How to Start Networking (Even If You’ve Never Done It Before)

My 5-Step Process Is Called "The Connection Loop"

My Medium friends can read this story over there as well.

Photo by Thriday on Unsplash

So you want to start networking. But don’t know how?

It’s one of the most common questions I get.

Maybe someone told you, “You should be networking!”

So you nodded, smiled, and then quietly thought, Okay, but how do I actually do that?

Most people don’t get taught this stuff.

That’s where I come in.

Let’s break it down into something simple, clear, and actionable.

Step 1: Start with People You Already Know

This surprises a lot of people.

When they think about networking, they think about meeting strangers at conferences or cold messaging people on LinkedIn.

But that’s not where you start.

Start with the people who already know you.

That’s where every strong network begins.

Why?

Because it’s low risk.

You’ve already built a bit of trust.

You don’t have to pitch yourself. You just have to reconnect.

These are people from:

• Past jobs

• Your neighborhood

• School

• Professional groups

• Volunteer roles

And they’re likely happy to hear from you as long as you’re not asking them for a favor right away.

Step 2: Understand the 3 Ways We Meet People

Almost every relationship in your life started one of three ways:

1. Proximity – You worked together, lived nearby, or shared some group or space.

2. Introductions – Someone you knew introduced you to someone new.

3. Strangers – You happened to meet randomly (rare, but it happens).

When you start with people you already know (group 1), you open the door to group 2: introductions.

And that’s where the magic happens.

Step 3: Use the Connection Loop

Here’s my simple system for building networking momentum:
I call it The Connection Loop.

1. Start with someone you know.

2. Reach out and set up a short voice-to-voice chat.

3. Listen. Then offer something helpful.

   • A recommendation

   • An article

   • An introduction

   • A piece of advice

4. When they ask, “How can I help you?” - be ready.

   • Know who you’d like to meet next or what kind of person you’d like to connect with.

5. Get introduced. Then repeat the process with the next person.

Each time you complete the loop, you strengthen your relationships and expand your network with people who actually want to talk to you.

No cold outreach. No awkward events. No elevator pitch required.

Just real conversations, one step at a time.

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Want to Ask Me a Question About Networking?

I’m hosting a live Q&A soon where I’ll be answering your questions in real time.

Kind of like group coaching, kind of like office hours, all focused on helping you get unstuck.

You can submit your questions in advance or show up live and ask me anything about networking.

🗓️ It’ll be June 24th at 1PM ET, 10AM PT
👉Register here for Your Networking Questions Answered By The Introverted Networker

Bring your questions or just listen in.
Hope to see you there.

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Want more networking tools and tips:

1. Get Your Personalized 5-Step Networking Plan. It’s a comprehensive toolkit that combines years of content from my book, this newsletter, my course, and all my LinkedIn posts with user-friendly resources.

2. Try my online course, “5 Steps To Grow Your Professional Network.” It’s FREE for all my newsletter subscribers. Learn the process I use everyday to grow my professional network.

3. Follow me on LinkedIn for daily networking and career tips.