The Beauty of Brainless Networking
It happened again yesterday – I was talking with a PR “colleague” (we’re all in this together) and he was asking how business was. He was referring to my monthly newsletter, but as I was wrapped up in a ton of freelance work, that’s what came out as a response. Then he said, “Wait – I have this friend who just started a company and she needs writing help. Would you be interested?”
It can’t be said often enough – every single conversation you have is a potential lead to a job. This one may or may not turn into something, but now there’s one more person on this planet who knows I’m a writer that someone else thinks highly enough of to recommend. That’s why it’s important for you – yes, you – to bring your work into your conversations, even if it’s briefly (please don’t make the mistake of thinking everyone actually cares what you’re doing, but the fact that you say you’re a business writer or that you’re a ghostwriter to someone at a party is enough to keep you in their thoughts the next time their spouse/partner/boss/friend says, “Wish I knew a decent writer to help out with this”).
You think that’s impossible, don’t you? Let me tell you the gyst of this conversation prior to my colleague mentioning his friend. We were talking about fishing. Yes, fishing. I was telling him how busy I was and how glad I was to be getting away for a fishing vacation. He asked what I’d been busy with. I mentioned my freelance work, which as well as I know him, he wasn’t aware I was “still doing.” The rest you already know. It’s proof that even the most casual of conversations can lead you somewhere. The trick is to mention it without being pushy or whiney. I’ll confess right here – I have a tendency to be whiney when I’m overworked. Luckily yesterday, I was also exhausted, so I was able to temper my response to something that sounded exhausted to me, but must have translated into a professional tone to my colleague. Go figure!
If you need more tips on how to network, or even just general advice, please visit Anne Wayman’s weblog, The Golden Pencil, which is dedicated to a tip a day this month. Or visit her dynamite site for freelance writers of all levels, About Freelance Writing. From there, you can find not only help on that site, but links to dozens of terrific writers and their own weblogs.
when I look back over my career I’d venture that 70% or so comes from brainless networking 😉
thanks for the plugs
A