Meeting people has never been your problem. Event planners naturally love parties and get-togethers. They’re born with party horns in their mouths. And so, you get your energy fix hobnobbing from event to event.
But before you dash off to your next networking mixer, take time to send follow-up post-networking emails for the one you attended yesterday. Doing so will help you build your NYC event planning biz. And the payoff for all that mingling will be more than a natural high.
Not big on the written word? No worries. We have post-networking email tips and templates to complement your gift of gab.
Quick Rules for Post-Networking Emails
All effective post-networking emails have a few things in common. Think of these as the “best practices” for how to write post-networking emails.
Send Within 48 Hours
Within 24 is best. But if you wait longer than 48 hours to send a post-networking email, you risk getting lost in the mental fog of a busy week.
Reference Your Conversation
You know how it is. Networking events are an endless parade of new faces. Make it easy for your new connection to remember you by referencing a tidbit from your conversation.
Suggest a Next Step
An email that amounts to “hey, it was nice to meet you” won’t plant the seeds for growing the relationship. Instead, suggest a small next step. Choose something you think the connection is likely to agree to, such as:
- Connecting on LinkedIn
- Meeting for coffee
- Making time to further the conversation at the next event
- Informational interview
- Offer to make an introduction
State Your Connection in the Subject
Your subject line will vary slightly depending on what you’re offering or asking for within the email. Make your subject line personable to avoid it looking like spam. And make a connection in a word or two to help the recipient recognize you.
Don’t Go Hard for a Sale
Remember, networking is about building relationships. Think of it as foundational work for your event planning business that will pay off in the future. You’ll give off creepy vibes and sabotage the relationship if you ask for a sale or any other favor that requires trust.
Be Professional, But Personable
It’s a fine line, we know, between being professional and uptight or personable and overly familiar when writing. A good rule of thumb for NYC event planners who are already masters of charm in face-to-face meetings is to write like you talk, but overdo the politeness to make up for the lack of body language.
Post-Networking Email Examples for Event Planners
Even if you know the best practices for post-networking emails, you can still come off as awkward and stiff. Also, if you’re like most extraverts, you excel in face-to-face interactions and prefer to leave the written stuff to your admin. No can do for emails that double as relationship-building slam dunks. They need your personal touch.
No worries, event planner extraordinaire, we have post-networking email templates tailored to common situations. And you have our permission to plagiarize them to your heart’s content.
1. Follow-Up Email With Value Added
These are for those conversations on a topic on which you have something of value, such as a report, a case study, or an introduction. Following up with something of value for the participant is a great way to grow the relationship and boost your personal brand.
Dear [Name],
It was great connecting with you at [insert event name] and learning more about your interest in hosting events that offer cutting-edge AR experiences. As promised, here’s a case study of how our event planning firm handled immersive AR tech for one of our clients. In it, you’ll find insights about how these events can boost your brand as well as the challenges of managing state-of-the-art tech within the event space. We also provide some pointers to avoid common mistakes many event planners make when planning immersive events.
Please let me know, of course, if I can answer any questions for you. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to connecting in the future.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
2. Follow-Up Email to Stay in Touch
Call it a spark. Call it a meeting of the minds. Whatever it was, you sense a potential ride-or-die — or at least a potentially beneficial associate. Cinch a new bestie, er, colleague with this chill email.
Dear [Name],
It was such a pleasure speaking with you at [event name]. I especially enjoyed our conversation about [insert topic], as it seems we have a lot in common in that respect!
I would love to stay in touch. May we connect on LinkedIn?
Best regards,
[Your Name]
3. Follow-Up Opportunity Email After Event Planning Trade Show
Event planning conferences and trade shows are gold mines for leads and connections. Consider these mind-blowing stats from Cvent:
- 93% of exhibitors cite the high quality of leads as the most important benefit of exhibiting.
- 72% of attendees are more likely to buy from trade show exhibitors.
- Trade shows contribute to one-third of a company’s annual sales.
Transform high-quality trade show leads into event planning contracts when you nail the art of the post-networking email follow-up.
Hi [lead’s name],
It was a pleasure meeting you at The Event Planner Expo 2025. I’m so glad that you stopped at our booth and that I had the opportunity to learn more [insert corporate lead] and the event planning challenges your team faces.
I wanted to follow up on our discussion of [insert specific need]. Our event planning firm has quite a bit of experience planning events with that specific goal in mind. For example, you mentioned [insert company]’s previous events haven’t translated into measurable gains for your brand.
With your permission, I’d like to send you a case study that details a corporate event we planned. In it, we go into detail about our process of measuring ROI. I think you’ll find that [insert event planning company] begins the event planning process with quantifiable goals and a common-sense method of measurement. We find that our willingness towards accountability makes it easier to get the C-suite on board.
Please let me know if you’re interested in reviewing the case study. I’d love to answer any questions you have.
Best regards,
[Insert Name]
Find New Connections at The Event Planner Expo 2025
You’ll get plenty of practice sending post-event networking emails after you exhibit at The Event Planner Expo 2025. Thousands will attend, and according to Cvent, almost half of them will be in the final phase of the sales funnel. You can make sure they see you when you become an exhibitor. Reserve your booth today — they’re going fast.
