Get out there and get on


From finding events to nailing your pitch, Linda Harrison gets networking advice


F


or many journalists networking is ‘definitely a dirty word’, says Jenny Holliday, a career happiness coach.. “It’s associated with corporate life, events with bad coffee and name badges. But that


needs to change because it really is a way to get more clients and work, as well as to build your confidence. The journalism industry is a busy place – when I see a post looking for people for shifts or a contract, there are often replies in the hundreds. It’s competitive and it’s harder than ever to secure work.” Holliday believes the key to effective networking – in person and online – means being active rather than passive. “You’re being present, which shows you care about what you do and you’re proud of what you offer,” she explains. “You’re not lurking – you’re showing up. Journalists need to network to get ahead of those pile-ons when it comes to work. When it comes to online networking, standing out is crucial. Networking using LinkedIn can be seen as a ‘no-no’ for journalists. But, if you want new work and to see the jobs before they land in newsletters, you need to be networking online too.” Love it or loathe it, networking can be a game changer, something Natalie Trice has personal experience of. Trice, a publicity expert, media commentator and author,


says: “Just over a year ago, everything felt like it was falling apart. My dad’s health was declining as his dementia deepened, and my business felt like it was hanging by a thread. I forced myself to attend a local networking event for International Women’s Day in Devon, hoping for connection. But instead, I found myself in a swanky hotel surrounded by women who clearly hadn’t read the memo about supporting one another. I left feeling deflated, invisible and thinking maybe networking wasn’t for me.” But Trice joined a Mums in Business International coffee


and chat. That one small step changed everything. “It connected me not only with local business owners – some mums, some not – but with women across the UK, the US and even Australia – and I just wished I’d taken up the opportunity sooner. These were people who wanted to grow, collaborate and cheer each other on and, through that space, I found clients, suppliers, genuine friends and confidence. “When my dad did pass away, that same community lifted


14 | theJournalist


me up and held me together, which goes to show that networking is more than your finances. It’s about community.” Because of those connections, Trice has had some amazing opportunities. In March, she spoke on stage in Belfast for International Women’s Day, which she describes as a “full- circle moment from where I’d been just a year earlier”.


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It really is a way to get more clients and work


Find – or start – the right events Many events are shared on social media, so it is worth following journalists or event organisers. Eventbrite is great, and it is worth joining industry-specific groups and pages on social media. For example, Holliday is an admin for the No.1 Freelance Media Women Facebook group, where events are often posted. Women in Journalism also runs networking events. Some national organisations run events locally, like Business Buzz. Look outside your niche and find what works for you – early mornings, lunchtimes or evenings. Trice adds: “Put it in your diary, making it a non-negotiable. And go with intention, whether that’s finding collaborators, suppliers or simply getting out of your PJs and into the world. The right room can change everything – not just your business, but your life – and I am testament to that.” When she could not find the networking space she needed, Leona Burton created her own. Mums in Business International


The aim is a second date


Adrian Ashton delivers training workshops for start-up business on networking. He says: “Some people


refer to me as spider-man because I have an amazing web of contacts that mean I can always seem to find the person that someone else needs for any given situation.”


Four-point plan • Don’t go in without knowing where your


emergency exit is (for example, a pretend fake call from a sick relative)


• Always have a game plan. Why are you spending time there instead of working on client projects?


• Remember, you’re not there to sell, just to get invitations for a second date with people. The follow-up is everything.


• Try to leave an impression or have an easy way to be memorable when you’re following up. For me, this involves my shiny red helmet (I try to cycle to events). Online, it’s my Zoom background card – a sea of Lego bricks, a laundrette or one of my oversized props.


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