GITEX was a whirlwind – What should I do now to follow up?

GITEX was a behemoth conference that welcomed 6,000 delegates and over 100,000 visitors to Dubai last week. Those who participated found a whirlwind of innovation, tech insights, and networking, but the real magic happens after the event – when you follow up.

If you’re wondering how to turn those connections into new opportunities, here’s a quick guide on best practices after getting home from the investment extravaganza.

The golden rule is don’t wait too long. Ideally, you should reach out within 48 to 72 hours of the event while the conversation is still fresh in everyone’s mind. On the other hand, huge conferences put you together with so many people that follow-up can be a bit different.

Given the amount of time required to attend the conference and then travel back home, folks are pretty waterlogged until midweek with catching up from what they missed, and there’s a decent chance your message will fall into the “respond later” category.

Try to target follow-up for a 10-day window from the end of the conference so the connection is still recent but you haven’t bombarded your new contacts as soon as they are back online. Additionally, put a reminder on your calendar for three days after you’ve sent these notes to ping anyone who hasn’t responded. 

Follow-up Tips

1. Personalize Your Message: Refer to a specific detail from your conversation – whether it’s about their business, a shared interest, or a session you both attended. This makes your follow-up feel more genuine and thoughtful.

2. Keep It Short and Sweet: People are busy so get to the point quickly. Your follow-up should be friendly, clear, and concise. Don’t overwhelm them with too much information at once.

3. Offer Value: When possible, offer something valuable in your message, whether it’s a relevant article, a connection they might benefit from, or simply the next steps for continuing your discussion. Make it about them, not just you.

4. Connect on LinkedIn: If you haven’t already, connect with them on LinkedIn. Send a brief message mentioning where you met and express excitement about staying in touch.

5. Follow Up on Promises: If you promised to send more information, do it. Send the presentation, the additional info, or the proposal as promised. Being reliable goes a long way in building trust.

Email Follow-up Template

Let’s make this easy – here is an email template you can edit to your liking: 

Subject: Great meeting you at GITEX!

Hi [Name],

It was a pleasure meeting you at GITEX! I really enjoyed our chat about [specific topic]. I’d love to explore how we can collaborate further. Let me know if you’re available for a quick call in the next week.

Looking forward to staying connected!

Best,

[Your Name]

Planning for Next Year

GITEX 2025 might seem far away, but the best time to start planning is now! Take notes on what worked this year and what didn’t. Did you attend enough sessions? Did you focus on the right networking opportunities? Start setting your goals for next year based on this experience.

It’s also worth revisiting the connections you made periodically throughout the year. You don’t need to wait until GITEX 2025 to reconnect – check in periodically to see how things are progressing in their world, and you’ll find yourself in a much better position when the next GITEX rolls around.

Remember, successful networking is about nurturing relationships. Your follow-up is where the seeds planted last week at GITEX start to grow.