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Keeping in touch with business contacts after your initial encounter is extremely important. This is important even if you have had a follow up conversation and decided that your new contact may not prove to be immediately beneficial. It's never really wise to just "write the person off", especially when there is always the chance that circumstances or fate will cause this seemingly insignificant union to suddenly be vital. Instead of focusing on the many possible negative outcomes of not keeping in touch, let's consider 3 important reasons to continue the lines of communication with even the most unimportant connections.
To start with, on the "Pro" side, I would point out that as said earlier, there is always the fact that a twist of fate or a circumstance like, a career or job change may put you directly in front of a contact. What if this person is a new team member or even your boss? Having kept reasonably good rapport can contribute to a very favorable situation. Of course, the above example may not seem like a possibility at this time and in fact, may even seem ludicrous but I'm merely suggesting to be open minded about the possibilities. You never know who someone may know and therefore the ridiculous could become reality without warning.
Second, consider that you may need expert advice and have no-one you are able to immediately trust to provide it. If you have ever been in a similar bind or situation like meeting a deadline or even locating a good surgeon, you can understand the significance of an individual seeming to come to the rescue by providing a valuable resource when the situation arises. How relieved and surprised are you, not only when it comes, but where it came from?
Likewise, how many times where you able to provide something of value to a "friend in need"? To you it may have not been a big deal because it is the norm in your life to have access to something that literally saved someone's job, business, or maybe even life. Plus, did you take note to how thankful your friend or colleague was to have received your assistance?.
Third and lastly, you will, through time, realize that your network of real contacts has really grown beyond what you could ever have expected and that's going to result in strong business and personal relationships, being respected as a valuable resource to others, guaranteeing a certain bright future, broadening career opportunities, only being one person away from answering an important question, and I could go on. In addition and even on top of that,you can take time now to check your list of connections and send them all a quick "How's everything been going?" email or even a phone call just to let them know you're still here and available. All of them won't reply just as you may not reply to every email you get from a vague past relationship but those that do will be readily open for a continuation of communication.
Within all of the above info lies a pretty good set of reasons in favor of staying in touch with your contacts. What do You think? Think about this seriously for just a moment. Perhaps you really, in all seriousness, should keep those lines of communications open for a rainy day or perhaps providing some sunshine to those in the rain.
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About this Author
John H. Lee (JohnTheNetworker) is a Lead Generation Specialist, Host, and Consultant, of professional and social events in the Greater Philadelphia Area, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.
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