Ask Britteney: I'm Networking, So Why Am I Not Seeing Results?

Dear Britteney,

I've been putting myself out there, attending networking events, meeting new people, and trying to make connections. But honestly? I'm not seeing much come from it. I leave with a few new contacts, maybe some Instagram followers, but no real opportunities. Am I doing something wrong? How do I make networking actually work for me?

— Networked Out

---

Girl, I hear you. But let me ask you something.

Are you building relationships, or are you collecting contacts?

Because there's a difference.

I think sometimes we walk into networking events with the expectation that something is supposed to happen immediately. We want a new client, a referral, a collaboration, or at least a promising lead.

And listen, I understand. You're investing your time, your energy, and sometimes your money to be in these rooms. You want to know it's worth it.

But here's what I want you to understand:

Networking is the introduction. Community is the investment.

Stop measuring every connection by what it can do for you.

I've spent more than two decades in business, sales, and relationship-building. And one thing I know is that the strongest opportunities don't always come from the first conversation.

Sometimes they come from the fifth.

Or from someone who remembers you six months later when your name comes up in a conversation.

But that only happens when you've invested in building a real relationship.

If you're showing up to events, exchanging information, and waiting for someone to call you with an opportunity, you're missing a big part of the process.

Relationships require follow-through.

Showing up once is an introduction. Showing up consistently builds trust.

Think about the people you trust most in your professional life.

Chances are, you didn't meet them once and immediately decide they were someone you wanted to work with.

You got to know them.

You saw how they showed up.

You learned what they cared about.

And over time, that familiarity turned into trust.

The same thing happens in business.

When you consistently show up for your community, people begin to recognize you. They understand what you do, what you stand for, and how you contribute.

And when opportunities arise, they're more likely to think of you.

That's why I encourage women to stop thinking about networking as a series of individual events and start thinking about it as an ongoing relationship.

Don't just attend the community. Participate in it.

Now, here's where I'm going to challenge you a little.

When you walk into a room, are you only thinking about who you need to meet?

Or are you thinking about how you can contribute?

Can you make an introduction?

Share a resource?

Support someone's event?

Celebrate another woman's accomplishment?

You don't have to spend money or overextend yourself to make an impact.

Sometimes showing up, listening, and being genuinely interested in someone else's success is enough to start building something meaningful.

And no, I'm not telling you to give everything away for free.

I'm telling you that generosity, intention, and reciprocity matter.

The strongest communities aren't built around what we can get. They're built around what we can create together.

And yes, you still need a strategy.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a business strategist. I'm not going to tell you to spend every evening at an event and just hope something happens.

Your time is valuable.

So be intentional.

Choose communities that align with your values, your goals, and the people you want to build relationships with.

Instead of attending ten different events once, consider showing up consistently in two or three spaces where you can genuinely get involved.

Follow up with the women you meet.

Invite someone to coffee.

Ask what they're working on.

And don't be afraid to share what you're building, too.

Because community isn't about making yourself smaller or ignoring your business goals.

It's about recognizing that we can help each other move forward.

Your Next MOVE

Here's what I want you to try over the next 30 days.

1. Choose one community to invest in.

Find a space where you feel aligned with the people, the mission, and the conversations. Commit to showing up more than once.

2. Follow up with three women you've already met.

Not with a sales pitch. With a genuine conversation. Ask how they're doing and what they're working toward.

3. Create one opportunity for someone else.

Make an introduction, share a resource, recommend a business, or invite someone into a room they might not otherwise have access to.

And then pay attention to what happens.

Not just to your sales, but to your relationships.

Are you building trust? Are people remembering you? Are conversations becoming more meaningful? Are you finding women you genuinely want to grow alongside?

Those are results, too.

And over time, those relationships can lead to opportunities you couldn't have planned for.

So the next time you leave a networking event wondering whether it was worth it, ask yourself a different question.

Not, "What did I get out of that room?"

But, "What am I building with the people I met?"

Because your next big move might not come from meeting more people.

It might come from investing in the people you already know.

Now go make your move.

— Britteney

Have a question about business, confidence, relationships, or making your next move? Submit it to Ask Britteney for a chance to be featured in an upcoming column.

HerMOVE is more than a networking event. It's a community of women showing up, sharing resources, and creating opportunities together. [Join the HerMOVE community.]