Let’s say you just returned from a business related event wherein you had the opportunity to network and meet new contacts.  Now what?  Well, believe it or not, the key to effective global networking after an event is to make contact with those you met.  It’s vital that you make contact as soon as possible with everyone whose card you have. (Incidentally, that’s why it’s more important to get other people’s cards than to give out yours.) Divide the business cards you collected into two groups: those you specifically want to contact for a purpose, and those you simply met.

For the second group, I recommend a quick note, possibly on a postcard, saying how pleased you were to meet them at the conference and you hope you will meet each other again one day. Mail these as soon as possible after the event, and then enter the information in your database.

For the first group, if you said you would call on Tuesday morning make sure you call on Tuesday morning. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? But most people don’t do it, so you will stand out simply because you kept your word. At this point, you can move from networking mode into sales or job search mode, or whatever is appropriate.

Don’t go to all the effort required to meet new people, and then throw away any potential opportunities by ignoring people afterwards. An effective global network is a living, breathing organism. It should grow and change as you do, and if you look after it well, it will look after you for your whole life providing opportunities when you least expect them.