Follow-Up Strategies After Events

Someone said "You should teach a transition class at events like these" while at the Air & Space Forces Association annual event in DC yesterday I explained that I have done that before...but attendance at these major events typically fell into 2x buckets: 1 - many of the senior leaders attending weren't even thinking about their transition, so they focused on talking with friends, attending events & industry engagement 2 - the ones in their transition window were hell-bent focused on "finding a job" by going to pitch themselves to every major defense contractor in attendance #quinnsights Going to these booths and saying "I'm the ...." doesn't tell them anything about what you want or can do Companies don't come to these major events to hire (they come to sell and form partnerships) And that events like these (AFA & AUSA) don't typically "get you a job" They give you an entry point (someone to speak to & maybe build a relationship) #militarytransition But the key to every event is FOLLOW UP What should you do? 1 - connect with them on LinkedIn every time Show them your QR code right there and wait for their connection request to come through (sneaky way to ensure they do) 2 - Go into My Network each night and look at your newest connections They are organized chronologically, so they will all be people from the event 3 - Send them a quick note on LinkedIn saying how great it was to meet them at (insert event name) and that you would love to stay in touch for advice This locks in that you met face-to-face in their Inbox...always leaving a reminder there in case either side reaches out (not a cold pitch) 4 - Make a networking spreadsheet that tracks the people you met AND who responded For the ones that responded, asked some simple questions or for a short advice phone call, if appropriate For the ones that didn't - send an additional follow up message one week later to thank them again and add a short easy question (they'll be back from the event & likely have more time) #militarytransition Once you get to the calls, ask questions to learn and listen more than talk to find your success Questions? Is there anything you would add? And will I see you at the AUSA Fireside Chat/Transition Panel on Tuesday Oct 15 from 1300-1500 in Rm 147A/B in the Washington Convention Center?

Event Season Insights: How to Elevate Your Follow-Up Game 🚀 I'm back from an incredible week at SaaStr and there's something I couldn't help but notice 👀 Many companies are missing a golden opportunity when it comes to event follow-ups Too often it's just a race to scan badges, hand out swag, and move on. But here's the thing Sending out templated, soulless emails saying "Hey, I saw you at our booth" just doesn't cut it. It's like sending a message that screams I don't remember you but I have to do this 🙅♂️ So here's a game-changer for your event strategy 🔑 Don't just scan badges; connect and build relationships. Find 1 to 3 unique things about each person you meet. It could be their goals, their thoughts on the event, or anything else that sparks a real conversation. For example I met Tom at our booth. Instead of just scanning his badge, I had a chat with him. I learned about his goals, his event experience, and even what kind of swag he liked. Then I made sure to jot this down in our CRM. Fast forward to the follow-up I could reach out to Tom and say, "Hey Tom, great meeting you at the booth. Sarah mentioned you were interested in XYZ. By the way, hope you liked those awesome socks! 😉 This approach isn't about sending hundreds of templated emails and hoping for the best. It's about personalizing your follow-up and showing that you care. 🤝 It's time to change the game. Next time you're at an event remember It's not about collecting names. It's about making meaningful connections. Drop a 👋 if you're ready to level up your event follow-up game! And if you are at Dreamforce come say Hi! I'm here! It's my 1st one lets go 💪😎

Most people completely waste their networking efforts the moment they leave an event. I watch professionals collect business cards like trophies, then let those connections die in their LinkedIn requests folder. That's not networking - that's contact hoarding. The real networking magic happens in the 24-48 hours after the event ends. Here's how to actually convert those conversations into valuable relationships: 1. Personalized outreach within 24 hours - Reference specific conversation details, not generic "nice meeting you" messages. Stand out among the dozen other people they met. 2. Strategic LinkedIn connections - Include context about where you met and what you discussed. Transform anonymous invitations into meaningful relationship foundations. 3. Value-added follow-through - Share relevant articles, resources, or introductions that address what they mentioned. Show you were actually listening and can provide value. 4. Propose concrete next steps - Coffee meetings, collaboration opportunities, strategic introductions. Strike while the event momentum is hot. 5. Document everything - Record their professional goals, current challenges, and collaboration opportunities. This enables strategic relationship development over time. Here's what most people get wrong: they treat networking like contact collection instead of relationship building. The goal isn't a bigger contact list - it's developing professionals who proactively support each other's success. Stop collecting business cards and start building actual relationships. Your future self will thank you. What post-networking strategies have you found most effective for converting event meetings into valuable professional relationships? Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/3yrck #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #networking #relationshipbuilding #professionalnetworking #careerstrategist

