How to grow your business with networking, word of mouth, and digital marketing
You started your business with the dream of building something of your own—authentic and solid. You’ve studied, invested time and resources, and created a product or service that works. And yet, you find yourself stuck in a loop: struggling to attract clients, creating content that doesn’t deliver results, and feeling like you have to push harder without seeing the return you hoped for.
Meanwhile, you watch others who seem to have everything under control—clients flowing in naturally, strategic collaborations, communities that talk about them as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
And you wonder: What am I doing wrong?
The answer might be simpler (and more uncomfortable) than you think: You're doing everything alone.
Networking isn’t random—It’s Strategic
Effective networking isn’t just about “knowing people.”
It’s about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right message.
Networking without a strategy is like shooting blindfolded, hoping to hit the target.
Example: Sara has just launched her photography business and knows that posting beautiful photos on social media isn’t enough to get noticed.
Instead of waiting for clients to find her, and burnout following strategies and algorhitms on social media, she takes a proactive approach:
✅ She connects with local wedding planners and makeup artists, offering them a free photoshoot in exchange for visibility. As a result, they start recommending her to their clients.
✅ She attends networking events for creatives and small business owners, positioning herself as the go-to photographer for professional portraits and brand imagery.
✅ She partners with a coworking space, offering mini-shoots to members, which helps her build relationships with entrepreneurs who may need photography services in the future.
Within a few months, Sara not only gains more clients but also builds a network of connections that helps her grow sustainably.
The lesson? If you want sunshine, palm trees, and coconuts, you don’t book a trip to Norway, right? The same applies to networking. You need to be where your audience already is.
When you position yourself well and build authentic relationships, networking becomes a strategic asset that works for you.
But there’s something even more powerful: when your value is clear and recognized, it won’t just be you talking about your business—others will do it for you. This is where word of mouth comes into play.
Word of mouth isn’t dead—You’re just not leveraging It
There’s a common belief, especially among freelancers and small business owners, that if your work is good, people will eventually notice. That if you’re good enough, clients will come to you on their own.
That’s not true.
Or rather, it’s not true without a strong network of people who talk about you, recommend you, and make your work visible in the right places.
Word of mouth isn’t dead—it has just evolved. And today, it doesn’t happen only through handshakes with the right clients but through the strategic connections you build every day.
Think about this: If a trusted friend recommends a restaurant, what do you do? Ignore it or go check it out? You probably go. Because the trust is already there—you don’t have to build it from scratch.
Now, apply that same concept to your business:
Talk about what you do with friends and family (yes, even if you think it won’t help).
Ask your first clients to recommend you to others.
Use reviews and testimonials (social proof is gold).
And for those who say: "But my family and friends never help me!" — Okay, maybe they won’t be your first clients, but informing them costs you nothing. They might not hire you, but they could talk about you to the right person.
When you don’t work on networking, you face three major problems:
Constant struggle to attract new clients from scratch. Without a supportive network, every sale feels like a battle. You always have to explain who you are, what you do, and why people should choose you.
Feeling isolated. You're surrounded by people who don’t fully understand what it means to run your own business. You lack real peer discussions, and you feel alone in your struggles.
The pressure to be everywhere. Social media feels like an obligation, a machine that consumes your time. Creating content becomes more of a burden than an opportunity.
All of this stems from the same root issue: not leveraging the power of connections.
And no, it’s not about selling yourself—it’s simply about letting people know you exist.
Selling isn’t about convincing—It’s about building relationships
Talking about networking also means tackling another major block: selling.
Many entrepreneurs and freelancers feel uncomfortable when they have to “sell.”
They fear coming across as pushy, desperate, or having to become someone they’re not.
But this mindset about selling is toxic and misleading. Selling isn’t about manipulating someone into buying from you.
Selling is creating the space for the right person to say yes.
Selling, in reality, is just another form of helping people.
If your service can solve a problem, why wouldn’t you talk about it?
If you’re a photographer, you help brands convey their visual essence.
If you’re a designer, you help businesses become recognizable and memorable.
If you’re a coach, you help people transform their lives.
When you see selling this way, it stops being about “pushing” something and becomes about offering value.
And networking is part of this.
You’re not trying to “close deals”—you’re building relationships with people who might need you.
In short, selling is about creating connections, solving problems, and building trust over time.
But today, these connections don’t happen only through meetings or emails—your online presence can amplify your message, making your brand recognizable and memorable. And that’s where digital buzz comes in.
Digital Buzz: how to get noticed without stress
Buzz marketing, or digital buzz, happens when people start talking about you spontaneously. And no, you don’t need to go viral. You need to be relevant and create valuable, authentic content.
How do you create buzz?
By being authentic and building relationships, not just sales.
By creating valuable content that your audience finds useful and wants to share.
By offering an experience so good that people can’t wait to talk about it.
By being consistent. You don’t need to post a thousand times a day—better a few high-quality posts with consistency.
If no one is talking about you, it’s because you’re not giving them a reason to.
The real problem: the fear of putting yourself out there
Let’s be honest: the real problem with networking often isn’t time or strategy.
It’s the fear of putting yourself out there.
Do any of these sound familiar?
"I’m not good enough to be out there."
"I’m afraid of what others will say."
"I feel like an imposter."
"I can’t talk about myself without feeling uncomfortable."
News flash: Everyone feels this way at the beginning.
The difference between those who grow and those who stay stuck is who decides to act anyway.
Want to overcome fear? Network naturally.
Start with 1:1 conversations instead of big events.
Join professional communities that understand you.
Don’t think about “selling”—focus on creating real connections.
Networking isn’t about being extroverted. It’s about building relationships authentically, in a way that aligns with you and your business values.
If your business is invisible, It can’t grow
Networking doesn’t mean squeezing into events full of strangers and trying to socialize randomly. It doesn’t mean adding people on LinkedIn, hoping that someday, someone will remember you.
It means being intentional about building meaningful relationships.
It means understanding who you want to connect with, where they are, and how you can create a genuine exchange of value.
It means stopping to see others as competitors and starting to recognize the potential of collaborations, synergies, and the right communities.
And most importantly, it means accepting that you can’t do it all alone.
If today you feel overwhelmed with work, like you never have enough time to create content, manage clients, and think about growth—pause for a moment.
Ask yourself:
Who is talking about me and my business, besides myself?
Who am I building real relationships with, beyond just exchanging likes or comments?
Am I waiting for clients to find me, or am I actively making myself visible to the right people?
Strategic networking is the difference between a business that struggles to take off and one that grows sustainably. It’s up to you to decide where you want to be.
In a nutshell...
Whether you’re a freelancer or leading a small business, you can’t afford to stay in the shadows. If your business isn’t growing, ask yourself: how many new people have heard about me this week?
If the answer is “few” or “none,” it’s time to step up.
And no, you don’t have to do it alone. With the right strategy, you can build authentic connections and grow your business sustainably.
And if you need help figuring out your next best step, let’s talk over a (virtual) coffee. 😉
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AG Studio guides bold entrepreneurs in the hospitality and personal development industry with personal and/or business brands to conscious growth and sustainable success, helping them stand out online. CLICK HERE to learn more about my services and how I can help you!
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