13 Mar The Proof is in the Follow Up

I recently attended a business networking event where I was able to meet a few fellow entrepreneurs who were at various stages of building their businesses. Most of the attendees had one common interest, to build their business network. After the event, I was approached by several entrepreneurs who were interested in the services I could provide through Allegoro Communications. There was a free exchange of business cards and sincere, or seemingly “sincere” attempts were made to connect post-event.

The importance of follow-ups in business is not unknown to me. But just how important it is to followup after an event or meeting was further reinforced after this networking event.

As a PR professional, I cannot overstate the importance of follow-ups. It is the smallest thing one can do to build and maintain strong and reliable business connections, especially if you are a fledgling in your field. It is a proof of your sincerity and commitment toward your clients (existing or prospective), it is a show of good faith toward your customers, it shows that you care, and that you value the time the other person spent interacting with you at the event, even if it was just a 2-minute chat. A post-event or post-meeting follow-up email or phone call is not a promise of a profitable alliance. It is a gesture of respect one must have for their peers, which might or might not bear fruits for your business in the future. But it is a sign of your sincerity of purpose.

So the next time you leave a networking event or collect a business card, make sure you follow-up the next day. I can assure you, you will be among the first few the other person calls, when the need arises.

by: Sohini Bhattacharya (Co-Founder & Partner, Allegoro Communications)