7 ways to transform contacts into valuable connections
Send Quick Notes: Send brief, friendly check-in emails mentioning recent achievements or something relevant you saw on their LinkedIn. This takes less than three minutes. Utilise Social Media: Engage your contacts in places like LinkedIn by commenting on their posts or sending them relevant posts from others. This helps show genuine interest. Schedule Catch-Ups: Occasionally suggest coffee or a casual meeting (virtual or in-person) without needing something specific to deepen your relationship over time. Share Relevant Content: Send articles or resources that might interest your contacts to show you’re thinking about them (e.g. “Saw this new AI tool you might like…”). Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge significant events in their lives, like promotions, publications, or personal milestones with a simple congratulatory message. Create a Follow-Up System: Use a spreadsheet or CRM tool to track contacts, help you stay organised and maintain consistent communication. Be Authentic and Sincere: Approach networking with genuine curiosity and a desire to help others and your connections are more likely to be mutually beneficial.
This can feel overwhelming, so set an attainable goal of doing this with at least 3 people each week.
Give it a try and let’s see if more opportunities come your way.
Networking isn’t just for when you need something – it’s about building genuine connections.
