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Can we talk about how overrated paid networking events are?
I tracked my leads from 6 months of $50 meetups in Austin and got zero real partnerships, just a stack of business cards I never used. Has anyone else found that free online groups or casual coffee chats actually work better for building something real?
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williamb291mo ago
Did you read that piece in Forbes about how the best leads come from giving first? I found that showing up to help someone with their problem at a local co-op space got me more traction than any paid mixer ever did. It's way easier to build trust when you're not both trying to sell something.
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norab211mo ago
Oh man, I feel like I could wallpaper a small room with all the business cards I collected at those things. My wallet used to come home heavier than my brain felt lighter, if that makes sense. For me, free online groups have done way more because nobody is in a forced "sell or be sold" panic mode. Plus at coffee chats I can spill my drink on myself and it becomes a real conversation starter instead of some awkward elevator pitch moment. Honestly, I think my best connection came from a dropped burrito at a coworking space, not any $50 meetup. Those paid events feel like buying a lottery ticket for your career, and I'm pretty sure my odds are better with actual tacos.
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