THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET THROUGH NETWORKING

You stand off to the side, a plastic cup of generic white wine sweating in the hand you told yourself you were going to keep free for a quick, confident shake. The soles of your sensible shoes grip the conference room carpet. Your brain screams, Go introduce yourself to someone, dummy, we already paid for parking, but your knees stay locked — everyone there seems to know something, or at least someone, you don’t. 

Networking may be the lifeblood of freelance business growth, but no one said it isn’t supremely awkward. It’s hard for a lot of the same reasons that making friends as an adult is hard — we’ve all been conditioned to look for the agenda behind small talk or off-the-cuff compliments. Even though business connections are the whole purpose of networking events, no one wants to be perceived as transactional or completely self-interested. On the other hand, no one wants to endure a long, benign conversation while they wait to find out why you actually took the time to introduce yourself. 

At Uncompany, we’ve been around long enough to say with certainty that authentic, meaningful connections can and do come from intentional networking — especially if your mindset is right. For freelancers, community takes the place of coworkers. This means you aren’t just constantly on the hunt for clients and subcontractors, but also for the wise folks who will be your sounding board throughout future challenges. 

The truth is, you usually won’t know why you’ll be glad you met someone right away; you just have to get beyond that first handshake, email, or LinkedIn connection request. Here’s our best advice for more authentic networking, however you decide to approach it. 

1. How to Meet Someone You Want to Work With

This is the quintessential networking setup: whether there is an active call for proposals or you just want to get on an organization’s radar, there’s no reason to be coy. Hiring managers and other decision makers expect to be approached by people interested in work — the key is a good first impression. 

Before you make contact, have a prepared position statement that’s focused on your unique approach to problem solving. This can be as simple as “Hi, I’m ______, and I help people _____.” 

In a world where job titles are often vague and organization-specific, leading with what you do to contribute to a business’s success can set you apart from others. There’s no need to overwhelm your new acquaintance with a full elevator pitch, just introduce yourself and follow up with a thoughtful question — this moves the conversation forward and makes it clear that you’re seeking connection, not just selling yourself. 

It’s always nice to begin these conversations (virtual or in-person) with a reference to a mutual friend or interest if you have one, but don’t force it — and limit yourself to readily-available information. If you tell someone with a mountain biking sticker on their laptop that you also like mountain biking, they’ll be charmed. If you tell them your moms have the same maiden name, they’ll be scared. 

 2. How to Meet the Most Interesting Person at the Networking Event

It’s easy to come into networking events laser-focused on new business, but pay attention to the people whose creativity, professionalism, or ambition call out to you. Even if you aren’t in the same industry and can do nothing for each other professionally, freelancers need folks who can offer perspective, feedback, and the remote-worker equivalent of water cooler talk. 

Finding a kindred spirit at a networking event is fantastic, just make sure you’re upfront about your professional needs (or lack thereof) so no one is stuck waiting for a pitch that will never come. The only thing better than meeting your next client is meeting someone with whom you can grab coffees, swap memes, and speak freely. 

3. How to Meet the Person Whose Email You Got from a Colleague 

The ease of an introduction through a mutual colleague can depend a lot on the colleague, so set yourself up for success before you fire off that first “Nice to virtually meet you!” 

Ideally, your intercessory contact has gotten permission from the new connection to share their information and has let them know to expect you in their inbox. It’s also extremely helpful if your mutual has specific information about their current needs (it’ll be awkward for everyone involved if you reach looking for work opportunities and none actually exist). 

If you feel comfortable asking your existing connection to introduce you in an email thread, that’s fantastic. If you don’t, gather as much intel as you can and clearly explain who you are and how you came by their email address in your first message. Especially if you’re reaching out to a hiring manager or fellow business owner who gets a lot of generic email solicitations, this clarity can save you from getting lumped in with the spam. 

4. How to Meet Your Favorite Conference Presenter 

The person behind that particularly insightful presentation would be an excellent addition to your network. The trouble is, dozens of other attendees probably think so, too. 

The chaos of a networking event probably isn’t the best place to make a deep connection with someone who is “in demand,” but it’s the perfect place to quickly introduce yourself. Wait for a quiet moment when the presenter isn’t busy chatting with other people or packing away equipment (and for crying out loud, don’t follow them to the bathroom). Briefly introduce yourself and share something personal, especially if it pertains to why you found their presentation helpful or meaningful. This will give you a talking point to reference when you connect via email or LinkedIn later, and will help you stand out from all the other people they met that day. 

 5. How to Meet Someone Through the Dreaded Cold Reach

The cold reach is the undisputed final boss of freelancer networking. Sometimes, there are no mutual connections to speak of and no in-person event that will put you in the same room as the person you want to meet. Sometimes the only thing you can do is send a thoughtful message without knowing if it will ever be received or read, and that’s hard. 

Up your likelihood of success by making first contact on LinkedIn before you send an email. Ideally, your LinkedIn profile contains information about your skills and work history that can give your new connection lots of context in an unforced way. 

Use your position statement to explain who you are and why you want to connect, remembering to lead with problem-solving. Follow up with an email if you have an address, but don’t make back-to-back attempts at direct contact if you don’t get a reply. Instead, look for authentic ways to join LinkedIn conversations that your would-be connection is already part of.

It’s a long game, but becoming a regular in your desired connection’s comment field will build the name recognition you need to make your cold outreach less cold. The next time an opportunity presents itself, you may not be a colleague — but you won’t be a stranger, either. 

The Bottom Line

Networking is awkward, but much like that spider on your ceiling, it helps to remember that everyone involved is probably as nervous as you are. 

The only way to get started is to start. Bring your authentic self to every event, virtual and in-person — it’s the only way to meet the people who are really meant for you.