Networking for Freelancers

The Introvert's Survival Guide to Actually Enjoying (or at least surviving) Networking Events. I avoid networking events like they're tax audits or root canals. But sometimes you have to show up. (By have to, I mean, your business kind of depends on it.) Here's my "battle-tested" playbook for introverts who'd rather be home cleaning the litter box: Pre-Game Like an Athlete (or a Coward) • Set a timer for 47 minutes Not 45. Not an hour. 47. It's specific enough that you'll honor it. • Create your "Clark Kent Exit Strategy" Park near the exit. Know where the bathrooms are. Have a fake emergency ready. • Arrive unfashionably on-time Not early (too much small talk). Not late (everyone stares). Exactly on time when everyone's distracted. The Art of Strategic Positioning • Become furniture Find a high-top table. Claim it. Let extroverts come to you (they need a place to rest their drinks). • Master "Documentary Mode" Don't network. Observe. You're David Attenborough studying extroverts in their natural habitat. • Power Pose Like a Pro Stand near the food. Everyone comes to you. Plus, mouth full = legitimate reason not to talk. Conversation Hacks for the Socially Exhausted • The "Reverse Interview" Ask them 3 questions. They'll talk for 20 minutes. You nod. They think you're brilliant. "What are you most excited about doing this weekend?" • Deploy the "Introvert Card" "I'm actually an introvert, so this is my Olympics." Be transparently vulnerable. They laugh. Pressure's off. • The "Teaching Pivot" Turn every conversation into a mini-lesson. You're not networking, you're educating. Advanced Introvert Techniques • The "Phone Prop" Hold your phone like you're about to make a call. You look busy but approachable. Or, have a drink in your hand so they have something to do. • Find Another Introvert We can smell our own. Make eye contact with the person hiding by the plants. Form an alliance. You will both be relieved. • The "One Real Conversation" Rule Forget collecting 20 contacts. Have one meaningful conversation. Quality > quantity. The Grand Escape • The Irish Goodbye Just leave. Don't announce it. Disappear like Bruce Wayne. They'll think you're mysterious, not rude. • Leave on a High Had one good conversation? That's enough. You've won. Go home. • Recovery Protocol Schedule nothing for the next day. You've earned 24 hours of silence. Most "successful networkers" are performing too. They're just better actors. Not convinced? There's an alternative. I've built more meaningful connections through content than 1,000 networking events combined. Let people come to you through your content. Like they're doing right now. Who else is team "I'd rather create content than attend another networking mixer"? Drop a like if you've ever hidden in a bathroom stall to recharge. P.S. - My record for "shortest networking event attendance" is 3 minutes. Beat that. P.P.S. - Yes, I once brought a book to a networking event. No, I'm not sorry.

I've closed more deals from photographing a table plan than from any pitch. Teach me how to get great at networking, and a table plan is exactly where I would start. The people who are good at networking aren't necessarily the smoothest talkers in the room. They simply did the work before they arrived and are more interested in you than in sounding interesting themselves. Most of the value isn't created at the event at all. It's created before and after it. 1. Before I commit to anything, I ask for the guest list. Who's going, where do they work, and whether it’s worth my time. If I can't get a list, I think hard about whether to go at all. Your time doesn't come back, so make the room earn it. I'm not there to collect fifty business cards. I'm there for a few conversations that do actually lead somewhere. 2. Then I sort the boring stuff, because the boring stuff is what trips people up. A business card, even now, with a QR code I've checked actually works. One broken link can quietly cost you a deal. A phone with enough battery to swap details all evening. And the right clothes for the room. Knowing the dress code does more than make you comfortable. It makes you look like you belong, and people walk towards those who look like they belong. 3. In the room, I keep one rule: The conversation goes both ways. A short, confident introduction is enough to break the ice. After that, I'm asking questions to learn, not perform.  There's good research showing that asking someone for advice makes you look more capable, not less, especially on a hard problem. People remember being asked. The intern you're chatting to today could be running their own company in five years. 4. Now the table plan: If I can’t get the guest list, I photograph any list of names there and name badges before people arrive. By the end of the night, I've got a record of everyone I didn't reach. I did exactly that at The Times CEO Summit recently. I followed up with the people I'd missed, asked for a coffee, and some of those chats are now future projects. Do it within 48 hours, while the event is still fresh in their mind. 5. The part most people get wrong is treating networking as transactional. The relationships that have mattered most to me were built authentically. I worked out what I could offer first, then led with that, whether it was an introduction, some hard-won experience, or a door I could open. Know what you bring and give it without keeping score. None of this is a rigid set of rules. It's about preparation, and genuinely curious about people. Get those two things right, and networking starts feeling like the best part of the job. What's the best networking advice you've ever been given? I'd like to hear it. For more founder questions and answers, join my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/ergDQtiK

