playbook: → Input all the people you've met in a spreadsheet. → Use LinkedIn as your mini-CRM. Be very specific in a DM how and when you met. → Personalize your connection requests or your 1st DM. Mention the event. Reference your chat. Two lines are enough. → Follow up while it’s still fresh. Send the article, make the intro, or just say “great meeting you.” → Engage publicly. Comment on their latest post. Like something they shared. Stay visible. → Make your profile do the heavy lifting. Clear headline. Updated summary. Recent post. Your profile should reinforce the connection. IRL is just the spark. What you do after—that’s what turns a name tag into a relationship. What’s your follow-up system look like? Photos from Tuesday event at Technology Park Ljubljana where we talked about dos and don'ts of opening new markets.

Want to know how networking got me leads worth ₹3,00,000? Here’s the thing: Networking is not about collecting connections like Pokémon cards. It’s about the follow-up. At TechSparks, I didn’t just shake hands and walk away. I followed up strategically, and here’s what made all the difference: 1. Personalized follow-up: A generic “nice to meet you” email? Nope. Each follow-up was tailored, referencing our conversation, shared interests, or how we could potentially collaborate. That made it personal and valuable for them, not just me. 2. Timing is key: Don’t wait for days or weeks. I reached out within 24 hours of meeting them. It showed I was serious about keeping the conversation going—and that I valued their time. 3. Be clear on the value you offer: I didn’t just follow up for the sake of it. I made it clear why continuing the conversation would benefit them, whether it was insights I could share or ways we could collaborate. 4. Stay consistent: One follow-up is great, but I didn’t stop there. I stayed in touch, continued the conversation, and nurtured those relationships over time. The result? 7 quality calls and leads worth ₹3,00,000—all because I didn’t let those connections go cold. Here’s the truth: Not every contact you make is going to convert into cash overnight. But the ones you nurture with genuine intent will strengthen your network and, eventually, your opportunities. Every email, every DM, every touchpoint is an investment in your future success. Pro tip: Follow up like you’re building a relationship, not closing a sale. That’s how you create value for both sides. 💡 If you want to know how I consistently turn networking into real business growth, let’s connect and talk about how I can help you do the same.

I landed back in Los Angeles after a 4-day legal convention in Vegas and realized something: People are great at networking in the moment, but struggle to follow-up and keep relationships after an event like a major convention. To make sure all of the connections you made are sustained long-term, here's a step-by-step guide to effectively follow up post-convention: 📝 Personalized Note Writing: Always begin with a personalized note. Thank your new contacts for their time and highlight specific topics or moments you shared. A handwritten note can make a deep impression in today's digital world, signaling thoughtfulness and genuine interest. 📲 Organize Contact Details: Compile a database of the addresses, emails, and other contact details you've gathered. Tools like Microsoft Excel or CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot can be great for this. This not only helps with immediate follow-up but aids in long-term relationship management. 🤳🏻 Engage on Social Media:   Connect with your new contacts on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, IG, Facebook and TikTok. Engage with their posts to foster online rapport, but ensure your interactions are meaningful. 📩 Newsletters:   If you have a newsletter, consider adding your new contacts to the mailing list (with their consent). This keeps them updated on your activities, insights, and the latest happenings in the legal field. 🔄 Share Your Work: If you've written books, articles, or other publications, share them. It not only positions you as an expert but provides value to your contacts. ✅ Regular Check-ins:   Set reminders to touch base periodically. You could share relevant articles, wish them on holidays, or update them about significant milestones in your career. 👏🏼 Tips and Insights: Offer helpful tips or insights from the convention or from your experience. It’s a non-invasive way to remind them of the value you bring to the table. 🤝 Long-Term Relationship Building Relationships are not about transactions but genuine connections. Ensure your interactions are not always business-focused. Learn about their interests, congratulate them on personal achievements, and be there during challenging times. 📚 Recommend Books: If you've come across insightful books (including ones you've written), recommend them. It's a subtle way to showcase your expertise and share knowledge. 🎉 Events and Reunions: Consider organizing or attending reunion events for convention attendees. It's a way to rekindle connections and stay updated on each other’s progress. Remember: post-convention networking is an art. It requires genuine interest, persistence, and patience. By investing time and effort into nurturing these relationships, you'll not only grow your network but also enrich your professional journey. Remember, it's not about how many contacts you have, but the depth and quality of those connections. #networking #lawyer #success #relationshipbuilding

