Conferences don’t end on the flight home.
You’ve survived all the PowerPoint slides, the receptions, and even the red-eye home…
Now comes the part most people skip, but it makes ALL the difference.
Too many treasurers go back to the office, dive into their inbox, and let the conference fade away.
So, all that time, money, and effort? Wasted.
It’s no good meeting new people if you only see them once a year, always at the same conference.
That’s not enough to build a relationship.
Here’s what you should do…
My post-conference checklist:
- Follow up. Fast. Within a week, you should be reaching out to your new connections. Just send a quick note: “Great to meet you at AFP, really enjoyed our chat about X.” Then…
- Add value. Share an article, recap a session, or connect them with someone useful. Relationships grow when you give, not just take.
- Reflect and apply. Pick one idea from the conference and take it back to your team to try. Even if it gives you just a small win, it can make the trip worth it.
- Compound your network. Think compound interest. Networking grows the same way. Keep building the relationship with those new connections, and they can introduce you to even more.
- Pay it forward. At the next conference, be the person who makes a newcomer feel welcome. After all, you never know what they might go on to achieve.
Conferences don’t end on the flight home. The real magic is in the connections you keep alive afterwards.
👉 Want a step-by-step way to follow through after every event? Get my free Post-Conference Checklist – it’ll help you turn new contacts into lasting relationships.
So block an hour out in your calendar the next week to follow up properly. Because the people you meet at these events could be the ones opening the door for you in the future.
Best regards,
Mike
P.S. All of this conference advice came from an amazing conversation I had with Nicole Meyer and Summa Simmons this time last year. You can listen to that here.