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

Ever had a great first meeting, only to watch the relationship fizzle out? You're not alone. Here are some resources for follow-up success: 1. The 24-Hour Thank-You Blitz Send a personalized note within 24 hours of your meeting. Reference specific points from your conversation to show you were paying attention. Subtly hint at future engagement without being pushy. 2. The Value Bomb (Week 1) Within the first week, share something relevant to their interests. This could be an article, event invitation, or impact story. The key is to prove you listened and care about their passions. No ask here, just pure value. 3. The Engagement Invitation (Weeks 2-3) A few weeks in, invite them to experience your mission firsthand. Think site visits, volunteer opportunities, or exclusive events. The focus should be on involvement, not money. 4. The Impact Showcase (1 Month Mark) At the one-month mark, share a specific story of your work in action. Connect it to the interests they expressed during your meeting. This is your chance to show how supporters like them make real change happen. 5. The "Round Two" Proposition (6 Weeks Post-Meeting) Around six weeks after your first meeting, suggest a follow-up conversation. Frame it as an opportunity to share updates and seek their input. Offer specific meeting options to make it easy for them to say yes. Remember: Every interaction is a chance to deepen the connection. Keep it donor-centric, valuable, and personal. P.S. What was your longest every follow-up attempt that ended in a gift?

It's event season. And we as vendors want to get those prospects talking to us, but remember they have trauma from past events... So stop treating event attendees like Leads. Start treating them like people with trauma. Your prospects haven't forgotten being treated like walking badges to be scanned. They remember every empty promise, every salesperson who talked over them, and every "personalized" follow-up that proved you weren't listening. This isn't just annoying to them, it's a breach of professional trust that makes your brand instantly forgettable in a sea of competition. How I have borken the cycle: 𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: • Start by asking about THEIR specific challenge • Really listen to their problems vs jumping in with solutions • Ask what would the impact be to the business/them if the problem is solved • Share a takeaway resource they can use tomorrow, whether they buy from you or not    𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁: •  Follow with specific challenge & language they mentioned when they stopped by • Provide content that helps them see how their world would be if they solved their problem • Share assets that highlight how peers/influencers/thought leaders are thinking about the space • Focus on expanding and delivering value, not starting the sales process It's about consistently demonstrating value and respecting their experience. This takes you from "another vendor" into a trusted resource they WANT to engage with long after the conference ends.

Here’s how we built more pipeline from Saastr and Dreamforce with a GA ticket (or sometimes even no ticket) vs. some companies that paid $50k+ for booths. Rule #1: The rule of thirds I used to approach conferences with the sole goal of building pipeline. I was stressed and in the wrong mindset, which led to transactional conversations. People want to have authentic conversations without a premeditated agenda. I now believe conversations should roughly split into the following buckets: 1) Business problems and whether Bluebirds might be helpful. This is what leads to pipeline in the near-term. 2) Talking about where the market is going (e.g. AI and sales). This is usually with C-Suite (it’s often why they’re attending the conference) and on-the-ground employees like AEs or BDRs. 3) Swapping notes on company building. This is primarily with other founders, and it’s a fantastic way to meet and learn from experienced builders. The important thing is to let go of every conversation being about pipeline. I usually don’t bring up Bluebirds unless asked. Don’t be that person who hyper-analyzes name-tags to corner decision makers. Focus on learning and great conversations, and pipeline will follow. Rule #2: 80% of the game is in the side events This one is counter-intuitive — the actual event is usually the least interesting part of a conference. Most reputable conferences have a cottage-industry of happy hours, brunches, dinners, etc. hosted by companies in the space. They’re free to attend and you just need to track down lists of these events (they always exist) and sign up. Side events have more focused groups of people (e.g. a brunch for CMOs), so it’s easier to meet people and have high quality conversations. Rule #3: It’s all in the follow up Last year, I struggled to stay organized with conversations and track follow up. When you’re meeting 20 people a day, it’s tough to remember what was discussed with each person. Now, after a great conversation I always ask to connect on LinkedIn. Have them connect with you (not the other way around) so you can accept their connection request one day later and immediately follow up via LinkedIn DMs. If I felt like they’re leaning into Bluebirds and we can be helpful, I’ll ask to pull up calendars and schedule time for a follow up right there, or exchange phone numbers. If your follow up takes more than 24 hours after meeting, or you’re unable to get ahold of someone, your process is broken and you should re-think your approach to staying in touch. These 3 changes made a huge impact to my experience at conferences, how much fun I have, and building pipeline. Anyone else at Saastr / Dreamforce have advice or tips they’ve learned? Sriharsha Guduguntla Atul Raghunathan Oliver Johnson Albert Wang Zaid Khan Max Clang Avishek Roy