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep in touch with a mentor or follow up after a networking call, this might be the only guide you'll ever need. 👇🏾 One of the most common questions I get is, "How should I follow up after a networking call?" Here's the playbook: 1️⃣ Say "Thank You" This is a non-negotiable. Pro tip? Do it fast, have some class, don't make asks. ✨ Translation? ↳ Same day, ideally within 60 minutes. ↳ Be specific, concise, and genuine. ↳ Don't ask any questions or for any favors. ↳ Bonus: Use a loom video to make it personal and unforgettable. (it's the "handwritten card" of 2025). 2️⃣ Close the Loop Have you heard of the 99/1 phenomenon? ↳ 99% of the time you have a coffee chat, the other person will mention a book, article, person, or resource to leverage. ↳ Only 1% will do something with this info. 💡 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 1% 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆. 3️⃣ Add Value You can: ↳ Find out what lights them up and help them accelerate toward it ↳ Find out what keeps them up at night and present a solution to it ↳ Amplify their work ↳ Celebrate their milestones ↳ Aggregate existing data or create new data Ultimately, the secret here is no secret at all. Offering real value demonstrates character and builds relational capital. 💰 And you need to have something in the bank before you make a withdrawal. 4️⃣ Give A (Non-Invasive) Update People 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 to see stories of growth. But people 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 to be a part of someone else's growth story. So, what can you do? Share a quick update on your recent wins or progress. Pro tip: ↳ Keep it relevant and concise. ↳ Tie it back to their investment in you, if relevant. 5️⃣ Make An Ask This comes last for a reason. ↳ Only make an ask after you’ve provided value. ↳ Timing and reciprocity are everything. ↳ When you're done, you're back to #1. Rinse and repeat. ---- Great follow-ups aren’t about pestering—they’re about adding value, showing you care, and staying unforgettable. Master these tactics and watch your relationships transform, forever. 🌱 What’s your favorite follow-up move that I forgot? Drop it below! 👇🏾 ---------------- ♻️ Repost to finally give the blueprint to active job seekers and networkers in your community! 🔔 Follow 🔥 Chauncey Nartey, SHRM-SCP, ACC to stay on the cutting edge of modern career wisdom.

My Guide to High-ROI Networking in 2026 (I Logged 2,345 Networking Activities in the Past 365 Days) Before anything else, let’s define terms. A “networking activity” is not: • Collecting LinkedIn connections • Spraying cold DMs • Awkward coffee chats with no follow-up A networking activity is: Any intentional interaction where a real relationship is built, strengthened, or advanced. That includes: • 1:1 calls • Thoughtful DMs • Reconnecting with former coworkers • Following up after a post or comment • Helping someone without expecting anything back Over the past year, I tracked 2,345 of these interactions. Not to flex…but to learn what actually compounds. Here’s what worked. And what I’ll keep doing in 2026. 1/ I optimized for trust, not reach ↳ I’d rather have 5 people who’d take my call instantly ↳ Than 500 who vaguely recognize my name ↳ Real opportunities come from warm relationships 2/ I treated follow-up as the real work ↳ Anyone can have a good call ↳ Very few people send the follow-up note, share the resource, or check back in ↳ That’s where trust compounds 3/ I never showed up without context ↳ “Would love to connect” is lazy ↳ I always anchored outreach in why: “Saw your post on X..:had a similar experience at Y” ↳ People respond to relevance, not volume 4/ I gave before I asked…every time ↳ Intros ↳ Feedback ↳ Sharing an opportunity ↳ Reviewing a resume ↳ Networking accelerates when it’s not transactional 5/ I stopped trying to be impressive ↳ No polished pitch ↳ No resume-walking ↳ Just curiosity and honesty ↳ “Here’s what I’m building” beats “Here’s why I’m great” 6/ I kept relationships alive between moments of need ↳ Promotions ↳ Job changes ↳ Big launches ↳ I checked in during the quiet times ↳ That’s when relationships become durable 7/ I tracked relationships…not just activities ↳ Who do I want to stay in touch with quarterly? ↳ Who do I owe a follow-up to? ↳ Who did I say I’d help? ↳ Organization turns networking into a system, not a scramble Here’s the biggest takeaway: High-ROI networking doesn’t feel like networking. It feels like being a decent, consistent human over time. That’s what I’ll keep doubling down on in 2026. 📬 I write weekly about careers, leverage, and long-term growth in The Weekly Sync: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6qAwEFc What’s one relationship you should probably invest in before you need it?

