How soon should I follow up after a networking event?

Within 24 hours is ideal, while you're both still fresh in each other's minds. A month later feels like an afterthought.

Is it pushy to follow up with someone I only met once?

Not when the note is about them. A short message that remembers what they said and offers something useful feels thoughtful. Pushy is a pitch nobody asked for.

What if they don't reply?

Send one friendly nudge around day seven, then let it rest. People get busy. Add a check-in date and say hi at the next event.

Do I need special software to keep track of event contacts?

No. A notebook or a simple spreadsheet is enough. What matters is that every card lands in one place with a next step and a date.

How Do I Follow Up After a Networking Event So It Turns Into Business?

That stack of business cards from the last mixer is a stack of half-finished conversations. Here's a kind, simple routine for finishing them.

By Evan Kwan