Hi Sabrina ... I am going to play the Devil's Advocate here ... Hope you don't mind too much ... :)

STOP Networking "at random", or
with "random people or events" ...

Please read that again!

I checked out your profile, your website, and more ...
There is no Market Dominating Position ...

Where are all of your articles, videos, Webinars and whitepapers for me to see how much of an expertise you have, and all the reasons I may want to speak with you ... 

Where is all of your extensive information and content on Women who:

Feels confused and overwhelmed by money.
Don't know how to manage money or how to get started.
Are overspending, or spending on things that aren't important to them.
Avoid looking at their finances.
Experience shame and guilt around money.


There is almost NO WAY POSSIBLE for you to determine if ANYONE like this is in any random Networking Event ... How many hours upon hours upon hours of saying hello, giving your nowhere-to-be-found Elevator Pitch, and hoping someone cares, do you have in a lifetime? But thousands upon thousands continue to do it ... And when asked about their Marketing Campaigns, they give their deer in the headlights look ...

Know why I say that Sabrina?
I say that because outstandingly created Strategic Marketing brings you all the leads you can handle ... And you would ONLY have the time to Network and build relationships WITH THEM ... Those who show they're interested in what you offer!

Create your own Webinars and Events, and have a proactive Lead Generation Campaign for your target or idea client to come to them ...

And how many Women Groups on LinkedIn and Facebook are you in, engaging with valuable comments and suggestions, and posting once in a while with some valuable information & education? How many Financial Advisors or Consultants have you formed a Strategic Alliance with?

Great subject matter and niche, though ... And if it's your purpose and passion, brush off the mosquitoes, the mud, and the noise, and go help someone ... For many are looking, and need you ... AND, will need you more during the next 12-24 months ... Trust me!

PS: Know why most are tired and overwhelmed with Networking? It's because it is fruitless! Who on earth wants to beg someone for attention? Or for interest? Or to try and convince some stranger that you are relevant? 

Remember ...
You didn't invite them there ...
They didn't attend because YOU were coming ...
And it ISN'T an Event that you created, with a specific topic, that your target or ideal client just might want to come and check out ... capisce?

I kind of went crazy early on and met quite a few people, but it became difficult to keep up so I had to add some discipline to my process. I manage my time better by scheduling a specific amount of time dedicated to networking meetings and intro chats each week as well as prioritizing those that make the most sense for me.

I like productive exchanges... when discussions go on and on and on... I lose interest quickly 

Take it step by step and work in short bursts. Picking one question in one group to interact with each day helped me feel less overwrought.

I understand where you are coming from, Sabrina Alton

I tend not to spend long periods of time on social media. Granted there are days when my day job needs me to be on there longer. On other days, I come and go throughout the day to check in and respond to any comments. 

So far, no one has made a huge deal of it. Then again, most people know that I'm an introvert and I need to step away when I feel overwhelmed. Plus, they know that I work on projects offline for my day job. 

Block scheduling is a great way to "have to" accomplish something by a certain time. I set my networking goals, and then I have to accomplish them within a certain time frame (i.e. catching up on alignable from 6:30 a.m.- 7a.m.). As someone in the marketing field, I know the importance of not getting sucked in the matrix (lol) of the web. 

I limit myself to 20 min at a time on social platforms and mostly stick to discussions in the groups that I find the most engagement on. Knowing I have a time limit keeps me focused on discussions I know will be most beneficial to myself and to others. When I participate in an online networking event (which I find tiring as an introvert), I have the time blocked out on my calendar, make note of people I’ve met who I want to connect with, and try to make those connections as soon as the event is finished. I find “unfinished” tasks almost as draining as networking, so getting the connecting off my plate immediately is helpful. From there, I just check for PMs in the following hours/days to see if I need to follow up with anyone.

Managing feelings of being overwhelmed or exhausted due to networking is totally dependant on creating a strict schedule and record keeping. Keeping records helps re: follow up activities and follow through activities, as well as having those records as a quick reference re: communications. Keeping a strict schedule refers to taking on only what is do-able today, do-able tomorrow and this week... and scheduling other activities in as time marches forward. You don't have to do everything all at once - pace these activities out. Networking, while important, is only a small part of your business management. Make a note of future tools, resources, activities so that you don't miss out on something - and schedule the task in one at a time whenever you have room for another project.

Hey Sabrina, fellow introvert here! This is the formula I use to help with networking and growing my business. It's not a perfect science but it helps me deal with the anxiety of networking and keeps me moving forward.

A. Remove the emotion: 

**Networking = 1 Touchpoint = 1 person (in my target audience) I’m providing value to via comments, social posts, blog posts, video, referrals (I only do what works for my personality – rarely an in-person networking event)


B. Make it a numbers game:

- How many new clients do I want and by what date? 1 new client by 12/31/2023 (about 13 weeks from today)

- How many touchpoints do I need to get the 1 new client: 100 touchpoints per 1 new client.

- What are 3 ways I can create a touchpoint?

1) Post on IG   
2) YouTube shorts
3) Connecting on Alignable

- To reach the target of 100 touchpoints, what needs to be done:
1) IG posts        3 posts/wk =       39 
2) YT shorts     3 videos/wk =     39 
3) groups         3 connects/wk = 39 
Total touchpoints in 13 weeks:  117 total (which is over my goal of 100). Then I schedule time in my calendar to make this happen.


C. Preserve my energy: 

On days when I’m connecting in comments, in person, or in online groups/ training, I schedule space in my calendar afterward to get away from my computer screen. 

I have a space in my kitchen with great light and a view of nature. I will sit there and do thought work, make notes, update my planner – anything that feels right at the moment that will also move my mission forward (so, no tv binging lol).


I hope this helps! And thank you for helping women with their finances. Your services are definitely needed and appreciated.

I hear ya! Just last December I took a break from attending networking events because I was burnt out like a piece of black toast trying to attend them all. Lol

And it comes back to being “intentional” (especially with your time), where you’ll show up, who you’ll connect with, questions you’ll answer etc.

You can start by creating a schedule of the days and times that you’ll network (e.g. Thursday) and answer questions leaving buffer times to recover! Also, It’s knowing what you have the “capacity” for, there’s no reason to try to do everything all at once knowing that it’ll drain ya and most likely lead you to burnout. 

 Let people come to you! ;) Start discussions of your own and grow your visibility!