My Networking Approach Wasn't Working. Here's What I Changed.

You’ve done everything you were told to do. You show up to the networking events with a smile, you nail your introduction, you chat with a few people, and then… crickets. Not a single person seems interested in what you’re selling. It’s easy to feel like giving up, but don’t.

If your networking efforts aren't bringing in business, it might be time to rethink your approach. The solution isn't always about trying harder; sometimes it's about listening differently.

Your Network Is Your Best Sounding Board

One of the greatest, and often overlooked, benefits of networking is the feedback you get from people in your circle. Think about it: you have a group of trusted peers you can use as a test audience in a low-stakes environment. That kind of honest feedback is priceless, especially when you're and can't afford big mistakes.

I’ve been lucky enough to build relationships with people who will tell me straight-up if an idea is terrible. They’ve saved me from embarrassing myself more than once. But what if you’re just starting and don’t have those deep relationships yet? The good news is the feedback is still there—you just have to learn how to hear the silence.

When Nobody Asks for a One-on-One

You deliver your 40-second pitch every week, you might even get a polite laugh at your go-to joke, but no one ever asks to meet with you afterward. When the group leader asks who needs to schedule a one-on-one, your hand shoots up again.

It’s easy to blame the group and assume they "just don't get it." But if you want to grow your , you have to analyze the situation. Ask yourself if your other marketing efforts are working. If they are, and business is good, then the lack of interest is still valuable feedback. It probably means your offering isn't packaged correctly for this specific environment. They might not understand what you do or how your pricing works.

Try this:

1. Look at your marketing materials that working and borrow language from them.
2. Rework your 40-second pitch with clearer soundbites and a specific call to action.
3. Change your introduction next week. If it works, great. If not, change it again. Keep tweaking until people are asking to meet.

When Business Is Just Trickling In

What if business good? If work is slow and inconsistent, the fact that no one is asking for a one-on-one is the most important piece of feedback you will ever receive. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it means what you’re offering isn’t what people want to buy.

When I first started networking, I was selling something nobody wanted. I could have wasted months on it. But realizing I was wrong was the first step toward getting it right. If you're in this position, now is the time to dig in and fix it.

Grab a friend you trust and a whiteboard. Spend a couple of hours being brutally honest about your business. Write down what you do, what you love doing, what’s working, what isn’t, and what your competitors are doing. Then, piece it all back together, making sure the parts you love are front and center. This is a key step in turning a . Create a new pitch based on this refined offering and test it.

You Get Meetings, But Nobody Buys

This is a common and fixable problem. You deliver a great pitch, people meet with you, and then the trail goes cold. This isn't a pitch problem; it's a follow-up problem.

What do you do after a good one-on-one? Do you schedule the next conversation right then and there? Do you connect on LinkedIn and call them a few days later? Or do you just hope they’ll remember you?

Opportunity knocks, but you have to open the door. You don’t need to be a hard seller, but you do need to take responsibility for moving the relationship forward. Don’t let a great connection fizzle out because you didn’t have a follow-up plan. This proactive approach is essential for anyone running .

Stop Fearing the "No"

If your new idea is met with total silence, consider yourself lucky. The feedback couldn't be clearer. Success in business often comes down to one thing: whether you listen to feedback and make changes, or just keep pushing forward, blaming everyone else.

Rejection isn't failure; it's data. Every "knock back" helps you shape your offering, your packaging, and your presentation. These are the moments that lead to breakthroughs. When you take full ownership of your progress, rejections stop feeling personal and start feeling like part of the process.

Use Your Network to Your Advantage

Don’t just wait for silent feedback—ask for it directly. After a one-on-one, ask your contact what they thought of your pitch and if they understood what you do. If there’s a presentation coach or business strategist in the room, ask them for their thoughts on your 10-minute talk.

It’s tough to swallow your pride, but taking advice from people around you can be a game-changer. Early in my career, a business coach gave me a small tip about my nervous body language after a presentation. That brief chat completely changed how I approached public speaking.

Your networking group is the perfect safe space to launch new ideas for your . Before you spend a ton of money on a public launch, do a "soft launch" with them. Offer an "early adopter" discount in exchange for honest feedback. It’s better to get a "good enough" version out there and refine it than to wait for perfection that never comes.

The same goes for your pitch. In a normal sales call, you get one shot. If they say no, you can’t exactly call back the next day and say, "Hey, I’ve got a much better pitch I’d like to try on you now!" But in a networking group, that’s exactly what you can do. If this week’s pitch doesn’t work, you come back next week and try another one. Nobody will mind.

The Secret to Networking Success

Here’s the big secret: one mistake doesn’t matter. One awkward introduction or a business idea that falls flat is not the end of the world. Everyone else is far more concerned with their own problems than they are with your slip-up.

Networking is a long game played in a safe environment. It’s one of the only places where you get a second, third, or even a 600th chance to make a first impression. Every meeting is a new opportunity to refine your message and connect with someone new. This is an incredible advantage when .

Stay consistent. People come and go from networking groups, but the ones who stick around, through successes and failures, are the ones who build the strongest relationships and see the best results. Don’t think you can dip out for a year and pick up where you left off. The landscape will have changed. Keep showing up, keep listening, and keep improving.