Networking for Writers in the Digital Age

Most copywriters are fighting for clients in the same three places… Upwork, cold email, and LinkedIn DMs. And then they wonder why it feels so competitive and why nobody responds to their pitches. Meanwhile, there are places where clients are actively looking for copywriters right now and barely anyone is showing up because most freelancers don't even know these places exist. I've used all three of these over the years and they've quietly become some of our most reliable sources of work. ✅ The first one is private talent networks. There are community owners in the internet marketing space who maintain a pool of vetted talent, so whenever one of their members needs a copywriter or a creative strategist, they don't post a job ad or go to Upwork… they just pull a name from their list and make an introduction. If you're on that list, work comes to you without you ever having to pitch for it. Getting on these lists usually starts with building a genuine relationship with the community owner and showing them what you can do. ✅ The second one is private Slack and Discord groups. These are communities that anyone can join for free, but most freelancers never bother because there's no immediate payoff. You join, you show up consistently, you contribute to conversations, you help people with their questions… and then one day someone in the group says "does anyone know a good copywriter?" and you're already there. ✅ The third one is paid communities that come with courses and low ticket offers. Whenever someone buys a course or a program, they usually get added to a private group as part of the deal. Most freelancers completely overlook this, but the people inside those groups are already investing in their businesses, which means they have budgets and they need help executing what they're learning. And since most people don't invest in courses to begin with, the number of capable service providers inside those groups is incredibly small. You end up being one of the very few people in the room who can actually do the work that everyone else is just studying. These three places won't replace your Upwork profile or your cold outreach system, but they will consistently put you in front of clients that nobody else is competing for.

You can't solve today's career pivot with yesterday's networking habits. Most professionals think reinvention means starting from scratch with their network. You want to become a novelist, but your connections are all in tech. You're pivoting to consulting, but you only know people in academia. You're moving into nonprofits, but your rolodex is full of investment bankers. So you do what everyone does: cold email strangers in your target industry. Ask for informational interviews. Try to prove you're worth listening to. But here's the reframe. You don't have the wrong network. You're just not using it the best way you can. Your tech friends? One of them went to college with a literary agent. Your academic colleagues? Someone's spouse runs a consulting firm. Your finance contacts? They sit on nonprofit boards and know every executive director in town. The connections you need already exist in your network. Just not in the obvious places. But there's a bigger strategic shift most people miss. Stop chasing people. Start attracting them. When you're constantly reaching out, asking for coffee chats, requesting time from strangers, you're positioned as the outsider who needs favors. When you share your expertise publicly - through writing, speaking, or thought leadership - the right people come to you. They come to you as someone worth learning from. I've seen this work repeatedly: A friend's wife went to college with a well-known independent filmmaker. A television newscaster met at a weekend writing workshop two decades ago. The high-value connections rarely come from obvious industry networking. The shift isn't "I need different connections." It's "I need a different connection strategy." Here's what actually works: Get specific about who you want to meet. Not "people in publishing" but "agents who represent business book authors." Ask your existing network for introductions - without a transactional agenda. People know surprising people. Your job is to find out who. Share your expertise at scale to reverse the dynamic. Write for respected publications. Speak at conferences (even for free at first). Make it easy for the right people to discover you. This is how you stop proving yourself to strangers and start building momentum. The career pivot gets infinitely easier when you realize your existing network isn't the problem. Your strategy is. ♻️ Save this and share it with someone who needs to stop chasing and start attracting. ➕ Follow Dorie Clark for more on how to use your network more effectively.

Most online opportunities begin with a simple comment or message. World Online Networking Day on 30 October is a timely reminder that genuine professional relationships are built through small, proactive actions. A short invite for a virtual or in-person coffee can lead to advice, shared challenges, and often a new direction you never expected. My own career has been shaped this way. From my early publishing experience in 2010 to stepping into SEO roles where I was often the first hire, many of those opportunities started with conversations sparked through curiosity and initiative. Those coffee catchups gave me a chance to highlight business and technical solutions others may not have seen on their sites. Even when timing was off, those relationships often evolved into collaborations later. Networking is not about volume. It is about intent. Digital publishing industry is driven by problem-solving, and the most meaningful professional connections form when you show a genuine willingness to help someone solve a problem that matters to them.  Practical guidance for building genuine online connections ✅ Use your outreach to ask for advice, not a sale ✅ Prepare one high-impact idea tailored to their brand or challenge ✅ Follow up with a clear recap and how you can support without pressure ✅ Stay visible with useful insights or comments aligned to your expertise ✅ Keep relationships active even when there is no immediate commercial fit Here are the key takeaways 1. Curiosity builds trust 2. Preparedness shows value 3. Relationships compound over time   Your next conversation could shape your career. Reach out to someone you admire and propose a short coffee chat. Share one actionable idea that demonstrates your thinking. Opportunity often arrives quietly. Has online networking opened an unexpected door for you? What is one practical tactic you would recommend for building real professional connections? #WorldOnlineNetworkingDay  #DigitalPublishing  #AudienceDevelopment  #SEO  #CareerGrowth

