Exploring the intersection between digital connection, community strategy, local communities, belonging, permaculture principles, sustainability, and psychology. My work analyses the systems that prop up our current networking practices and looks at practical steps we can unlearn to build stronger networks that serve both people and the planet.
👋 Stop waving, start talking (and other ways to cultivate connection)
|
Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 👇 1️⃣ Selling services on social media If there is one trend I’ve seen growing over the past few years, it's the reluctance of people to buy from service-based businesses solely based on social media. While products on social media still seem appealing, service-based businesses need to look beyond socials. Relationships, and that means networking, are key. A post might generate likes and engagement, but ask yourself: does it advance your actual business goals? If you're seeking clients for your service business, ensure your content strategy aligns with that objective. The familiar 'know, like and trust' principle has evolved. Today, trust builds through genuine interactions, not just information sharing. But are you creating opportunities for real conversations with potential clients? The network you build may matter more than your content output. 2️⃣ Set a consistent mini-goal If networking feels overwhelming or you struggle with consistency, commit to one small, sustainable action. Some examples; 🤝 Attending one networking event per quarter 🪁 Reach out to 10 new people a week 💻 A goal to spend 10 minutes a day in your preferred platform’s newsfeed Pick something that feels achievable long term. 3️⃣ Comments are key I have been a LinkedIn trainer for 15 years now, and I can tell you one thing I see time and time again. I meet people who say they use LinkedIn but never get anything from it. When I check their activity, all they ever do is post; they never comment and never interact. A like is not a meaningful interaction. Think of social media as a large group of people. If you stand in the corner waving, you aren’t going to gain much. If you go and talk to others, you will gain much more from the experience. Commenting on the content others create is joining a conversation. Creating your own content is starting a conversation. Of course, many people use social media as a learning tool and are happy to scroll through a feed without interactions. If learning and observing is your goal, then that’s ok - but if conversations are what you’re after, then you need to use the comment buttons. Until next week, Anna |
Networking: A New Manifesto
Exploring the intersection between digital connection, community strategy, local communities, belonging, permaculture principles, sustainability, and psychology. My work analyses the systems that prop up our current networking practices and looks at practical steps we can unlearn to build stronger networks that serve both people and the planet.
3 Ideas to Help You Cultivate More Connection This Week 👇 1️⃣ Champion the Authors You KnowBooks have been on my mind this week, specifically books by people I know. After almost 8 years creating content on LinkedIn, I've had the pleasure of getting to know several authors. I also co-authored a self-published book nearly five years ago, so I understand the work, love, and sometimes pain that goes into writing. One lesson I learned from my co-author Nicole Johnston (who sadly passed away last...
✨ Here are three new ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week ✨ 1️⃣ Stop "Networking" – Start Community BuildingIf the word "networking" makes your skin crawl, you're not alone. The term has become loaded with expectations of forced small talk and transactional relationships. Here's the thing: you can drop it entirely. Not the activities, drop the word.Instead, think of it as community building. This reframe will help you approach it differently. Community building...
Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 👇 1️⃣ Practice Magic I don’t mean the tricks; I mean practising, crafting, and developing an understanding of magical questions. I am a fan of Priya Parker's work and her book The Art of Gathering, and she’s recently been talking about Magical Questions. A magical question helps a group meaningfully connect. It asks a relevant question that everyone can answer, and one that everyone is interested in hearing other...