After 18 years in the coaching and resume industry, I’ve learned one undeniable truth: success without networking is simply unattainable. In 2018, I took a bold step and took a loan of 3 Lakhs to invest in a franchise of Successful Resumes Australia. This remarkable opportunity arose from a pivotal conversation while looking for freelance contracts, where I laid bare my ambitions. John Little, the founder of the company where I applied for freelance opportunities, made a profound observation: "𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑠? 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒." Those words prompted me to reconsider my path. Instead of following a conventional route, I embraced the chance to purchase the franchise. This decision was not just a career move; it was a powerful testament to the impact of networking. This experience is a constant reminder of how vital connections can strengthen your position within the industry. 3 transformative benefits of networking you can’t afford to overlook: 1. Unlocking New Opportunities: → Networking acts as a gateway to opportunities that may remain hidden due to a lack of proactive engagement. → It’s about positioning yourself in the right circles, where the right people can notice you. 2. Expanding Knowledge and Insights: → Interacting with a diverse range of professionals enriches your understanding of the industry. → Learning from the experiences and insights of others fosters innovation and personal growth. 3. Establishing Authority and Credibility: → Networking enhances your credibility and visibility within your field. → Over time, this reputation attracts valuable connections and opportunities that can propel your career forward. Networking is a lifelong commitment. It is not merely a one-time event; it’s an ongoing journey that builds the foundation of your career. Take the first step today. Reach out and connect. Make meaningful connections that can change the trajectory of your professional life. #Networking #Connection #LinkedIn #Executives

I’ve been having lots of conversations about LinkedIn for events from organisers wanting to drive visibility and engagement, to exhibitors heading to upcoming tradeshows, and everyone in between. Whether you’re hosting, exhibiting, or attending LinkedIn can help you get more out of every event: ✨ More visibility 🤝 More connections 📈 More business outcomes Yet LinkedIn is often underused in the event space. A one-and-done post. A quick thank you. A flurry of activity... then silence. But here’s the thing: the event isn’t the beginning and it shouldn’t be the end. To get the most value, LinkedIn should be part of your strategy before, during and after the event. Here’s how to make the most of it: 🌠 1. Be LinkedIn Event Ready Your profile and company page shape your first impression often before anyone meets you. They should tell a clear, credible story that aligns with your event involvement. Organiser Tip: Create a LinkedIn Brand Kit for your speakers, exhibitors, and team – banners, hashtags, talking points, and example posts. Exhibitor Tip: Use an event-themed banner to show your stand details or branding. 🌠 2. Build Relationships Before the Event The most valuable connections rarely start cold on event day. The lead-up to the event is prime time to increase visibility, build familiarity, and position yourself as someone worth connecting with or visiting at the stand. Organiser Tip: Spotlight speakers, exhibitors, and sessions early and use tags to amplify. Exhibitor Tip: Shortlist people you want to meet - clients, prospects, collaborators, media and start connecting early. 🌠 3. Maximise the Event Experience Use LinkedIn to take people behind the scenes, amplify moments as they happen, and make your presence visible to those who couldn’t attend. Organiser Tip: Have someone live post from the floor, tagging participants and sharing session soundbites. Exhibitor Tip: Make it easy for people to connect with you it creates immediate pathways to keep the conversation going. 🌠 4. Keep the Momentum Going This is the stage where most people go quiet, but this is when the real relationship-building begins. Use LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. Share your takeaways. Follow up with new connections. Repurpose content into future posts. Organiser Tip: Share a highlight post and set the stage for what’s next even a “Save the Date” works. Exhibitor Tip: Send a personalised follow-up message referencing your chat. 🌟 Key Takeaways LinkedIn is one of the most powerful tools you have to extend your event beyond the room. It allows you to build relationships before the first handshake, stay visible throughout the event and strengthen credibility and connection long after the banners are packed away. And if you'd like support to develop your own LinkedIn event strategy that's more than one and done, I’d love to help. Because showing up is just the beginning. #linkedin #events #eventmarketing

