Sidebars
Whatever system you use to keep track of your friends and colleagues, experts suggest you:
Sort contacts into groups, especially if you keep personal and professional contacts in the same database or social networking website.
Make notes about contacts so you can remember who they are, where you met and what their expertise is.
Keep in touch with contacts by following up with an email after you've met them, commenting on their Facebook posts, writing LinkedIn referrals or using the holiday season to reconnect.
Recognize that professors may prefer email to Facebook messages or texting. If you aren't sure, ask.
Avoid mass emails — Facebook or Twitter posts are better for alerting your friends and colleagues to new publications and honors. Use email for more personal communication.
Update your profiles regularly, especially when starting a new job.
Be thoughtful and polite in your communications. If you feel compelled to offer condolences to a colleague who lost a loved one, for example, use a personal letter instead of initiating a public Facebook comment.
Don't be afraid to email professors, even if you don't know them very well.
"It's OK to reach out," says Rachel Dinero, PhD, a psychology professor at Cazenovia College. "Academics love to be asked for their opinion."
—E. Leis-Newman
