Networking is a roller coaster.  An empty week can quickly fill up or slow down.  Meetings can turn good and bad unexpectedly.   All I know is when I got to Friday, I was dead dog tired.

I made the mistake early on in my search to use Friday afternoon or Saturday to do all of my follow-up – thank you notes, etc.    I was doing this work when I needed a break.

Carve out time specific points in the week to do your follow-up.   Trust me, it’s easier.

Here is my outline to a follow-up note.

·         Simple thank you and “Here are the follow up items”

·         My follow-up items

·         Their follow-up items

·         Any points of interest or personal connections you made (e.g. you both sail, same school, etc.)

Remember that the e-mail is likely to be read on the blackberry so you need to make sure in the first screen shot they understand the e-mail contains follow up items.

Save the follow-up to funny stories, etc. to the end.   They are important connection points, but not the intent of your e-mail.   The intent is to get your contact to follow up.

We all like to know how a story ends.

The same is true for networking leads.

So let people know who gave you the networking leads how they worked out.

For me, those notes from people saying thanks really make my day.

The added bonus for you:  These notes are about positive connections, so it’s good for the psyche.