I had zero audience when I pivoted to Engage AI. No credibility. No footprint. But within a year, I built a solid pipeline and brand authority. I didn't do it by posting more content. I did it by appearing on over 100 podcasts. I didn't build an audience. I borrowed one. Here is why this strategy wins: ↳ You skip the cold introduction because the host's credibility transfers to you immediately. ↳ One recording becomes a content engine that fuels 10 clips, a blog post, and endless social content. ↳ You get high-quality backlinks from every show notes page without doing manual link building. ↳ It is a repeatable system that allows you to compound your growth week after week. Here is the playbook I used: ↳ Find the 10 specific podcasts your paying customers actually listen to instead of picking random shows. ↳ Pitch a specific solution to their audience's problems rather than sending a bio about yourself. ↳ Follow up relentlessly because my best bookings usually came from the third or fourth email. Here is what happened: ↳ Leads started contacting me directly saying they heard me on their favorite show. ↳ Website domain authority climbed from high-quality backlinks without writing a single guest post. ↳ My messaging got razor sharp because I practiced it live 100 times. ↳ Hosts started pitching me to be on their shows instead of me cold emailing them. ↳ Small audio stages turned into invitations for massive virtual summits and speaking gigs. Stop trying to build a stage from scratch. The stage already exists. You just need to ask for the mic. For audio notes and to read the rest of this post, follow the link to my Substack in the first comment. ♻️ Repost and be the first to share with your network. 🔔 Follow Jason Tan for more AI strategies, product development and adoption. 🎤 Now taking speaker bookings 🔗 Work with me – link in bio #ai #genai #GrowthMarketing #Podcasting

Nobody talks about how lonely freelance creative work can be. Everyone sees the freedom and flexibility, but they don't always see the isolation. You can go days without meaningful professional interaction. There's no team to bounce ideas off of, no colleague to reality-check your doubts, no one to share the wins and losses with. Every decision falls on you. And when things get quiet, that voice telling you you're not good enough can often get louder and it's not always easy to remind yourself it isn't true. But here's what I've learned; you don't have to do this alone. The freelance creatives who thrive aren't the ones working in isolation. They're the ones who've built community. Who reach out when they're struggling. Who show up for each other. Who create the support system this work requires. Find your people. Join creative groups. Show up to events. Have coffee with other freelancers. Build relationships with people who understand what you're going through. The loneliness is real, but it isn't the only option. This work is so much better when you're connected to a community that gets it. You don't have to carry it all alone. 🤍

The great myth of networking is that you start reaching out to others only when you need something like a job. The reality is people who have the largest circle of contacts, mentors, and friends know that you must reach out to others long before you need anything at all. We need to forget the images we all have in our heads of the desperate, out-of-work individuals scooping up every business card in sight while fervently mingling at business conventions and job-hunting events. You need to start funding future clients today. You have to ask yourself: What kind of industry do you want to specialize in? Where do the top people in that industry hang out? Once you can answer those questions, the next step is to hang out with that new circle of people. The most important thing is to get to know these people as friends, not potential customers. No matter how friendly you are, people won’t hire you right off the bat. That’s why you should offer your services for free, at least at first. Give before you expect to receive. The fastest way to break through the noise is to deliver value without an invoice attached. Default behavior chases. Disruptive behavior attracts.