How to Follow Up with Buyers Without Being Annoying Stop “just checking in” This is the fastest way to get ignored. If your email says: “Just checking in…” You’ve given them no reason to respond. 👉 Every follow up needs a purpose. Add value every time Buyers are busy. If you’re not helping, you’re noise. Good follow ups include: New retail placement or velocity update Updated packaging or pricing Promo plan or launch support Category insight or trend 👉 Make it about them, not you. Be short and direct Long emails get skipped. Structure: 1 sentence reminder 1 clear update or value add 1 simple ask That’s it. Give them something to react to Don’t ask open-ended questions like: “Let me know your thoughts” Instead: “Would this fit your Q3 reset?” “Open to a 10 store test?” “Does this align with your private label strategy?” 👉 Specific > vague. Timing matters more than you think Most brands either: Follow up too much too fast Or disappear for months Better cadence: 2–3 days after meeting 7–10 days later Every 2–3 weeks with value 👉 Consistent, not desperate. Use multiple touchpoints Email alone isn’t enough anymore. Mix in: LinkedIn engagement Quick DM Commenting on their posts 👉 Familiarity builds trust. Don’t take silence personally No response doesn’t mean no. It usually means: Busy Not now Not enough reason yet 👉 Stay in front of them without forcing it. Know when to reset the conversation If you’ve followed up 4–5 times with no response… Change the angle. Try: New data New offer New channel Or ask if timing is wrong 👉 Same message over and over = ignored. The Reality Deals don’t happen in the first meeting. They happen in the follow up. Most brands quit right before it would have worked. CPG X

90% believe this one lie that burns their valuable time: Posting alone is enough to generate inbound leads. The truth? Posting daily is powerful—but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. To turn attention into actual leads, you need content and strategic engagement. Here’s how to supercharge your efforts: 1) Personalized connection requests Don’t just hit “connect.” Mention their business, a recent post, or shared interest. Example: "Hey [Name], I saw your post on [topic]. It resonated because [reason]. Curious—how did you get started with [topic]?" 2) Engage meaningfully Your posts get seen—but your comments build relationships. Go beyond “Great post!” Share insights or ask thoughtful questions. 3) Send LinkedIn voice notes Stand out with a 30-second voice DM. Make it personal and ask a simple question. 4) Use polls to warm up leads Polls = engagement + DM fuel. After it ends, message voters: "Hey [Name], saw you voted for [option]. What’s been your biggest challenge with that?" 5) Comment where your clients hang out Engage on influencer posts your audience follows. You’ll boost visibility and authority. 6) Message profile viewers If they checked you out, they’re curious. Send: "Hey [Name], saw you visited my profile—anything specific catch your eye?" 7) Host a short virtual event A 30-minute Q&A or workshop shows authority and creates follow-up chances. Invite 5–10 prospects. Keep it interactive. 8) Share helpful resources No sales pitch—just solve a problem. Send guides, tools, or tips that hit their pain points. 9) Use LinkedIn stories Great for quick wins and behind-the-scenes. End with: “DM me if this resonates.” 10) Follow up with the 3-5-7 Rule • 3 days → Check if they saw your message • 5 days → Send a light check-in • 7 days → Final, casual follow-up Daily posting builds visibility. Engagement turns it into conversations. Want a system that turns content into clients? DM me LEADS and let’s talk. Thanks for reading. If this helped, follow Connor Bell and share it with someone who needs to see it.

