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Guide · 5 min read

Reconnect with old contacts without it feeling awkward

Who to write to, a real reason to write, messages you can adapt, and what to do when nobody answers.

Updated 1 November 2026

01Who

Start with people worth the effort

You do not need to write to everyone. A short list is enough to start.

  • People you worked well with, even years ago
  • Past clients and customers
  • Former colleagues who now work somewhere you care about
  • Anyone you meant to stay in touch with and did not

02A reason

Find a real reason to write

A reason makes the message easy to answer. It can be small.

  • Something they did

    A new role, a launch, a talk, a post. Say what you noticed.

  • Something you read

    An article or a link that fits what they work on.

  • Something you remember

    A project you shared, or a conversation that stuck with you.

  • A simple hello

    “I thought of you.” Honest and short is enough.

03Messages

Messages you can adapt

Short, specific, warm. Change the details so they are true for you and for them.

A former colleague
Hi Maya, I saw you joined Northgate Logistics. Congratulations! I still remember the route-planning project we shipped together. How are you finding the new team?

Specific, warm, and no ask.

A past client
Hi Tomas, it has been a while since we finished the warehouse review. I came across this article on shelf layouts and thought of your team. Hope the year is going well.

Useful first. Business comes later, if at all.

Someone you met once
Hi Ines, we met at the supply chain meetup in spring and talked about returns handling. I have been thinking about your point on repair-first policies. Would you like to swap notes sometime?

Remind them where you met, then keep the ask small.

04Steps

Send it, then keep it going

Five small steps from a blank screen to a conversation that continues.

  1. 1

    Pick one person

    Start with the name you thought of first.

  2. 2

    Write two or three sentences

    A reason, one detail about them, and a light question.

  3. 3

    Send it yourself

    Send it by the channel you used before, or the one they use most.

  4. 4

    Answer quickly

    If they reply, answer within a day and suggest something small, such as a short call.

  5. 5

    Nudge once, then pause

    No answer after about a week: one short, friendly reminder. Then leave it for a month or two.

05Mistakes

What to leave out

These make a warm message cold.

  • A long apology for the silence
  • A big request in the first message
  • Text pasted from a template with the wrong name or company
  • Pretending you never lost touch

Questions

How long is too long to wait before reconnecting?
There is no too long. Most people are glad to hear from someone who remembers them, even after years. The longer the gap, the shorter and warmer the message should be.
Should I mention that we have not talked in a while?
A light mention is fine, such as “it has been a while”. Skip long apologies: they make the message about you.
Should I ask for something in the first message?
No. Ask a small question or share something useful. Save requests for the second conversation, when they know you are still the person they remember.
How do I decide whom to write to first?
Start with people you worked well with, past clients, and anyone who now works where you want to be. In TapForNetwork, Today suggests who to say hello to again, with the reason shown (for people you have talked to, it uses the messages you choose to import). You choose, and you send every message yourself.

Do not let good contacts go quiet

Import your network, see who is worth a hello, and get a reminder on the right day.

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