My uncle told me to skip local networking events and just focus online

My uncle, who ran a small shop for years, told me last summer that in-person meetups were a waste of time and I should just use LinkedIn. I listened to him and didn't go to any local chamber mixers for like six months. Big mistake lol. I finally went to one last month in Austin and met a graphic designer who needed my web services. We just signed a contract for a $2,500 project, and she's already sent two referrals my way. The online stuff is fine, but you can't replace shaking someone's hand and having a real conversation. That one event did more for my business than three months of cold messaging. Has anyone else found that local face-to-face stuff actually pays off more than they expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

benlewis2mo ago

But what if your uncle's advice just saved you six months of wasted time on bad events?

wright.nina2mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy who was about to drop a ton of cash on this fancy gym membership. His cousin, who's a total fitness nut, told him to just try bodyweight stuff at the park for a month first. Turns out my friend hated working out alone and missed team sports. He joined a rec league instead and saved himself a year of hating the gym and wasting money. Good advice from someone who knows you can be a total game changer.

kim_martin2mo ago

Remember my friend who only applied for remote jobs online because her dad said commuting was dead. She finally went to a local career fair, met a hiring manager in person, and landed a hybrid role she loves. I see what @benlewis means about bad events, but sometimes you just have to show up to find the right people.