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+---
+
+# not following up within 48 hours
+
+*(common gotcha)*
+
+## what happened
+
+met great people at the event, exchanged info, then never reached out. by the time you remember, it's been two weeks and the connection is cold.
+
+## why it's a gotcha
+
+the window for a warm follow-up is about 48 hours. after that, you're just another name in their contacts with no context. the energy from the event fades fast, and so does their memory of you.
+
+## the fix
+
+send a short message within 24-48 hours. reference something specific from your conversation. "hey, great meeting you at [event] — loved your point about [specific thing]." that's it. short, specific, timely. don't pitch them on anything in the first message.
+
+## see also
+
+- [[get-contacts-immediately]] — you can't follow up without the contact
+- [[record-conversations]] — recordings help you reference specifics in your follow-up
+- [[networking-as-extraction]] — the follow-up should give, not take
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