Update on that 'networking' advice I always ignored

I was sure it was just corporate fluff, but after actually going to a local small business meetup last Thursday, I got a referral that turned into a steady client. Has anyone else had a networking moment that actually paid off?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_flores25d ago

Honestly feels like a lucky break more than a real strategy. How many of those meetups do people sit through before anything happens? Bet you could spend that time just cold emailing and get similar results.

mary_west25d ago

Hold up. You're missing the human trust factor. A cold email is just words on a screen. At a meetup, people see your face and how you act. They watch you help others without asking for anything. That builds real connections you can't get from an inbox. Those connections remember you later and actually want to help. It's not about luck, it's about becoming a real person to them, not just another email.

the_iris24d ago

Last year I went to 14 meetups for freelance writers. I got two lukewarm coffee chats and zero actual work from it. Meanwhile, a simple three line email to a company I actually wanted to work for got me a project that paid my rent. Time is money, and hours spent making small talk is hours you're not pitching. What's the real return on investment for hoping someone remembers your face?