Most people do not ignore you.
They get busy, the thread drops, and then it feels too late.
So you do nothing.
And a perfectly good connection quietly expires.
There is a better move: send a 10-second reconnect.
No apology essay. No life story. Just a tiny message that makes the next step obvious.
The 10-second reconnect (copy/paste this)
Hey [Name] — quick bump on this.
Still down to [coffee / quick 20-min call / compare notes] this week? Tue 4:30 or Thu 8:30am work on my end.
No worries if timing is wild right now.
That is it. Three lines. Friendly. Specific. Low-pressure.
Why this works (the real reason)
Most “checking in” messages fail because they create work.
They force the other person to decide:
- what you want
- how much effort it will take
- and how to respond politely
The 10-second reconnect removes that friction.
It gives them a clear yes/no and an easy scheduling path.
When to use it (3 good moments)
- After a great chat: you said “let’s do coffee” and then nothing happened.
- After an intro: someone connected you, you sent one message, and the thread died.
- After an event: you met, you followed up once, and it went quiet.
If the thread is cold, that is exactly when a small message is most useful.
Line-by-line (so it never feels awkward)
Line 1: “quick bump” (not “sorry”)
You do not need to apologize for being human.
A simple bump signals: “this still matters to me” without drama.
Line 2: one concrete ask + two time options
Pick one small next step:
- coffee
- a 15–20 minute call
- a quick walk
Then offer two time options. “When are you free?” is the fastest way to add friction.
Line 3: permission to say “not now”
This is what makes it feel normal.
It lowers the pressure and increases replies because you are giving them an easy out.
Two variations (use the one that fits)
Variation A: you have a useful resource
Hey [Name] — quick bump.
You mentioned [thing]. This might help: [link].
Still down for a quick 20-min call this week? Tue 4:30 or Thu 8:30am work on my end.
Variation B: it has been a while (keep it honest)
Hey [Name] — been a minute.
I’d still love to hear more about [project/topic].
Open to a quick coffee/call next week? Tue 4:30 or Thu 8:30am work on my end.
One rule (so you do not overdo it)
Send this once.
If they do not reply, let it go. You are building relationships, not running a drip campaign.
How Thawe fits
Thawe is built to make it easier to find the right people locally, start real conversations, and actually turn “we should connect” into meetups that happen.
Because networking is not magic. It is follow-through.
Sources
- Harvard Business Review on relationship building and follow-through: hbr.org