192: How to Win with Real Human Connection While Everyone Else Goes AI
If you’ve ever walked into a networking event and thought, “What am I even doing here?” this episode is going to change how you approach it. With more people relying on AI to write their content, messages, and outreach, real human connection is becoming the advantage. Here's how to do it.
If you’ve ever walked into a networking event and thought, “What am I even doing here?” this episode is going to change how you approach it.
With more people relying on AI to write their content, messages, and outreach, real human connection is becoming the advantage. The problem is, most people either try to connect with everyone or leave without building anything meaningful.
In this episode, Business Relationship Strategist Melissa Snow shares a smarter, more intentional way to network. One that saves you time, feels natural, and actually leads to relationships that matter.
You’ll learn:
- How to decide who you actually want to connect with before you walk into a room
- Why networking isn’t about finding clients (and what to focus on instead)
- The biggest mistakes people make at events that cost them opportunities
- How to follow up in a way that feels genuine and gets responses
If you’re more introverted or networking has ever felt forced, her approach will feel like a sigh of relief.
Fear not... this is not about "working the room." Instead, it’s about building the right relationships that support your side hustle long term.
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How to Network for Your Side Hustle (Even If You Hate Networking)
Networking has a reputation problem. For many entrepreneurs, the word alone conjures images of awkward small talk, pushy salespeople, and rooms full of strangers, and honestly, that's enough to make anyone want to stay home. But what if networking didn't have to feel that way?
Networking expert and entrepreneur coach Melissa Snow has a better idea.
What Networking Actually Means
Forget the outdated idea of networking as schmoozing for sales. Melissa reframes it entirely: "Networking is about creating genuine connections." Her definition draws from the classic concept of a broadcast system of multiple transmitters. The idea is simple: if you have 100 people in your network and you build real relationships with them, each of those people can amplify your message to their networks. You double, triple, or quadruple your reach without having to do all the work yourself.
"You're not networking to find clients," Melissa says. "You're networking to grow your network."
Virtual Networking: A Huge Time Saver
If you're juggling a 9-to-5, your side hustle, kids, aging parents, or any number of other responsibilities, virtual networking might be the most practical tool in your arsenal. Melissa specifically recommends it for people who are shy, anxious, introverted, or neurodivergent, as well as for anyone who has tried in-person networking and found it overwhelming.
The benefits are real: no commute, no navigating a room full of strangers, and yes ... if a conversation goes sideways, "your connection is bad" (haha) is a perfectly acceptable exit strategy.
Melissa herself hosts a monthly virtual speed networking event for female entrepreneurs, where attendees are placed in small breakout rooms with a structured discussion question. These prompts might include: Why did you start your business?, What do you need right now?, or What's your biggest challenge? The structure lowers anxiety and creates space for genuine conversation instead of just elevator pitches.
The Biggest Networking Mistakes Side Hustlers Make
1. Trying to Do Everything
When your time and energy are already stretched, quality beats quantity every time. Melissa advises to experiment with different event formats; structured vs. unstructured, virtual vs. in-person, and pay attention to how you feel after each one. Energized? Go back. Drained? Move on.
2. Following Up With Everyone (or No One)
The follow-up is where most networking falls apart. Going to an event and never following up is like going on a first date and ghosting. But trying to follow up with every single person you meet is equally unsustainable.
Melissa's advice: know what you're looking for in a connection before you walk in. A cheerleader? A collaborator? A mentor? When you identify the right people, invest in those relationships intentionally.
3. Forgetting the Personal Touch
One of Melissa's most practical tips is scheduling personalized follow-up emails in advance. If someone mentions their son is getting married in August, she'll write that email the day they meet, and schedule it to send in August. It's not disingenuous; it's organized. "I still want to know. I just know I'm not going to remember."
Authentic Connection in the Digital Age
Whether you're networking on LinkedIn, Instagram, or at a virtual event, Melissa's core advice is the same: just be a real human. Imposter syndrome is common among entrepreneurs, and it can hit even harder for someone with a side hustle if they feel like they're not a "real" business. They are.
Showing up authentically, even if it turns some people off, is perfectly okay. As Melissa puts it, turning people off is half the goal, because it helps you find your people faster.
Side Hustle Networking: Quick Wins
- Start with virtual events - lower pressure, no commute, easy exit
- Prioritize quality connections over attending as many events as possible
- Take notes at events so follow-ups feel personal, not generic
- Schedule follow-up emails immediately while details are fresh
- Engage on social media - comment, share, and stay visible
- Set realistic goals - burnout is more common in side hustlers, not less
You Belong in That Room
If there's one thing Melissa wants every person with a side hustle to walk away with, it's this: whether you're building your business 5 hours a week or 50, you are just as much a business owner as anyone else in that networking event. You have something to offer. You belong there.
And you don't need to wait until conditions are perfect to start. "Whatever it is you're telling yourself you need to wait for, you don't," Melissa says. "Just go for it."
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Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things.
Connect with Melissa:
Melissa's Co-ed Virtual Networking Recommendation:
Laura Livingston's Real Connections
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