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Imagine you’re at a networking event and meet someone interesting. You chat for about ten minutes; the conversation feels easy. You both smile and exchange names. After that, you go your separate ways.

A day passes. You think about reaching out, maybe even opening LinkedIn, but then hesitate. Has too much time passed? You wonder if they even remember you, since they meet so many people at these events. Why would your conversation stand out?

So, you decide not to send a message.

Three months later, you hear that someone else from that event got an opportunity from the person you spoke with. You wonder why it wasn’t you, even though your conversation went well too. It wasn’t about the conversation itself. The difference was that you didn’t send a follow-up message.

So, what is a 24-hour follow-up? A follow-up is a short message you send within 24 hours of meeting someone. It mentions something specific from your conversation. You’re not asking for anything—just letting them know, "I remember you, I listened, and I valued our conversation." That’s it.

Many people think networking is just about collecting as many contacts as possible, like gathering business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. They believe that if they meet enough people, something will eventually work out.

But that’s not how it works in Canada. Trust is built one person at a time. You have a conversation, then you follow up. When you do, people start to see you as genuine—someone who keeps their word and remembers them.

Here’s what usually happens after you meet someone at an event: in the moment, the conversation feels important, and you’re both interested. But once you part ways, they get back to work, talk to others, and your conversation starts to fade from memory.

But if you send a message within 24 hours that mentions something specific you talked about, it stands out. Instead of a generic 'It was nice meeting you,' say something real, like: 'I appreciated hearing about your approach to hiring newcomers.'

What happens then? You remind them of your conversation and show that it mattered to you. You’re sending a signal that you pay attention and keep your word. Most people don’t do this. So if you do, you’ll stand out.

I hear this all the time in my workshops. After events, people come back excited about great conversations. But then nothing happens. They tell me, "I'm not sure it's appropriate to get in touch," or "It's been too long," or "I don't want to trouble them."

I think the real issue is that many people believe one conversation is enough. I also see people overthinking the message. They think it needs to be long, formal, or ask for something. Because of this, they end up doing nothing, feeling like a short message isn’t enough.

But a message sent within 24 hours is just right. It doesn’t ask for anything—it simply shows that the conversation mattered to you. Because so few people do this, you’ll stand out if you do.

After a networking event: “Hi Marcus, I really enjoyed our conversation about project management. Thank you for explaining how your team approaches client communication. I’d love to stay in touch.”

After meeting someone through a mutual connection: “Hi Sarah, it was nice at last to meet you. I enjoyed learning about your work in real estate development, and I'm looking forward to following it.”

Notice what these people don’t do? They don’t ask for coffee, a job, or say, "Can I pick your brain?" Instead, it shows they listened, remembered, and want to stay connected.

After a job interview, you’re probably one of five or ten candidates. Everyone has similar qualifications, and the hiring manager has interviewed each of you. So what makes the difference?

Often, it’s the person who sends a follow-up message—not someone who asks, "Have you made up your mind yet?" but someone who shows the conversation mattered to them. Your message should mention something from your interview, like a project or challenge they discussed, and explain why you’re excited about the job.

Keep it short—under 150 words—and send it within 24 hours. The hiring manager will remember the candidate who followed up after the interview—the one who listened and cared enough to acknowledge the conversation.

So, write the message. Send it within 24 hours. Make it personal, keep it short, and send it within 24 hours. Also, don’t overthink it.