How to level up your networking game this summer

1 June

The summer days are landed my dear marketing friend, and I hope you are as ready as I am for it.

There’s something different in the air here in London: bustling terraces, vibrant crowds, and more than ever, people out and about together.

If you're asking me (and I'm assuming you do because you're here), there's no better time to be alive and...

To level up your networking game.

But I don't know how/where/when to network.

I hear you, loud and clear, from the other side of the screen.

Did you know that 85% of jobs are filled through networking, yet nearly one in four professionals admit they don’t network at all?

Whether it’s fear, uncertainty, or feeling like you're bothering someone - you're not alone.

Whatever the reason or the challenge you're facing, let me ask you this: what would happen if you don't? What would happen if things stay the same? 👀

What I always recommend for networking is to be clear on your why: what are your intentions and what do you want to happen?

🧠 Is it about learning?

💼 Is it about securing a new job?

🌎 Relocating to a new country?

✨ Starting your business?

🚀 Growing your business?

Whatever that is, it's time to reframe "I have to network" as "I want to network because I’m building the future I actually want."

Your networking essentials:

Do be clear on what visibility means to you: you can't network if you're not "out there" - but "out there" doesn’t have to mean posting every day on LinkedIn (unless that’s your thing, hello fellow LinkedIn friend). However, you do need to make sure people think of you when the right opportunities arise, whatever the channel is.

Do have a strategy:

Think people: Who do you need to be in the room/conversation with?
Think time: How much time do you have to dedicate weekly or monthly?
Think place: Online, offline - where are your people hanging out?
Think value: What do you bring to the table, and how can you be helpful before asking for anything in return?

And remember to be intentional with your follow-ups: networking doesn’t end after the first conversation or event. Following up, whether with a quick thank-you message, a shared resource, or scheduling a second chat, is what turns a contact into a relationship. Intentional follow-ups show you're genuinely engaged, not just ticking boxes.

Don’t network for the sake of it: there’s nothing worse than doing something just to check a box. You feel it. The other person feels it. And no one wins.

Never dismiss opportunities to pause, reflect & recalibrate: "what gets measured gets improved," as Drucker would say. I recommend setting up a monthly check-in with yourself: What worked? What didn’t? What do I want to try next? So you can adjust your networking game accordingly and don't feel like you're running around in endless circles.

And don’t be too hard on yourself if it takes time: networking isn’t a transaction - it’s a long game. Not every message will get a reply. Not every intro will lead to something immediate. And that’s okay. Focus on showing up consistently, with intention and heart. Like anything you invest effort into, the momentum builds, and when it clicks, it’s absolutely worth it.

10 ideas to level up your networking game today:

💌 Send a cold (yet well-researched!) email and pitch yourself to that company/opportunity/client.

📣 Ask your direct friends/inner circle to connect you with the right people (as identified in your strategy), and/or ask to share your ask within their circles.

👭 Go to that networking event - PLM turns 5 on the 20th of June, and what better opportunity to put yourself out there than with a community that’s all about real connections.

💬 Send that message you’ve been holding on to, to that person in your network you KNOW can help.

✍️ Comment thoughtfully on someone’s post or newsletter you admire. Start building that relationship now.

👋 Reconnect with a past colleague or client - ask what they’re working on and how you might support.

☕ Host a small coffee meetup or virtual happy hour with people in your industry.

💡Join a niche community, Slack or Discord group where your people hang out. Be curious, not pitchy.

🤝 Offer to introduce two people in your network who should meet: become the connector.

♻️ Share a piece of content or opportunity with someone who would genuinely benefit from it, no strings attached.

To summarise:

Networking isn’t about collecting business cards or pushing your agenda. It’s about building real relationships with intention, clarity, and consistency.

This summer, show up: as yourself, with a plan, and with a mindset that says:
“I’m not just here to network. I’m here to connect, contribute, and grow.”

So grab that iced coffee, step onto that sunny terrace, and let your next opportunity finds you in the wild.

You've got this, you legend of a marketer 💪

Food for thoughts:

What’s one intentional move you can make this week to bring you closer to the people or opportunities you want to attract? PS: ☀️ Talking about sunny terraces, you're absolutely welcome to join HerCircle summer event on July 14th.