Without context, your follow-up becomes a cold outreach
If your message doesn’t help the person remember you, it reads like a generic pitch. One tiny habit fixes this: write one context line.
The minimal context note (enough in most cases)
- Where: event name (trade show, meetup, BNI…)
- Why: what you talked about (one sentence)
- Next step: what you’ll do next (send doc / propose 15 min / intro)
3 field tips to capture it fast
- Right after the chat: 10 seconds before you forget.
- On the card: one keyword with a pen.
- Photo + quick voice note: works when you’re on the move.
FAQ
I didn’t take any notes. What now?
Be honest: “Following up after [event], I’m a bit late.” Then propose a simple next step.