Over the past year, I’ve spent hundreds of hours with women's communities and networks across the U.S. My key take-aways: 💚 Mission-driven. 💲 Underfunded. 🛠️ Doing too much with too little. The passion is not the problem. It’s the lack of structure, systems, and digital support behind the scenes.These leaders are running on duct tape and late nights.They’re juggling spreadsheets, Slack channels, registration links, reminders, emails, and engagement metrics — manually. Limited data, limited insights. And AI? Feels like a buzzword without clear tangible applications. That’s why I’m starting this series: 🔹 Short 🔹 Clear 🔹 Actionable tech tips for women’s orgs. No hype. No jargon. Just one useful shift at a time. Because if we’re going to change outcomes, we have to start by lightening the load. 🔧 Today’s Tip: Post-Event Follow-Up Without the Burnout You hosted the event. You showed up, moderated, answered questions, gave everything. And now? You’re staring at the Zoom recording… dreading the recap email. You don't want to lose momentum because the event landed and want to make sure the follow-through does not get buried under everything else. This is where AI can quietly save hours. 💡 Try this with your transcript: If your event platform gave you a transcript (Zoom, Otter, Descript, etc.), use this prompt in ChatGPT (or any other AI tool you like): “I’m pasting a raw transcript from a community event. Please do the following: Remove timestamps, speaker names, and filler phrases (like ‘you’re on mute’) Keep only the real discussion/insight moments Summarize into 2–3 takeaways Write a short, warm follow-up email to attendees” [Insert your transcript excerpt here — ideally 500–1500 words] No rewatching. No rewriting from scratch. Just tweak and send. 🧠 Good follow-up is a growth strategy — not just a nice-to-have. And this is one place where AI can truly take something off your plate. #AIForCommunity #DigitalTools #WomenInLeadership #NonprofitOps #CommunityStrategy

Feedback is a loop, but we often keep it open-ended. Closing the loop is more than a simple "thank you for giving me the feedback." That's merely a dead end. Feedback isn't an event, it should be an ongoing partnership for growth. How do you make that happen? By applying feedback and following up with this three step process: Step 1: Change the way you ask for feedback. Instead of simply asking "what feedback do you have," get more specific in what you're asking for up front, so you can focus the other person's attention to what you need (e.g. I'd really like your feedback on the overall flow of that presentation and what made it easy or difficult to absorb). Then look for the one thing you can take and apply. This approach makes it easier to get valuable, actionable feedback, even if there are elements you disagree with. Step 2: Proactively set a date to action on the feedback and even follow up. When can you implement a first step? How will you re-connect to provide an update? Discuss that plan with the other person. Step 3: When that date hits, share the following: "Because of your feedback, I did x, and this is what I've observed as a result. What have you noticed?" We leave conversations unfinished and open-ended every single day, like strands of string dangling everywhere. It's time to start creating loops - professionally and personally. #ignitedbyjordana #feedback #leadership #communication #closetheloop

Shoptalk Spring is right around the corner, and there are a LOT of side events happening. Allocate part of your budget to what happens 4 weeks following the event. Tips below 👇 Personalized "Value Recap" Emails (Within 48 Hours):Don't just send a generic "thanks for attending." Segment the attendees based on their role/industry (if possible) and tailor a brief email recapping specific insights or takeaways they would find most valuable from the event. Be personal: "It was great speaking with you about [specific topic]. I especially thought you'd find our discussion on [specific event point] relevant to your challenges with [their pain point]." Invest here - Include a short video recap of the event, or a highlight reel. "Problem-Solving" Content Offer (Within 1 Week):Create a piece of content (e.g., a short white paper, a checklist, a webinar recording) that directly addresses a common pain point discussed at the event. If you film some of the event, people will often watch, even if just to see if they are in it! Instead of a hard sell, position a valuable resource: "Following our discussion at the event, we've put together a resource that dives deeper into [topic]. You can download it here." This content offer should be gated, so that you can gather more indepth information about the prospect. "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) Follow-Up Session (2 Weeks):Host a virtual "Ask Me Anything" session with a subject matter expert from your team. Invite the attendees to submit questions in advance or during the session. This provides a platform for deeper engagement and allows you to address specific concerns. Record the AMA and send the recording to all of the attendees, and those who could not attend. Personalized "Industry Insights" LinkedIn Messages (Ongoing):Connect with the attendees on LinkedIn and send personalized messages sharing relevant industry articles, reports, or blog posts. Focus on providing value and demonstrating your expertise: "I came across this article on [topic] and thought it might be of interest to you, given our discussion at the event." "Exclusive Invitation" to a Small Group Discussion (1 Month):Invite a small, targeted group of your most engaged prospects to an exclusive, intimate discussion with a senior leader at your company. This could be a virtual roundtable or a small in-person gathering. Position it as a unique opportunity to gain insights and network with peers. This small group should be selected based on their engagement with the previous follow up communications.