There will come a point when you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth staying in touch with some of the longer-term leads on your list. In some cases, that decision will be made for you. For instance, an individual may leave the company, or a full-time position may be created that keeps the company from needing freelancers to fill any gaps. But in most cases, it will be a decision you’ll have to make on a case-by-case basis.
As previously stated, many experts recommend nurturing long-term leads for 12 to 24 months. However, I suggest you evaluate your nurturing list once a year and decide who’s worth staying in touch with beyond that point. In many cases, prospects who seemed to be promising long-term leads at first may no longer be receptive to your services.