If you enjoy networking, you’re already ahead of most business owners.
You show up.
You have conversations.
You build relationships.
That’s the hard part.
| Did you find this content useful? |
|---|
| Sign up for my free Marketing Hints, Tips and Hacks email newsletter every Tuesday at 11am. => Sign up here <= |
But here’s the reality.
That’s not where most of the value comes from.
The Bit Most People Get Wrong
I’ve seen this over and over again.
Someone goes to a networking event. Could be BNI, the Federation of Small Businesses, a local Chamber, or groups like 4Networking or Entrepreneurs Circle.
They have a great morning.
Good conversations. A few solid one-to-ones lined up. A handful of business cards.
They leave thinking:
“I’ll follow up next week.”
Here’s what actually happens.
Next week comes.
You’re busy.
You can’t quite remember who’s who.
And the moment has gone.
It’s not a motivation problem.
It’s a systems problem.
The Hidden Cost of “I’ll Follow Up Later”
Most networkers rely on:
- A stack of business cards
- Notes scribbled somewhere
- Memory
That works, until it doesn’t.
Because the real value in networking is not the first conversation.
It’s what happens after it.
Or more accurately.
What doesn’t happen.
Capture the Contact Properly
This is where HighLevel starts to make a difference.
Instead of putting business cards in your pocket and dealing with them later, you deal with them there and then.
Using the mobile app, you can:
- Scan the business card
- Instantly capture the contact details
- Add notes while the conversation is still fresh
But here’s where it gets more interesting.
HighLevel uses AI, powered by ChatGPT, to help structure and enhance that data.
So instead of just storing a contact, you can start building context around it straight away.
Now Think About This
You’ve just had a good conversation with someone.
They walk away.
What normally happens?
Nothing.
Maybe a call a few days later. Maybe not.
Now compare that to this.
The HighLevel Way With AI Doing the Heavy Lifting
You scan the card.
You tag the contact.
And the system takes over.
- A message goes out while they still remember you
- A follow-up email lands the next day
- They’re added to your pipeline
- You get a reminder to follow up
But it doesn’t stop there.
Using AI, you can:
- Generate personalised follow-up messages in seconds
- Adjust tone and style depending on the contact
- Draft emails based on your notes from the conversation
So instead of staring at a blank screen thinking “what do I say?”, the system gives you a starting point.
A Quick Trade Show Example
If you’ve ever manned a trade show stand, you’ll know this one.
End of the day.
You’ve got a nice stack of business cards.
You go home thinking you’ve had a productive day.
Then the next day you start calling.
And it’s painful.
- People don’t answer unknown numbers
- They don’t remember you
- You spend days chasing
It’s not their fault.
You were just one of many conversations that day.
Now imagine doing it differently.
You’re at the stand. You speak to someone. They hand you their card.
You scan it immediately.
AI helps you draft a quick follow-up based on your notes.
They get a message while the conversation is still fresh.
You follow up the next day with something useful.
Or better still.
You book a call there and then, straight into your calendar, with reminders sent automatically.
That’s a completely different experience.
This Is Where It Gets Interesting
Most people stop at “capture and follow-up”.
But this is where HighLevel really comes into its own.
Turn Your Contacts Into a Warm Audience
Instead of one-off follow-ups, you stay visible.
Not in an annoying way.
In a consistent, helpful way.
AI can even help here by:
- Suggesting content ideas
- Drafting emails for your newsletter
- Repurposing your thoughts into useful updates
You’re not chasing.
You’re building familiarity.
Segment Your Network Properly
Not everyone you meet is the same.
Some are:
- Potential clients
- Referral partners
- Just good connections
HighLevel lets you organise this properly.
And with AI layered on top, you can tailor communication faster without writing everything from scratch.
Never Rely on Memory Again
You know those conversations where you say:
“I’ll drop them a message in a month.”
And then forget.
That’s gone.
You can build in:
- 30 day follow-ups
- 60 day check-ins
- Longer-term nurture
And when those moments come around, AI can help you quickly craft the message.
Use SMS and WhatsApp With a Personal Touch
Networking is personal.
So your follow-up should be too.
A simple message like:
“Hi John, good to meet you this morning.”
Will get read.
AI helps you scale that without losing the human feel.
Or Skip Business Cards Completely
Here’s something else I’m seeing more of.
People not using business cards at all.
Instead:
- You create a simple page
- Generate a QR code
- People enter their details directly
Now combine that with AI-driven follow-up.
You’ve got:
- Accurate data
- Instant engagement
- Personalised communication from the start
The Big Shift
Here’s what this really comes down to.
Most people treat networking like a series of conversations.
HighLevel turns it into a system.
And AI makes that system faster, smarter, and easier to maintain.
So instead of:
Meeting people and hoping something happens
You move to:
Meeting people, structured follow-up, AI-assisted communication, measurable results
Final Thought
If you’re already good at networking, this is a big opportunity.
Because you don’t need more conversations.
You need to get more value from the ones you’re already having.
HighLevel gives you the system.
AI helps you run it consistently.
Want to See How This Could Work for You?
If you’d like to map this out for your business, we can keep it simple.
We’ll look at how you currently network, where things are dropping off, and build a system around it.
Book a discovery call and let’s turn your networking into something that actually drives consistent business.
Written by Julian Mills – HighLevel consultant and marketing strategist. About Julian Mills.
