We requested trade consultants to share the position networking has performed in constructing their private model — and the way networking has opened doorways for them. Discover ways to remodel your strategy to networking and elevate your private model by constructing real relationships, leveraging social media, and creating mutually helpful partnerships.
- Construct Real Relationships Via Shared Values
- Neighborhood Involvement Sparks Sudden Alternatives
- Lead with Generosity to Gas Model Progress
- Domesticate Belief Via Constant Worth Addition
- Prioritize High quality Connections Over Amount
- Leverage Social Media for Genuine Engagement
- Deal with Helpfulness Relatively Than Promoting
- Remodel Informal Encounters into Enterprise Partnerships
- Flip Curiosity into Lengthy-Time period Skilled Relationships
- Strategic LinkedIn Engagement Builds Business Credibility
- Foster Supportive Communities for Mutual Progress
- Align Connections with Skilled Values
- Personalize Outreach for Significant Conversations
- Create Mutually Helpful Partnership Networks
- Diversify Connections Via Focused Occasions
- Set up Thought Management by way of Digital Platforms
- Nurture Relationships for Sudden Alternatives
17 Networking and Private Branding Tales
Construct Real Relationships Via Shared Values
Networking for me has by no means been about accumulating enterprise playing cards — it’s been about real relationships that develop naturally by shared work and values. As somebody who has circled legislation corporations for over 15 years, my most useful connections have come from being genuinely invested in different individuals’s success.
An ideal instance is my involvement with NELA (Nationwide Employment Attorneys Affiliation). Once I spoke at their 2020 digital conference about “The best way to Do Good Work & Do Properly,” I wasn’t there to pitch my providers. I shared actual methods about trust-building and work-life stability that I had discovered by blood, sweat, and tears operating my very own firm by a pandemic whereas preserving all my staff employed.
That genuine strategy led to a number of legislation agency partnerships throughout the nation as a result of attorneys may see I really cared about their success, not simply touchdown one other consumer. One agency from that convention grew to become a six-figure consumer just because they trusted my “no matter you plant, you harvest” philosophy I shared throughout the presentation.
The Reddit-worthy perception: your experience shared freely creates extra alternatives than any elevator pitch ever will. If you genuinely assist others succeed first, the enterprise relationships comply with naturally.
Nicole Farber
CEO, Nicole Farber
Neighborhood Involvement Sparks Sudden Alternatives
Presenting with my son at 1Million Cups was an absolute game-changer for us. That one second actually opened doorways we by no means may have anticipated. We related with a tremendous particular person who launched us to Professional Athlete Inc. — a unbelievable native sporting items producer and distributor. Not solely did Professional Athlete Inc. step in as a mentor, guiding us by difficult trade terrain, however our connection blossomed right into a beneficial wholesale partnership. All of those alternatives grew from the easy act of sharing our journey with our neighborhood.
My recommendation to everybody: get on the market and become involved in your native occasions! Don’t hesitate to share your experience or present tasks. The connections you’ll make, the sudden alternatives that emerge, and the real assist you give and obtain might be actually transformative. Usually, by connecting with others and being prepared to assist, you uncover simply the correct encouragement and sources you want in your personal path.
Now, as I look again, I really feel extremely blessed to leverage all these private experiences — each the challenges and the wins — to assist different entrepreneurs as a model guide at The Private Model Studio by Shea Images. There’s nothing extra rewarding than utilizing what I’ve discovered to assist others as they launch their very own small companies and private manufacturers. Watching my purchasers’ concepts change into actuality fills me with each gratitude and inspiration — proof that neighborhood, connection, and a willingness to share your story can flip risk into success.
Brandi Russell
Private Model Technique Marketing consultant, The Private Model Studio by Shea Images
Lead with Generosity to Gas Model Progress
Networking is the engine of my model, as I try to guide with generosity by spotlighting different feminine founders, sharing sensible insights, and following up with clear subsequent steps. One instance: after I profiled an entrepreneur on my platform, she launched me to a convention organizer. That heat introduction become a paid workshop, a partner-media characteristic, and a wave of certified consumer inquiries inside weeks. The takeaway: be the connector first, make it straightforward for individuals to say sure, and shut the loop rapidly so momentum doesn’t die on the vine.
Kristin Marquet
Founder & Artistic Director, Marquet Media
Domesticate Belief Via Constant Worth Addition
Networking has formed my profession greater than any marketing campaign or advert spend ever may. One instance that stands out was at an IT convention earlier this 12 months. I sat down with somebody over espresso, and as a substitute of doing the standard card swap, we had a real dialog in regards to the challenges we have been each seeing in hiring for AI-related roles. We saved in contact afterward, sharing articles, sending fast notes after we noticed one thing related, nothing pressured. Just a few months later, that very same contact launched me to a consumer who wanted assist scaling their dev workforce. That introduction become one in every of our most profitable collaborations this 12 months.
