Networking Mistakes Freelancers Should Avoid

I get 400+ connection requests every week. 99% make the same mistakes. Only 1% get it right. Here’s how you can be that 1%. Before I preach: I’ve also made all these mistakes. I’m no exception. But, by now I’ve learned from it. I hope this post helps you avoid them. ❌ SENDING REQUESTS WITHOUT A NOTE. 99% of connection requests I get have no note. By adding no note, you’re asking the other person to spend at least 30 seconds looking at your profile title, understanding what you do, & decoding whether that’s relevant. Sure, they can do it for 10 people. But not 100+. You’re wasting an opportunity EVERY time you send a request without a note. ✅ SEND A NOTE, EVEN IF IT'S 2 SENTENCES. Forget writing detailed & specific notes. Just write 2 sentences. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. Now, I’d love to follow along your journey and hopefully contribute in a meaningful way.” That’s it. BOOM. You just 5x-ed your acceptance rate. ❌ ASKING FOR A "20-MIN CALL" No, most people don’t have time for a “20-min call.” I don’t have time for a “20-min call.” Because you haven’t convinced me what’s in it for me. Instead, here’s an idea: ✅ ASK, "HOW CAN I HELP?" That’s it. So simple. “Hi Pooja! I enjoyed reading your recent post on how to send connection requests. I also see you publish regularly. I’d love to follow along your journey. Also, if I can help in anyway, just let me know.” I will 1000% accept a request with such a note. Most people would. Build a relationship before asking for more. ❌ SENDING AN ESSAY FOR A REQUEST By sending long essay messages, you’ve made 3 mistakes: - You wasted your time - The other person probably didn’t read it - Your request got lost in the abyss ✅ SENDING A SHORT, SPECIFIC REQUEST WITH A COMPELLING WHY Make it easy for the other person to help you. Keep your message short, specific, and give them a REASON to help you. “Hi Pooja! I’ve read most of your posts on LinkedIn. There’s so much value in them. Thank you. I aspire to publish my book next year. Can you point me to any resources/tools that was helpful for you? If you already have it written down somewhere, let me know. P.S. I can help you compile a post on this if you’d like!” Now, you’ve given me 3 reasons to help you: - You’ve done your homework in reading my posts - You have a clear goal in mind - You already offered value in your “P.S.” I get it. All this is extra work. It takes time. But, these few minutes will make or break your chance to find your co-founder, next job, or even a best friend. If this helped you, please re-share the post and help your network! 👉 And, follow me if you'd like more of this. I publish a resource every day. P.S. Wanna send me a connection request? Now you know how to do it 😉 #writing #freeresources #unshackled #advice #linkedin

🙅♂️ The 5 Biggest Networking Mistakes (and How to Fix Them): Most people struggle with networking because they only reach out when they need something. Networking has been instrumental to my career—breaking into tech sales, securing referrals, and helping others land jobs at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Snowflake, Databricks, and Microsoft. Here are five common networking mistakes and how to avoid them: 1. Reaching Out Only When You Need Something The best networking happens when there’s no immediate ask. Engage with people’s content, share insights, and offer help before ever making a request. 🔹 Who to follow: Nick Cegelski, Jen Allen-Knuth, Justin Welsh 2. Sending Generic Connection Requests If your request says, “I’d love to add you to my network,” you’re doing it wrong. Mention a shared interest, a mutual connection, or why their work stands out to you. A simple, “Really enjoyed your post on [topic]—would love to connect” goes a long way. 🔹 Who to follow: Ashleigh Early, Carole Mahoney 3. Neglecting Follow-Ups One conversation isn’t a relationship. Following up can be as simple as, “Thanks for your advice on [topic]. I applied it and saw [result].” Most people don’t do this, which makes you stand out. 🔹 Who to follow: Jeff Bajorek, Anita Nielsen, Amy Volas 4. Not Leveraging Your Existing Network Your next opportunity is more likely to come from a former classmate, ex-colleague, or past interviewer than a stranger. Stay in touch, reconnect, and don’t just rely on cold outreach. 🔹 Who to follow: Todd Caponi, Christine Rogers, Josh Braun 5. Not Setting a Networking Goal Networking shouldn’t be random. Set a simple habit: One new connection per week One virtual coffee chat per month One industry event per quarter 🔹 Who to follow: Amy Franko, Lori Richardson, Jason Bay The best opportunities come from who you know AND who knows you. 💎 What’s the best networking advice you’ve ever received? Drop it in the comments. #Networking #CareerGrowth #TechSales #LinkedInTips

I used to scare clients away (without knowing it). Don't make the same mistakes I did. Trust me, it's not as fun as it sounds. I used to wonder why no one replied to my emails or hired me. Turns out, I was doing everything wrong. Here’s a list of my biggest missteps (and how to avoid them). 1. Never Follow Up One email is enough, right? If they don’t reply, they’re not interested. 2. Target Everyone Don’t bother with “ideal clients.” Pitch to anyone with a pulse. 3. Neglect Your CRM Why organize when chaos is fun? Trust your memory to recall every lead. 4. Avoid Cold Outreach Reaching out is overrated. Wait for clients to magically find you. 5. Take “No” Personally Feedback? No thanks. Let rejection crush your soul. 6. Rely Only on Referrals Who needs a strategy when you’ve got luck? Hope for word-of-mouth to work forever. 7. Chase Likes, Not Leads Focus on going viral. Revenue? That’s a future-you problem. 8. Don’t Create Content Why share value when silence is golden? Let your expertise remain a mystery. 9. Do All the Talking Skip the listening part. Clients love being ignored. 10. Promise More, Deliver Less Overpromise, underdeliver. It’s the perfect recipe for disappointment. 11. Wait for Perfect Conditions Action can wait. Perfection is key (even if it never comes). 12. Ignore Feedback Clients don’t know what they want. Why bother listening to them? 13. Repeat Mistakes Learning is optional. Keep doing what doesn’t work. 14. Focus on Features, Not Benefits List every technical detail. Value? They’ll figure it out. 15. Don’t Ask for Case Studies Why show proof of success? Keep your wins a secret. 16. Ignore Data Decisions don’t need logic. Follow your gut—every time. 17. Copy the Crowd Blend in and expect to stand out. Genius strategy, right? 18. Quit When It Works Find success, then stop. Why bother scaling? If this list feels familiar... Maybe it's time to flip the script. ✨ Pro Tip: Want to actually land clients? Do the OPPOSITE of this list. Seriously. It works. ______________________________ Like the post? Repost ♻️ to help others Follow Arpit Singh tap the 🔔