Developers who hate networking should try this
How to scale your impact without going to meetups and conferences
The saying "your network is your net worth" always annoyed me.
Not because I didn't believe it.
But because I didn't think I was capable of doing what it was suggesting.
Not as an introvert.
Growing your network means increasing the surface area of opportunity.
Having people to turn to when you need something and being on someone's shortlist when they have a juicy opportunity.
Growing your network used to mean:
- Attending conferences and mingling between seminars.
- Going to Meetup groups and talking to developers over beer and pizza.
- Having an evening out with your entire team.
These were all things that didn't come naturally to me.
But I did them anyway, and even then saw little payoff.
The fact is that these strategies work great for some people. They enjoy them, repeat them, and eventually see a pay off.
What about everyone else?
Not just the introverts—but anyone who can't afford the time or money to attend activities just to mingle?
First, a quick story.
How the internet killed the business card
A few years back, I used to attend property investment seminars.
One time, I put on a shirt and headed to a posh hotel in London.
On entering the room, a friendly lady came up to me and introduced herself. We talked for a minute. Then suddenly, she handed me her business card and said goodbye.
She buzzed off towards someone else and started another conversation.
This lady was a busy bee, flying around the room to have quick chats and hand out her contact details.
I actually had a lot of respect for her. She was taking action towards her goals.
But it all seemed very inefficient.
Spending hours at an event hoping to make a once-in-a-lifetime contact is a big gamble.
At least, compared to what you can do today.
Developers, more than anyone, know how the internet brings software to billions of people around the world.
No mail order. No floppy disk. No CD.
Being able to download software or simply access it through your browser is a huge boost in efficiency. It's grown the economy and made life more convenient.
Developers understand replicating software, but unfortunately many fail to see what else can be replicated.
Something that also comes in binary format, can be transmitted around the globe, and will eventually make that nice lady's business cards redundant.
Media.
Becoming your own media organisation
Media includes writing, audio, and video.
Think of it as a message from one human to many others.
In the past, media was controlled by well-funded organisations like newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels.
But now anyone can become their own media organisation.
You can distribute your message across the internet for free.
No gatekeepers required.
So what does this have to do with networking?
Traditional media is slowly being replaced by individuals. These people realise they can grow their network much more efficiently online.
By posting valuable content online, you give consumers the same experience as reading a good newspaper article.
Except, with today's social media algorithms, you can get way more specific.
That means you can create your own niche newspaper, radio station, or TV channel.
- A podcast for developers who want to build their own software products.
- A Substack for developers who want to travel the world with their laptop.
- A YouTube channel for developers obsessed with retro PC games.
This is why business cards are dead.
Those who like to mingle can still mingle for fun. But this is a much faster way to grow your network.
I've been posting online for 6 years. But I'm only just starting to understand how powerful this is.
Every week I post videos on the internet and meet new developers.
Beyond initially making the video, reaching more viewers takes no extra effort.
YouTube handles everything for free. In fact, they even pay you if enough people watch.
Some developers are beginning to understand the opportunity now.
Hopefully, you're starting to see the potential too.
There are a lot of people out there who see things in a similar way to you, but could do with a little help.
I'm excited to see where you take this. What you build, who you reach, and what impact you have.
Thanks for reading.
Tom