Most business owners think networking is about volume: More events, more intros, more virtual meetups… more everything. But here’s the truth: You can network constantly and still see zero results if you’re not in the right room.
Let’s walk through what actually works—and how to find communities that help your business grow.
1. Chaotic Outreach Pushes People Away
We’ve all seen it: the stampede-style outreach where someone charges in with a pitch and no presence. It’s chaotic, it’s cliff-bound, and it never works.
Your first impression sets the tone for everything that follows. People feel your intent long before they remember your words.
The question is: What are you signaling when you show up?
Networking that leads somewhere requires:
- Warmth
- Curiosity
- Generosity
- Presence
Anything else becomes noise.
2. People Remember How You Make Them Feel
I once had a Chamber director tell me: “Everyone in this room needs to meet you.”
Not because I delivered a dazzling pitch. Not because I worked the room like a magician. But because I showed up to give, support, and connect.
That’s what people feel.
This is why pitch-fest events drain me—and why they’ll never build the kind of business you want. Your business grows through relationships, not rapid-fire monologues.
3. You Need the Right Rooms, Not Just More Rooms
Choosing the right group is the difference between spinning your wheels and accelerating your success. Before saying yes to any networking event, ask yourself:
• Is this room connected to my ideal clients?
Not every room will contain your buyers directly, but it should be full of people who know them, influence them, or regularly refer them.
• Are the people here invested?
Investment leads to intention. Intention leads to presence. Presence leads to opportunity. Free groups often attract dabblers; invested groups attract serious business owners.
• Does this community foster real connection?
If the event structure is just pitch-pitch-pitch, you’re not building relationships. You’re collecting noise.
I have zero patience for pitch parades, and neither should you. Your time is too valuable.
4. Show Up with a Strategy That Works
Once you’re in the right room, be intentional about how you show up.
Set a two-person goal.
Find two people you genuinely want to connect with again. Just two. Meaningful beats massive.
Follow up fast.
I block two hours within 48 hours to follow up with everyone I met. My follow-up includes:
- Where we met
- Something they said that stood out
- Something of value
- A gentle next step
Then I send a personalized LinkedIn connection request.
Lead with gratitude and curiosity.
This is the energy that opens doors… and keeps them open.
⭐ 5. What the “Right Room” Can Look Like: A Personal Share
Full transparency: I’m the Managing Director of the Greater Seattle Chapter of eWomenNetwork.
But here’s why I bring it up:
When you join eWomenNetwork, you’re not just joining one chapter. You’re joining all of eWomenNetwork—a community of 45 chapters across North America and expanding internationally, with 25 years of delivering exceptional connections and growth.
Whether you do business locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally, this community is designed for:
- Collaboration
- Support
- Visibility
- Shared growth
- Serious business owners who invest in themselves
The values of eWomenNetwork—generosity, connection, and worthy intent—fully align with my own. I’ve had an incredible experience as a member, and now as a Managing Director.
This isn’t a pitch. It’s simply an invitation to curiosity.
If you’ve been thinking: “I want to find the right room,” and you’d like to explore whether this community might be a fit… I’m always happy to share more.
No pressure. Just a conversation.
The Bottom Line
Networking isn’t about showing up everywhere. It’s about showing up where it counts.
Because when you’re in the right room, with the right people, with the right intention…Your business—and your relationships—grow in ways you can’t even imagine yet.
Lynn Whitbeck is the co-founder and President of Petite2Queen. She is focused on identifying and evaluating opportunities for women at work, helping them define their personal roadmap. She dedicates herself to delivering tools and insights, embracing visualization of the big picture, and identifying and implementing the minutiae of detail. Lynn aims to share lessons learned along her journey and enable positive uplift for women.