Tired of sending DMs to hiring managers and getting ignored? It’s not that people don’t want to help. It’s that your approach is transactional. Here’s how to network for real - without being pushy or awkward: 🔁 STEP 1: Warm Them Up Don’t start with a message. Start with presence. → Follow them on LinkedIn. → Comment thoughtfully on 2–3 of their recent posts. → Like or re-share their content with your own takeaway. People notice patterns. You want them to recognize your name before you ever hit send. 💬 STEP 2: Send a Human Message After a week or two, try this: > “Hi [Name], I’ve been following your content and love your perspective. I especially liked your post on [insert topic]. > I’m exploring opportunities in [industry/role] and would love to ask you a few quick questions about your journey at [Company]. > If you’re open to it, I’d be grateful.” No pitch. No resume. No “Can you refer me?” Just curiosity and respect. 👂 STEP 3: Ask Better Questions If they’re kind enough to say yes, don’t waste it. Ask things like: → “What surprised you most when you started at [Company]?” → “What would you focus on if you were entering this industry today?” → “What do you wish candidates knew before applying here?” This shows them you’re thoughtful - not desperate. ✅ STEP 4: Follow Up Like a Pro → Thank them. Be specific. → Wait a few days. → Then, if it feels right, say: “If a role opens up that seems like a fit, would you be open to passing my resume along?” It’s warm. It’s earned. It works. Real networking doesn’t start with a message. It starts with showing up. Now let’s get you that job.

Most founders follow up too much. Or not enough. Here's the sweet spot (so you can 3x your response rates) First, 85% of follow-ups fail because of: • Generic "just checking in" DMs • Following up daily (desperate energy) • Copy-pasting the same message • Giving up after 1-2 attempts Most investor DMs get deleted or forgotten after 15 seconds. It’s just the way it is... Follow-up solution: The 3-7-14 method: If your first message gets ghosted, wait 3 days. Then launch this sequence. DAY 3: Share Relevant Industry Insights "Saw this analysis of AI startups' unit economics. Reminded me of (relevant application) ... " No response to that? Bide your time until 7 days after the initial message. DAY 7: Offer Specific Value: "Saw your recent post about enterprise sales. We’ve interviewed 5 CIOs this week. Here are 3 surprising findings..." If you hear crickets after this, don’t stress. Give it another week. Then slide in with an update: DAY 14: Update On Progress: "Since our first message, we've (Specific Outcome Unlocked) and signed XYZ client. Still interested in connecting?" You can use a simple tracking table and create specific follow-up templates in a tool like Notion to track this. No need to go overboard. Tips to run this strategy smoothly: • Add calendar reminders for each follow-up • Track response rates by message type • Follow their social media for conversation starters • Give without asking for anything If you don’t hear back after this, give it two weeks, then circle back with another update. Benefits of the 3-7-14 method: • Non-pushy relationship development • Regular investor feedback loop • Top-of-mind positioning • Stronger network over time Persistence without pestering is an art. The difference between funded and ghosted often comes down to follow-up strategy. Make yours count. ____________________________ Hi, I’m Richard Stroupe, a 3x Entrepreneur, and Venture Capital Investor I help early-stage tech founders turn their startups into VC magnets

Tired of your networking introductions going nowhere? You send an email connecting two people who should meet… and then? Crickets. 🦗 You're not doing it wrong—you’re just doing it the lazy way. Here’s the deal: inboxes are a war zone—full of spam, promos, and chaos. If you casually toss an intro over the fence, it will get buried. Example of a dead-end intro: “Hey Larry, meet my friend Dennis. You two should talk. Go make magic happen!” No context. No value. No action. If you really want to make powerful, outcome-producing connections, here’s the playbook I’ve refined over 20+ years: 1. Know who’s who. Decide who benefits most (the beneficiary) and who’s the generous connector (the benefactor). This gives your intro purpose. 2. Prep the benefactor. Before firing off the email, call or text the benefactor. Give them a quick, compelling reason why the intro is worth their time. 3. Send the intro with intent. Subject line: Introducing Dennis to Larry to connect about [topic] In the body: - Pitch why they should meet. - Sell each other's value. Include LinkedIn links. - Keep it short, relevant, and motivating. 4. Coach the beneficiary right after you hit Send. Make sure they respond quickly, keep it brief, and propose a call or meeting within the week. 5. Follow up. Text the benefactor to say the intro email is in their Inbox. If the connection is important, follow up a week later. If the beneficiary hasn't responded, remind them that you are doing a favor and they need to follow up! Done right, this approach works. Not every intro will convert, but your hit rate will skyrocket—and your reputation as a SuperConnector will grow. As I wrote in Love is the Killer App: 💡 “Your network is your net worth. And it grows as you share it intelligently with others to promote their success.” Let’s raise the bar on how we connect people.