The lesson for me was that it’s not about networking occasions or “working the room.” It’s about staying genuinely curious and following up in a approach that provides worth. That consistency builds belief. Over time, individuals bear in mind you not in your pitch, however for the conversations the place you listened, related dots, and made their lives simpler. That’s how I’ve constructed each my private model and lasting enterprise alternatives.
Ann Kuss
CEO, Outstaff Your Workforce
Prioritize High quality Connections Over Amount
Networking has been key in creating my private model, not simply when it comes to getting my identify on the market but in addition when it comes to gaining respect within the enterprise world. I don’t consider it as a transaction however as growing relationships. Each connection is an opportunity to pay attention, share concepts, and add worth to one another. Being constant within the correct conversations and making an actual contribution has finished extra for my repute than any promoting marketing campaign may.
One instance that stands out is once I went to a small trade roundtable about digital transformation. I didn’t anticipate a lot stepping into, however after a considerate dialog with one other participant, I used to be launched to a big B2B firm that was having bother selecting an company. That introduction finally led to a collaboration that not solely helped us get extra purchasers, but it surely additionally offered me the chance to talk at extra conferences about digital innovation. It was a stark reminder that individuals, not pitches, are usually those who provide you with alternatives.
The lesson for me is easy: for those who strategy your community like a neighborhood as a substitute of a Rolodex, it can assist your private model. It nearly all the time pays off in methods you’ll be able to’t predict to construct belief and ship worth initially.
Gianluca Ferruggia
Common Supervisor, DesignRush
Leverage Social Media for Genuine Engagement
Networking has formed my private model, however not as a way of accumulating contacts. If you’re glorious at your craft, deep, agenda-free relationships kind naturally; I deal with networking as a accountability to create worth first. I prioritize fewer, higher-quality ties, constant follow-through, and rooting for the opposite individual’s success.
This strategy paid off years later: relationships I constructed whereas engaged on innovation and know-how for the Authorities of Minas Gerais helped me launch Acelera Neves, connecting me to early funding, serving to assemble the core workforce, and even main me to my co-founders. The initiative then earned vital press protection, amplifying my model far past my rapid circle. Doorways open when individuals bear in mind the way you confirmed up for them, reliably and with out a hidden agenda. High quality over quantity; service over self-promotion.
Karina Romano
Head of Advertising and marketing, TaikaTranslations
Deal with Helpfulness Relatively Than Promoting
Networking has been basic to constructing my private model, significantly by the strategic use of social media platforms. Over twenty years in the past, I started leveraging social media to attach with entrepreneurs throughout the nation, regardless of being primarily based in a small metropolis with restricted native alternatives. This strategy allowed me to construct credibility and belief with potential purchasers with out requiring vital monetary funding.
The relationships fashioned by constant on-line networking immediately translated into natural gross sales and created quite a few enterprise alternatives that will have been not possible by conventional native networking alone. What proved most useful was specializing in genuine relationship constructing relatively than direct promoting, which established a basis of belief that continues to assist my model right now.
Heidi Cortez
Entrepreneur, Heidi Cortez Teaching LLC
Remodel Informal Encounters into Enterprise Partnerships
Networking has been completely essential, particularly in our relationship-driven trade.
One particular instance: again in 2012, I attended an area Chamber of Commerce mixer and struck up a dialog with somebody who talked about they have been annoyed with their present video vendor.
As an alternative of instantly pitching our providers, I simply listened and provided some free recommendation about their video technique.
Six months later, they referred to as after they have been prepared for a brand new companion, and that relationship has generated over $300,000 in enterprise and led to referrals to 3 different corporations of their community.
The lesson I discovered is that networking isn’t about promoting — it’s about constructing real relationships and being useful first.
Andre Oentoro
CEO and Founder, Breadnbeyond
Flip Curiosity into Lengthy-Time period Skilled Relationships
A part of my position as a CEO entails being the face of our firm. This requires me to attend conferences and occasions to construct our model, and also you by no means know what alternatives can come up by the individuals you meet. I used to be just lately at a nationwide convention and attended an occasion for different entrepreneurs in my metropolis. There, I bumped into one in every of our present companions who was having a dialogue with a colleague of theirs. They kindly launched me, and I rapidly discovered that this individual may very well be a possible companion for us too. They have been in command of operating an academic session for individuals in our goal market and have been looking for an skilled speaker. Based mostly on having constructed a robust relationship, our present companion strongly beneficial me for the chance. From that session, we met a number of purchasers and developed a brand new pipeline for leads.
Roshni Wijayasinha
CEO, Prosh Advertising and marketing
Strategic LinkedIn Engagement Builds Business Credibility
I launched into a cross-country RV journey to interview over 300 individuals about their profession paths. These conversations weren’t meant for “networking” — however an inadvertent advantage of the journey was that I fashioned the inspiration of my skilled community and enterprise philosophy that guides me right now.
A kind of interviews in 2006 become one in every of my most useful connections, nearly twenty years later. The interviewee skilled vital enterprise success after our interview and agreed to change into an official advisor of Featured — regardless of my not having any contact with him at some point of these twenty years.
