How Do You Stay Visible Without Being a Nuisance?

Last week, I was talking with a client who felt stuck. She had sent over ten thoughtful check-in emails to former clients, people with whom she had strong relationships, and mainly received silence in return. A couple of polite replies, but nothing that led to a conversation.

She asked, “Should I stop trying? I don’t want to come across as annoying.”

I told her, “This is actually what business development looks like. You’re practicing professional persistence.”

That phrase has come up a lot lately. The hardest part of BD isn’t the strategy; it’s the follow-through. It’s finding a natural rhythm to stay in touch, showing your contacts that you’re thinking about them and available, without being a nuisance.
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And it works.

I can’t tell you how many times in my career a client has told me the reason they chose to work with me and my team was because I was persistent. Not in an annoying way, but in a way that showed I cared. I genuinely wanted to help them and didn’t give up just because the timing wasn’t right on the first try.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I wrap up my book. The professionals who consistently stay on top of business development aren’t the most aggressive or the loudest. They’re the ones who keep showing up. They send the follow-up. They ask the curious question. They stay top of mind even when there’s no immediate need.

They’re building something. Not overnight, but over time.

So, how do you stay visible without being a nuisance?

It starts by showing up with intention, not obligation. Here are a few approaches that have worked well for me and my clients:

• Follow up with context. “I know the timing wasn’t right last quarter — has anything shifted?” A light touch, but it keeps the door open.
  
  
• Reference a past conversation. Not just an article — something they mentioned in passing. “You said X was on the horizon. How’s that going?”
  
  
• Offer help with no strings attached. “I ran into someone in your industry who might be a helpful intro. Would that be useful?”
  
  
• Ask for their perspective. Not a pitch. A question. “What are you seeing right now in your space when it comes to [insert challenge]?”

The tone is simple — I’m here, I’m thinking of you, and I want to help. When that’s real, it rarely feels pushy.
As summer approaches and schedules start to shift, this is a good time to ask:

What are you building toward?
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If you want help keeping things in motion, I’ve been running a few Quick Wins strategies that help professionals stay active with just 20 to 30 minutes a week. Reach out if you’d like to talk through what that might look like.