I MISSED THE OPPORTUNITIES! There was a time when I would speak at events and not fully seize the opportunities before me. Too focused on the performance of my talk, I overlooked the chance to build my network and meet potential collaborators. I realised I needed to make the most of each speaking opportunity. So I put together a strategy to connect more effectively with my audience, ensuring every interaction could lead to deeper relationships and future collaborations. Here’s how I changed my approach to audience engagement: ONE ↳ Meet and greet networking - I started actively networking with my audience, treating it like a meet and greet. This face-to-face interaction made my presence more memorable and personal. TWO ↳ Resource kit via QR Code - I created a QR code for attendees to scan, giving them access to a resource kit related to my talk, like a parting gift that keeps giving. This could be my slides or additional content to help them take further action. THREE ↳ Business literature - I ensured that everyone could leave with my contact information through well-crafted business literature, making it easy for them to reach out later. FOUR ↳ Collaboration with organisers - I worked with event organisers to feature in their follow-up emails. This not only reinforced my message but also kept my name in circulation among the attendees. FIVE ↳ Post-talk conversations - Staying behind to answer questions or have further discussions showed my commitment to the audience beyond just delivering a talk. And guess what? It worked. These steps didn’t just enrich my speaking engagements; they turned each appearance into a networking opportunity. I started building a strong network, discovering great opportunities, and developing long-term relationships. Now, every time I step off the stage, the conversation isn’t over; it’s just beginning. Engaging with the audience post-talk has taught me that the true value of speaking engagements often comes after the applause stops. It’s all about the follow-up. To anyone looking to make the most out of their speaking opportunities: Don’t just share your knowledge, be ready to build lasting connections. It’s these relationships that will carry your message further and open new doors. To your successes, Zoe

If you’re not meeting people face to face, you’re not really building. There's this belief that has grown in the past 10 years that building a business online means you're okay with just posting on LinkedIn, sending cold emails and hopping on Zoom with investors and associates. We’re not there yet. In-person networking is as strong as ever, and AI will promote it further by forcing us to escape the "bubble" of online interactions. Don't believe me? Believe the stats: 9 out of 10 event planners expect the number of in-person meetings to increase this year (Fortis) Over half of event organizers (52.1%) have seen a rise in attendance at in-person events. 80% of business owners consider networking events crucial for company success, even now in 2025. Oh, and if things are going well already? Imagine how they’d go if you showed up in person. Stop hiding behind a screen. Go out and meet people.

A lot of the value of attending or speaking at a conference doesn’t come from being there. It comes from what you do afterwards. How many times have you come back from a conference or event and thought, “I should’ve done more to maximize that experience”? Not just attending the sessions or showing up at the networking receptions, but turning it into something meaningful for your visibility, your relationships and your business development efforts. Me too 🙋🏼♀️ It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives, especially after returning from a conference and then move on to the next thing without following up. What you proactively do after the event is what can turn conversations into relationships and visibility into opportunity. Here are some ways to make the most of attending your next conference: ✔️ Prioritize the people you met and follow up with context on LinkedIn or by email, referencing your conversation and suggesting a clear next step ✔️ Follow up with organizers to share feedback and express interest in speaking or getting involved in future programming ✔️ Turn your conference notes into key takeaways and share them as content (LinkedIn post, blog post or short video) connected to your work, your clients or what you’re seeing in the market ✔️ Host your own webinar to recap key themes and extend the conversation ✔️ Interview speakers or attendees whose perspectives stood out and use that content in a webinar, blog post or on social media ✔️ Host an internal recap to share key insights and connect them to your team’s work ✔️ Turn questions or conversations from the event into content or targeted outreach ✔️ Share insights from the event in an email newsletter ✔️ Add relevant new contacts to your email list so you can stay visible with them ✔️ Create a simple system to stay in touch with the people who matter most ✔️ Review the attendee list and reach out to people you didn’t meet ✔️ Follow up with speakers you admired, even if you didn’t connect in person ✔️ Identify one trend or theme you kept hearing across conversations and proactively share that perspective with clients or colleagues You already put in the time and energy to be there. This is how you carry that momentum forward. Which of these ideas resonated most with you? #LegalMarketing #ClientDevelopment #LinkedInTips #BusinessDevelopment #PersonalBrandingTips