Transitioning from on-cam to online journalism has been quite the journey for me. Along the way, I've realized how crucial it is to create and maintain an online persona. The digital world offers journalists unmatched opportunities to connect with their audience, build their personal brand, and stay relevant in an ever-changing media landscape. Building an online brand is no longer optional; it’s a must. I was recently invited to train fact-checkers at Vera Files where I highlighted the importance of embracing the digital shift. I also shared insights why establishing an online presence is crucial for journalists today, particularly in engaging younger audiences and combating false information online. Rebuilding Trust: A recognizable online persona helps build credibility and trust. When people recognize and trust you, they’re more likely to engage with and believe your reporting. This trust is the foundation of effective journalism, nurtured through consistent and authentic engagement. Being active online also allows journalists to demonstrate transparency and accountability, clarify reporting, address criticisms, and engage in open dialogue with the public. Engaging with the Audience: A strong online presence lets journalists engage directly with their audience, providing valuable feedback, sparking discussions, and creating a loyal following. The digital world isn’t just about broadcasting information; it’s about creating a dialogue. Engaging with readers on social media or other platforms makes journalism more interactive and responsive. Building Your Brand: Crafting a well-defined online persona helps build a personal brand, opening up opportunities for career advancement, speaking engagements, and other professional benefits. Personal branding is key to standing out in a crowded media landscape. Visibility: Being active online increases your visibility. Sharing stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes content helps reach a broader audience and drive traffic to your work. The more visible you are, the more you can amplify your stories and impact. Networking: Social media and online platforms are crucial for networking with other professionals, sources, and industry leaders. Building a persona helps journalists connect with peers, find story leads, and gain industry insights, leading to collaborations and new opportunities. Promoting Your Work: Journalists can use their online persona to promote their stories and projects, leading to greater readership, viewership, and engagement. Promotion is no longer solely the domain of the publication; individual journalists can also drive interest in their work. Future-proofing the industry: The media landscape is always changing, and a strong online persona helps journalists adapt to new platforms and trends. This adaptability ensures they remain relevant and can continue to reach their audience through various channels. Staying ahead in the fast-paced world of digital media is crucial.

Words matter. On the page, on the stage, and in person. As someone who’s spent decades teaching sales and now crafts content for others, I can tell you that the words you choose can open doors, or quietly close them. Whether you’re standing in front of a room introducing yourself or writing a blog post to showcase your expertise, you’re still doing the same thing, communicating who you are, what you stand for, and why someone should care. Networking and content development may seem like two separate lanes, but they’re actually the same highway. One is the spoken version, the other the written. Both aim to create connection, credibility, and curiosity. When you’re at a networking event, your words (hopefully) come with tone, body language, and a smile. You can adjust in real time based on the person’s reaction and laugh a little, soften the pitch, tell a story instead of a statistic. You read the room. When you’re writing, you don’t have that immediate feedback. The words have to work harder. You can’t lean in or raise an eyebrow for effect. The rhythm, structure, and tone of your content have to do all the heavy lifting. That’s why clarity and being real become non-negotiable. Every sentence is a handshake and every paragraph is an introduction. Good networking is conversational, not rehearsed. The same is true for good content. You can always tell when someone is performing versus when they’re connecting. The best posts, blogs, and newsletters sound like a genuine conversation, the kind you’d have over coffee, not in a boardroom. And both networking and content are cumulative. One great meeting doesn’t build a network. One solid post doesn’t build a brand. It’s about consistency, showing up, sharing value, being visible, and staying relevant. People remember how you made them feel, whether that’s through a memorable chat at a lunch table or a post that made them pause and think. I’ve met people at networking events who later became content clients and readers who became referral partners. The bridge between the two? My words. How I showed up verbally and how I showed up online matched. The voice was consistent. That’s key. Your online presence should sound like you, not an overly polished, “LinkedIn-ified” version of you. So, the next time you’re at a networking event, think of it as a live version of your content. Be clear, be kind, be curious. And when you sit down to write, imagine you’re talking to the same people you’d love to meet in person. I’m Adrian, an advocate for “real speak,” and truth in writing. Your tone, manner, and heart should always sound like you even when they are written by someone done else. You imagine the words and messaging, we create the final product. Photo from August 2025. Networking at the beach with Caryn Isaacs Jeri Quinn Carolyn Josephs Ingrid J. Schwartz Nancy Larick Linda Springer Jackee (Jacquelen) Namwila, BCPA, Author, MWBE