The underside line: doing one thing attention-grabbing and creating connections alongside the journey helps you make significant relationships. It’s wonderful how a real, curious dialog can blossom right into a lifelong connection that spans a long time and creates alternatives neither individual may have imagined initially.
Brett Farmiloe
CEO, Featured
Foster Supportive Communities for Mutual Progress
Networking has been basic to constructing my private model by creating significant connections with trade friends and potential collaborators. I’ve discovered that strategic engagement on LinkedIn particularly has been one in every of my best brand-building approaches. My technique entails taking time to have interaction thoughtfully with content material in my area of interest, leaving substantive feedback that show experience relatively than generic responses.
After these interactions, I ship customized connection requests that reference our particular engagement level, which establishes credibility and exhibits real curiosity. This strategy has persistently opened doorways to new partnerships and alternatives as a result of individuals respect the genuine connection relatively than feeling like simply one other quantity in a contact listing. The relationships constructed by this intentional networking technique have immediately contributed to my visibility and repute within the trade.
George Fironov
Co-Founder & CEO, Talmatic
Align Connections with Skilled Values
The way in which my private model developed was basically totally different from what one often expects. As an alternative of simply amassing contacts, I fostered a few of these relationships in real methods by attending trade gatherings, actively participating on LinkedIn, and dealing in shared areas. These actions often paved the best way for large alternatives. Whereas I usually received’t spotlight one occasion, I’ve seen time and time once more how a honest suggestion or a well-thought-out follow-up created lasting partnerships, drew new followers, or invited contract work. These connections typically opened doorways to collaborations that I had by no means anticipated.
By nurturing these relationships, I discovered that networking grew to become much less about self-promotion and extra about constructing a supportive neighborhood that thrives on mutual development and shared success. Gaining this reservoir of confidence over time is, in essence, what creates the notion of the model that you simply now witness, not a single achievement.
Bhavik Sarkhedi
Founder & CEO, Ohh My Model
Personalize Outreach for Significant Conversations
Networking has been important in constructing my private model as a result of it’s not nearly visibility — it’s about creating real relationships rooted in shared values. One particular instance was connecting with a useful drugs practitioner who resonated with my work round nervous system regulation. What started as an informal dialog become an invite to collaborate, which opened doorways to working together with her purchasers and increasing my attain in a approach I couldn’t have finished alone. That have strengthened for me that networking is strongest whenever you present up authentically and deal with connection, not transaction.
Karen Canham
Entrepreneur/Board Licensed Well being and Wellness Coach, Karen Ann Wellness
Create Mutually Helpful Partnership Networks
Networking has been basic to constructing my private model by creating genuine connections that align with my skilled values. I’ve discovered success with a strategic strategy to networking by direct messages that focuses on personalization relatively than generic outreach. My course of entails crafting individualized connection notes that show I’ve finished my homework in regards to the individual I’m reaching out to, which instantly units a basis of respect.
I then share thought-provoking DEI articles that replicate my skilled values and create significant dialog starters. To stability professionalism with persona, I sometimes embrace a tasteful meme that breaks the ice and exhibits there’s a human behind the message. This customized networking strategy has persistently opened doorways to new consumer relationships and alternatives that wouldn’t have materialized by conventional networking channels.
Vivian Acquah CDE
Licensed Inclusion Strategist, Amplify DEI
Diversify Connections Via Focused Occasions
Networking has been basic to constructing my private model by creating significant relationships that stretch past rapid enterprise transactions. When scaling our enterprise, I discovered that deliberately rising a community of white-label partnerships with companies and consultants in associated digital advertising fields grew to become our best development technique. These networking relationships opened vital doorways by offering entry to established consumer lists that will have taken years to develop independently. Moreover, these partnerships created new income streams whereas concurrently lowering our gross sales overhead and enhancing consumer retention charges. What I’ve discovered is that genuine networking isn’t nearly accumulating contacts, however about creating mutually helpful relationships the place each events can leverage one another’s strengths.
Jack Genesin
search engine optimization Marketing consultant, Jack Genesin Consulting
Set up Thought Management by way of Digital Platforms
I began creating my very own networking occasions, particularly to fulfill new individuals, join with them on a deeper stage, and change concepts.
For me, networking at particular occasions is one of the best. You could know the place you need to go.
I particularly select to attend entrepreneurial occasions with a combined entrepreneur crowd to fulfill individuals from various backgrounds and industries.
This opened many doorways professionally; I made new buddies and exchanged concepts I wouldn’t have in a special setting.
John Talasi
Entrepreneur, John Talasi
Nurture Relationships for Sudden Alternatives
Networking has been basic to constructing my private model by creating significant connections with trade friends and potential collaborators. LinkedIn has served as my major platform for skilled networking, permitting me to have interaction with thought leaders and keep present with trade developments. Via constant engagement and sharing of insights on LinkedIn, I’ve been in a position to set up credibility and visibility inside my skilled neighborhood. The platform has offered alternatives to attach with like-minded professionals who share related targets and pursuits. These connections have led to beneficial conversations and relationship-building that stretch past the digital area.
Angela Ash
Digital PR Specialist, Movement Company
