What are the most effective ways to follow up with a contact? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Overall, you're not trying to just follow up - you should be focused on investing in the relationship, usually by being of value. So every interaction should be relevant, meaningful, and authentic to them.

Some of the most effective ways that are generally underrated:

A quick "thinking of you" message can go a long way. We're wired to long for companionship

Switching channels. We often rely on social media to identify important events about our sphere - birthdays, job changes, etc. Just because we find out about it on social platforms does not mean we need to engage there. If we post the 65th comment or like, will they even notice? However, if we use that knowledge to, say, call them, text them, or send them a handwritten card - that's a completely different ballgame.

Creating a communal experience. When we make introductions, invite a few people to dinner or an event, we're helping them build community, with us at the nucleus of it.

Photo credit Perry Binderglass

The guy in the white apron in the center is Chris Schembra, Founder of 7:47 club. You may think that hosting a dinner in the middle of Times Square is a lofty goal to try and achieve, but the magic here isn't the location. He pulls together people, who oftentimes are total strangers, and through a number of simple steps anyone can replicate, creates an unforgettable experience.