Here's how you can network and build connections in the creative industry.

In the creative industry, your reputation is your currency. Build a strong personal brand by showcasing your skills & personality online & offline. Be authentic, consistent, and target your ideal audience. This makes you memorable & attracts the right connections.

Networking in the creative industry thrives on authenticity and mutual inspiration. Start by attending industry events, workshops, and conferences to meet like-minded professionals. Engage actively on social media platforms like LinkedIn, sharing your work and commenting on others' projects. Join creative communities, both online and offline, to exchange ideas and collaborate. Host or participate in webinars and panel discussions to showcase your expertise. Don’t hesitate to reach out directly to individuals whose work you admire for informal coffee chats. Building genuine relationships based on shared passion and creativity can open doors to exciting opportunities. Share your networking stories and tips.

Your personal brand is the modern day form of a business card (online edition). It might be intimating to build a personal brand because it involves showing up on social media & puts you maybe in a somewhat vulnerable position to be ‘judged’. That’s what keeps most people from posting, that or people don’t know where to start. - Figure out your strongest skill sets - Figure out your passions - Gather your unique experience Now you can create content ideas. Let’s say you’re utilising one writing centred platform and a couple of video centred platforms. Plan a longer form post, and create short form posts from this longer form. If you create a video piece of content first, utilise this to create a written post for linked in or X.

Define your values and style to attract like-minded people and opportunities. Showcase your work and ideas consistently on various platforms. Your brand is not just your public image but also how you communicate with others. Keep interactions professional and true to your brand to build trust and credibility.

Your identity is based on the work that you do. The good or bad thing about being in the creative spectrum is you are always communicating with the mass. Which means your work will always be on display, A good campaign or concept will amplify your personal brand automatically. All you need to do is to showcase and own your work. It's easy to have an effective personal brand in this digital age. Surrounding yourself with creative professionals on social media will be first step in the right direction. Express your point of view openly. Share your work with everyone and stay consistent.

Networking has been transformed by the digital age, enabling global connections with creatives. Utilize social media, forums, and professional sites to showcase your work and interact with your industry. Stay active by sharing your thoughts on trends, asking questions, and participating in discussions. This enhances your visibility and highlights your passion and expertise to potential collaborators or employers.

Local events have opened my eyes to the art of in person networking, relationships and being an observer. My strengths at networking events is that: - I’m naturally quite a feminine women, this works great for making people feel comfortable and they let their walls down quite quickly. - I’m a good listener, I speak when I see fit, I don’t try so hard to ‘prove myself’. - I’m honest - I have an eye, smell or ‘6th sense’ for BS. I’ve been to enough events and even online networking has allowed me to sense when ppl have a strong ego, aren’t entirely honest, or are just there to take and not provide value. My best clients have come from in person events. I recommend being confident & knowing your value. And just be yourself ✨