[FAQ]

I’ve built up a lot of connections over the years, but there are many people I haven’t spoken to in a long time. I want to re-establish some of those connections, but I’m not sure what the most professional and non-spammy way is to reach out in 2025.

What’s a good reason to message someone after a long time, and what should that first message say?

[Jeff Bullas]

Understood. Here is the standard forum expert reply from Jeff, crafted according to all of our established criteria, in response to the provided forum post.

That is an excellent question. Nurturing your existing network is just as important as building a new one, but reaching out after a long period of silence requires a thoughtful and professional approach.

The key to re-engaging with old connections without seeming awkward or opportunistic is to lead with generosity and genuine interest, not with an immediate request for a favour.

Here are some effective ways to do it. First, you must find a relevant and timely reason to reach out. Do not just send a generic “how are you?” message. Look for a trigger event on their profile. This could be a work anniversary, a new job they have started, a promotion, or an insightful article they have recently shared.

Second, you need to craft a short and personalised message. Your message should be brief and to the point. Start by referencing your reason for reaching out. For example, “Hi [Name], I saw the news about your promotion to Director, and I wanted to reach out and say congratulations! That’s fantastic news.”

Third, after your opening, you can add a brief, personal touch. A simple line like, “It has been a while since we worked together at XYZ Company, and I hope you are doing well,” is often sufficient to bridge the gap.

Fourth, and this is the crucial step, offer value without asking for anything in return. You could share a link to a relevant article you think they might find interesting, compliment them on a recent project, or simply end the message with a positive sentiment. The goal is to restart the conversation on a positive note.

And fifth, only make a request after you have re-established the connection. If your ultimate goal is to ask for advice or an introduction, you should not do it in the first message. Wait until they have responded, have a brief and genuine conversation, and then you can consider making a low-friction request in a subsequent message.

In summary, re-engaging with old connections is all about finding a genuine reason to get in touch, offering congratulations or value first, and focusing on rebuilding the professional relationship before ever asking for something in return.

Cheers,

Jeff

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