Networking Tracker

About the networking tracker

Networking rarely fails because people say no. It fails because you lose track: you meet someone at an event, promise to send an article, and three months later you cannot remember their last name or what you talked about. This free networking tracker keeps each contact on a card and moves them through five stages, To contact, Reached out, Talked, Follow up, and Ongoing, so you always know who needs a message next.

Each card stores the person's name, company and role, how you know them, the date of your last contact, and a specific next step. There is no account, and everything stays in this browser on this device, which matters when you are storing details about other people. Export to CSV for a backup. Below, you will find how to build your list, how often to follow up, and how to write next steps that actually get done.

How to use it

1. 1

   Add the people you want to reach

   Start with 15 to 25 names in To contact: former coworkers, managers, classmates, alumni at target companies, and recruiters you have spoken with. Note how you know each person.

2. 2

   Log every conversation with a date

   When you send a message or have a call, update the last contact date and move the card. The date tells you when someone is due for a follow-up.

3. 3

   Write one specific next step

   Replace "keep in touch" with an action and timing, like "send the onboarding case study by Friday" or "check in after her product launch in May."

4. 4

   Review the board weekly

   Each week, work through the Follow up column first, then reach out to a few new people from To contact. Export to CSV when you finish.

How the five stages map to a relationship

Each stage reflects where the relationship stands, not just whether you sent a message. Moving cards honestly keeps you from over-contacting some people and forgetting others.

• To contact: people you plan to reach out to. Add a note on why, such as "works on the analytics team at a target company."
• Reached out: you sent a message and are waiting. Record the date so you know when one polite follow-up is reasonable.
• Talked: you had a real conversation, such as a call, coffee, or informational interview. Log what you discussed and anything you promised.
• Follow up: you owe this person something, or it is time to check in. Treat this column as your networking to-do list.
• Ongoing: an established relationship you maintain with occasional updates. Most of your strongest contacts should end up here.

Who to put on your list first

Start with people who already know you. A former manager or teammate can speak to your work, introduce you to others, or flag openings before they are posted. Cold outreach to strangers has its place, but it works better once your warm contacts have helped you sharpen your story and point you toward the right people.

Order your list by warmth and relevance. If you are targeting specific companies, look for alumni from your school or former colleagues who work there now. Add recruiters you have spoken with, since they often handle more than one role. Keep the list manageable: a board of 20 contacts you actually follow up with is worth more than 200 names you never message.

• Warm: former managers, coworkers, clients, classmates, and mentors.
• Shared ground: alumni, past employers in common, and members of the same professional groups.
• Target companies: people in the team or function you want to join.
• Connectors: recruiters and people who know many others in your field.

How often to follow up without being pushy

The last contact date is your guide. If someone has not replied to a first message, one short follow-up about a week later is reasonable. If they still do not reply, move on and try again in a few months with something new to share. Silence usually means busy, not uninterested.

After a conversation, send a thank-you within a day and deliver anything you promised, such as an article, a portfolio link, or an introduction. Then check in every one to three months with something useful: congratulations on a promotion, a relevant article, or an update on your search that shows you acted on their advice. Give before you ask. People are more willing to make an introduction when they have seen you follow through.

Write next steps that actually happen

Vague next steps are where networking stalls. "Follow up sometime" never makes it onto a calendar. A good next step names the action, the person, and the timing, so you can act on it in your weekly review without rereading your notes.

Because the tracker stores information about other people, keep it professional and minimal: name, role, how you met, what you discussed, and what is next. Your board stays in this browser and is never uploaded, which keeps those details private. It also means clearing your browsing data deletes the board, so export to CSV after each review and store the file somewhere safe.

• Weak: "Keep in touch." Better: "Email Riley the dashboard write-up by Thursday."
• Weak: "Ask about jobs." Better: "Ask Sam on 4/15 whether the platform team is hiring after Q2 planning."
• Weak: "Follow up." Better: "Congratulate Jordan on the conference talk and share my notes from it."

Examples

Frequently asked questions