Following an initial meeting, staying in touch without appearing intrusive is essential to building trust and maintaining a prospect’s interest. This strategy, known as the **Post First Meeting Strategy**, helps agencies maintain a professional connection without seeming overly persistent. Here’s a practical checklist that many agencies find useful to nurture relationships and stay on a client’s radar if no immediate opportunity is available.
1. Send a Thank-You Email
Within a day of the initial meeting, send a courteous thank-you email to show your appreciation. Reiterate key points from the conversation, confirm any agreed-upon next steps, and provide timelines if applicable. This message reinforces your professionalism and respect for their time.
2. Connect on LinkedIn
A LinkedIn connection is a natural next step. Send a personalized request, and if they accept, consider suggesting a relevant industry group that you’re both part of. Avoid recommending an agency-centered group; instead, focus on one tied to their industry. This gesture strengthens your connection without being too forward and establishes you as a valuable network contact.
3. Follow Their Brand on X
If the prospect’s brand is active on X, follow them both personally and from your agency’s account. Engaging with their brand’s tweets when appropriate shows your interest and keeps you informed of their latest news and industry thoughts. This is a simple, non-intrusive way to stay connected.
4. Monitor Their Personal Twitter Account Discreetly
If you find their personal Twitter profile, avoid following them directly, as this can seem intrusive. Instead, add their Twitter handle to your CRM or use another tool to track their updates discreetly. This allows you to stay in tune with their interests and engage in meaningful, relevant ways without overstepping boundaries.
5. Invest in a CRM System
A CRM system is invaluable for tracking communication and personalizing your outreach thereby maintaining a prospects interest. By centralizing contact details, social handles, and interaction histories, a CRM helps ensure that each follow-up feels thoughtful and well-timed rather than automated. Many agencies consider a CRM system indispensable for ongoing relationship management.
6. Follow Their Brand on Facebook
If they have a brand presence on Facebook, follow or like the page personally. This lets you see their latest posts and comment if there’s an opportunity. Engaging with the brand shows your interest, providing a subtle way to stay on their radar.
7. Set Up News Alerts
Setting up new alerts for their brand name is an excellent way to stay informed. When they’re mentioned in news articles or blogs, you’ll receive alerts and can then reach out with a quick note, “Did you see this article?” Adding a comment or thought on the topic demonstrates your awareness and engagement with their industry.
8. Send Relevant Case Studies
From time to time, send over case studies that may align with their interests or challenges. Include a brief note explaining why you believe the case study could be relevant to them. This not only provides useful information but also shows you’re actively thinking about their business.
9. Consistency in Contact
It’s crucial that any follow-up communication comes from someone who attended the initial meeting. Consistency sends a message of commitment and respect for their business. It also avoids giving the impression that your agency isn’t invested in maintaining the relationship.
10. Integrate Social and New Business Strategies
Finally, ensure that your social media and new business outreach strategies are aligned. Consistency across platforms strengthens your agency’s image and makes it easy for clients to engage in ways that feel natural.
This checklist covers practical steps for effective post-meeting engagement and demonstrates a commitment to relationship-building and maintaining a prospects interest. These strategies are part of a larger approach we use to help agencies maintain professional, productive client connections that can lead to long-term partnerships.