Authors: Turn Your Chapters Into LinkedIn Lessons. Here’s How. 1. Take readers behind the curtain 🎭 ↳ Share your writing process, research adventures, and creative challenges. ↳ People love authentic stories about the journey. Share the messy first drafts, the late-night inspiration, and the "aha" moments that shaped your book. 2. Transform chapters into micro-content ✍️ ↳ Break your book's key ideas into bite-sized LinkedIn posts. ↳ Share compelling quotes, thought-provoking questions, or unexpected insights. ↳ Each post should stand alone while making readers curious about the full story. 3. Host topic-centered discussions 💭 ↳ Start conversations around themes from your book. ↳ Instead of promoting, ask questions that showcase your expertise naturally. ↳ When readers engage with your ideas, they're more likely to trust your work. 4. Write LinkedIn articles that complement your book 📚 ↳ Use LinkedIn's publishing platform to explore topics you couldn't fit in your book. ↳ These articles establish you as a thought leader and create a content bridge to your published work. 5. Connect with industry peers authentically 🤝 ↳ Engage with other authors, publishers, and literary professionals. ↳ Comment thoughtfully on their posts, share industry insights, and build relationships. ↳ A strong network amplifies your reach organically. Remember: LinkedIn isn't just another marketing channel – it's a platform for meaningful professional connections. ↳ Share your expertise generously, and the book promotions will feel natural. What's your favorite way to connect with readers online? Share in the comments!

Too many screenwriters network with open hands. You can see it in the comments of my posts, and I see it in dozens of emails and DM’s in my inbox every day. There are too many hopeful writers that need and want help. No one with access has time to give to them all.  Instead of getting lost in a sea of artists clamoring for favors, analyze where your experiences, insights, and connections can move other people closer to their goals. Whether you’re meeting someone new or talking to a friend, as soon as you hear a need of theirs, start immediately strategizing how you can help them solve their problems and get ahead.  Not the other way around.   When you show up to networking conversations by calculating whether a person’s job or connections can be a beneficial steppingstone for you, they can feel it. It doesn’t feel good.  It’s why networking gets a bad rap among sensitive, well-meaning artists.  No one likes interacting with a sleazy social climbing person. But if you focus instead on what you can for someone else (with no expectation of receiving anything in return), you generate goodwill that will pay off dividends later in unexpected ways.  Don’t think you have anything to offer anyone? You do. It doesn’t have to be big, influential, or even entertainment-related. Just try it in the next conversation you have with a friend or acquaintance in any context. Ask about their goals and projects. What are their frustrations? What challenges are they facing in their life? Do they have any trips, plans, or dreams that they’re working towards? When they open up to you, see if you know anyone you can offer to introduce them to who might help them.  Or offer to lend them a book or send them an article on the subject with helpful information. Connect them with any resources or recommendations that they’ll find useful. You can even show up for them in a supportive way if they have an event, a show, or a publication (no matter how small).  If, in the middle of the conversation, you can’t think of anything helpful immediately off the top of your head, write a note to yourself. Record who this person is and what their needs are. Now that this action item is simmering in the back of your mind, you will probably meet someone or get inspiration later today or in a few days. You can always go back to that person with something helpful. It shows that you’re thinking about them and that you genuinely care about their needs. And this helps build your habit of constantly strategizing over how to help others. *** Want more actionable advice on how to build a network in the Entertainment Industry (Even if you live outside Los Angeles)? Check out the deep dive I wrote on exactly this topic! Link in the comments below.

