Sort Your New Contacts
Eighteen easy tips to sort your new contacts, so you know who to follow up with first.
Sort, then act. Not all contacts are equal.
25 tips that really help
These ideas come from Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi), The Fine Art of the Follow-Up (Steve Gillman), Networking Like a Pro (Ivan Misner), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
Why sort contacts
After an event you may have many names. Sorting helps you spend energy where it matters most.
Sort now.
Write everyone you met
Make a simple list of names. Seeing it all helps you decide.
List them.
Mark the top three
Choose the three with the strongest link, the best chat or clear goals. Start there.
Pick three.
Mark warm contacts
These are people who were friendly and might help later. Send a short hello.
Mark them.
Mark later contacts
Some chats were pleasant but not urgent. Connect online and keep them in view.
Mark them.
Group by topic or goal
Group people by jobs, interests or projects. It helps you see patterns.
Group them.
Plan a message for each group
Top contacts get personal notes. Others can get a quick connect request.
Plan messages.
Set follow-up dates
Write the date for each message in your calendar. Dates make plans real.
Set dates.
Script: top contact
Hi Maya, I loved our chat and would like to continue it over coffee. Say it warmly.
Use it.
Script: warm contact
Hi Alex, it was nice to meet you at the meetup. Let us stay in touch. Say it kindly.
Use it.
Script: later contact
Hi Sam, nice to meet you, connecting here to stay in touch. Say it lightly.
Use it.
Mistake: treating everyone the same
A generic note feels cold, so adjust.
Personalise.
Mistake: ignoring people who seem less useful
Everyone has value, so be kind to all.
Be kind.
Mistake: keeping contacts in many places
Scattered lists get lost, so use one list.
Use one.
Troubleshoot: when you cannot decide who matters
Ask who you enjoyed talking with most. Joy is a good guide.
Follow joy.
Troubleshoot: when you have too many names
Pick five and let the rest wait. Quality over quantity.
Pick five.
Drill: sort ten contacts
Sort ten contacts into top, warm and later today.
Do ten.
Drill: make a simple sheet
Create a simple sheet with name, group and next date.
Create it.
Use simple labels like A, B and C
A is a close chance, B is a warm chance, C is for later. Easy to use.
Label them.
Colour code your list
Colours let you see priorities at a glance.
Add colours.
Example: the three-pile method
Lena made three piles on her desk. She finished the top pile in one hour.
Make three piles.
Example: the spreadsheet
Omar used a single sheet with five columns. It never got lost.
Make a sheet.
Troubleshoot: when the list is too long
Archive anyone you did not truly talk to. Keep it real.
Prune it.
Drill: sort your last ten contacts
Sort them into A, B and C in ten minutes.
Sort now.
Use a quick two-minute sort after each event
Two minutes of sorting at the end of the night means your contacts are never lost in a messy pile of cards.
Sort tonight.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many networking and career moments.
“Let me sort my contacts.”
“These are my top three.”
“These are warm contacts.”
“These can wait.”
“I will message on Friday.”
“Contacts organised.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
List everyone
Mark the top three
Mark warm contacts
Mark later contacts
Plan messages
Set dates
Review weekly
Further reading
- Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi)
- The Fine Art of the Follow-Up (Steve Gillman)
- Networking Like a Pro (Ivan Misner)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
