A relevance check for your contact list

A practical planning note written for this website.

Check the current role

Public profiles can be out of date. Look for a recent source that connects the person to the subject you intend to discuss.

Write one specific reason

For every proposed contact, complete the sentence: this may be relevant because…. If the answer is identical for everyone, narrow the audience.

Separate contact facts from assumptions

Keep a source link next to factual notes. Label your own interpretation as an interpretation, not as something the person has said.

Set aside uncertain matches

A review column is useful. It lets you preserve research without treating every possible contact as ready to approach.

Review before sending

Check the final list for duplicate organisations, prior replies and opt-out notes. Relevance includes the history of the conversation.

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