Trade show follow up list in one place cards and badge scans together
After a fair you have cards, a scanner export and notes on a phone. Put them in one list before you follow up, so nobody is missed or mailed twice.
- No credits, no data tax
- Your data stays yours
- Email only, on purpose
- Unlimited users
The follow up starts with one list
The days after a trade show decide whether the contacts turn into conversations. The problem is rarely the message. It is that the contacts are spread over business cards, a badge scan export, a spreadsheet from a colleague and notes on someone's phone.
A trade show follow up list brings them together first: one row per company, the person you met, what you talked about and which fair it was. Only then do you write, while the conversation is still fresh.
Business cards and badge scans contain personal data. The European Commission explains the basic rules on its pages for business and organisations; we do not promise compliance. What helps in practice is to note where each contact came from and to make it easy to say no. Record the source now, not when someone asks.
Where trade show contacts come from
For the exhibitor list itself, see turn an exhibitor list into a lead list.
| Source | What you usually get | How it gets into one list |
|---|---|---|
| Business cards | Name, company, role, email and phone | Type them into a spreadsheet, one card per row, and import it |
| Badge scan export | A file with the visitors you scanned at your stand | Import the CSV or Excel export as it is |
| Colleague notes | Companies a colleague spoke to and what was discussed | Collect them in the same spreadsheet columns before you import |
| Exhibitor list | The other exhibitors at the fair | Paste the exhibitor page into the scrape tool and tag the batch |
Keeping the follow up list clean
One tag per fair
Tag every record with the fair and the year. Next year you can see who you met before and which companies are new.
Duplicates flagged
Two colleagues often meet the same company. When you import, duplicate companies are flagged, so one person follows up.
A note per conversation
Write one line on the record about what you discussed. The first email can refer to it, which is the whole point of meeting in person.
Source and date kept
Every record keeps the import, the source file and the date, and the original file stays attached to the import.
Before the first follow up email
- Put all cards and scans in one spreadsheet with the same columns.
- Import within a few days of the fair.
- Tag the fair and the colleague who met them.
- Write per conversation, not one message for everyone.
- Send in small batches so you can answer each reply.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I follow up after a trade show?
While people still remember the conversation, ideally within a week. Putting the list in order first takes an hour or two and saves you from writing twice to the same company.
How do I turn business cards into a lead list?
Type them into a spreadsheet with one card per row and the same columns for every card, then import the file as CSV or Excel. Tag the rows with the fair, so they stay together.
Can I import a badge scan export?
Yes, if you can download it as CSV or Excel. Riftjaw has no native connection with scanner apps or organisers; the route is the file.
Should everyone I met get the same follow up email?
No. Group them by what you talked about and write one short message per group that mentions the fair. A note on each record makes that easy.
Do I need credits?
No. There are no credits and no cost per record: a flat price per plan, and the size of your list does not change the price.
What is Riftjaw?
Riftjaw is a B2B lead database you own: import the companies you collect, keep every record with its source, sort them into segments and reach them by email in small batches. Each account runs on its own private server with its own database.
Source: European Commission: data protection information for business and organisations (consulted on 2026-10-19)
Get the fair into one list this week
Import your cards and scans, tag them with the fair and send the follow up in small batches. Start free, without a credit card.
Start free