The issue isn’t volume—it’s memory
You can have 200 or 2,000 contacts: without context (where, why, next step), every message feels cold. Start with one rule: one context line per meaningful meeting, captured within minutes.
Three layers: identity, relationship, action
- Identity: who, which company, preferred channel.
- Relationship: topic, interest level, verbal promises.
- Action: what to send or propose, when—with a reminder.
Qualify without becoming an admin
Three buckets at first: hot (short action), warm (find an angle), keep (revisit later). 5×5 matrices come later; after a show, your enemy is analysis paralysis.
Tools: one living system of record
Cards, notebooks, WhatsApp, and three Excel exports don’t coexist—pick one place where active contacts live. Other channels are temporary inboxes you drain weekly into that system.
Measure what matters early
Skip pretend ROI at the start. Count relevant messages sent, replies, meetings. Those three prove the system works before you add fancy reporting.
FAQ
Must everything land in corporate CRM immediately?
Not on event day. First don’t lose the thread; sync when the record is stable and useful for others.
How do I handle duplicates?
Pragmatic rule: one person, one record with history; merge when sources collide instead of fragmenting partial entries.