In the book world, authenticity and vulnerability aren’t just words – they’re the secret ingredients to creating a loyal readership. Let’s take a leaf from the book of authors who’ve mastered this art and then dive into how you can do the same. 🌟 Colleen Hoover: A social media sensation, Hoover wins hearts by sharing her life and writing journey on Instagram and TikTok, responding to fans, and building a community that feels more like a family. 🌟 Stephen King: The master of horror turns to Twitter for candid conversations, sharing writing tips, personal stories, and opinions, thus humanizing his enigmatic persona. 🌟 Brené Brown: Known for her work on vulnerability, Brown connects through her TED talks, podcasts, and social media, sharing personal anecdotes that resonate deeply with her audience. Now let’s dive into how you can start building authentic connections with your own community of readers: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲: Utilize LinkedIn posts to open up about your experiences on your leadership journey. Talk about the challenges, inspirations, and breakthrough moments. This level of transparency helps your professional network see the person behind the author title, fostering deeper connections. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: LinkedIn isn't just for networking; it's for building relationships. Respond thoughtfully to comments on your posts, participate in relevant group discussions, and engage in conversations on other authors' content. This two-way interaction demonstrates your commitment to the community. 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐐&𝐀 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Leverage LinkedIn Live to conduct Q&A sessions. These live interactions offer a direct line of communication with your audience, allowing you to discuss your work, writing process, and industry insights in real-time. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: Publish articles on LinkedIn that provide value to your audience. Whether it's insights into workplace culture or leadership, fail-forward stories, or your take on industry trends, this content should reflect your expertise and experiences. 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲: LinkedIn is a powerful tool for networking, but the key is authenticity. Connect with other authors, industry professionals, and readers in a genuine way. Share their content, congratulate their achievements, and offer helpful insights when appropriate. Remember, your journey as an author isn’t just about the stories you write; it’s about the connections you forge and the lives you touch along the way. 🌟 In the vast library of the world, your authentic voice is what guides readers to your work, turning them from spectators into a devoted community. #Vulnerability #Authenticity #PersonalBranding

How Rejecting Connection Requests from Writers Helps Me Land More Clients   Sounds strange or counterintuitive? Let me explain. I often receive messages from content/copywriters asking why they're not getting clients on LinkedIn. They tell me: ✅ Their profile is optimized ✅ They post daily ✅ They engage consistently with other’s content. Yet, no clients!! What's the issue❓ Their network!  It's saturated with *other* content/copywriters. If you're a content creator looking for clients, your target audience isn't other writers; it's the people who HIRE writers, like: ➡️ CEOs who set the overall business strategy & delegate marketing decisions. ➡️ Founders who want to see their company grow & understand the value of effective communication. ➡️ Heads of Content/Marketing who directly manage content strategies & are key decision-makers for content-related services. ➡️ Business Owners (SMBs): Many SMBs need consistent content but lack in-house resources. Connecting with these individuals ensures your content reaches the people who will likely need & pay for your services. Let's say you post about "5 Ways to Boost Your Website Conversions with Compelling Copy." If your audience consists primarily of other writers, guess what?  You're just preaching to the choir. However, if your network includes CEOs, founders, and business owners, that same post may generate comments/messages like: 👉 "This is exactly what we need for our upcoming product launch. Let’s discuss this further!" (Direct lead) 👉 "I'm struggling with conversions. What's the best way to implement these strategies?" (Potential consultation) 👉 "Sharing this with my marketing team." (More visibility & potential referrals) Start connecting with the right people and decision-makers. The results will surprise you. 🎯

Everyone’s obsessed with networking at events. 🤝🏼 But if you’re only trying to connect on arrival—you’re already too late. 🤷🏻 🧍“Show up in person.” 👀 “Make eye contact.” 💳 “Shake hands. Exchange cards.” Great advice—until you arrive… And realize you don’t know “who” you’re meeting beyond their job titles!! 🚫 No conversation. 🚫 No connection. 😶 Just names on badges. In 2025: Your text is your first handshake. Networking happens waaaay before you meet in the room—on LinkedIn, in a DM, in the way you reach out. Here’s what actually helps: ✔️ Text hi to people you know you’ll meet-or hope to ✔️ Be real. Mention something specific you noticed or have in common ✔️ Go beyond “looking forward to meeting you” When writing your text, ask yourself: 1️⃣ Does it sound like you—or like something copied and pasted? 2️⃣ Does it open a real conversation—or just check a polite box? 3️⃣ Does it invite connection—or expect a reaction? The digital era CAN have human connection. 📳 Start with a text (DM), 🎤 A voice note, 📧 Or even an email with a touch of your personality—it goes a long way my friend :) ❌ People don’t remember small talk. ✅ They remember how you made their first conversation with you feel easy. ➡️ Below: a poster from a panel discussion I’m speaking on this week at University of Technology and Applied Sciences under the auspices of Aimen Alhosni — alongside familiar faces I’ve worked with before 🥳 & new connections I’m excited to learn from! 👏🏼 Dr. Ali Al-Harthy Mohammed Al Balushi Mo.esh Sarhan Said Al habsi Linna Al Kendi Nabil Al Balushi Eng. Ali Al Lawati (MBA, ILM, SHRM)