Start the Year with Purposeful Networking: How to Make Meaningful Connections in 2026
- Angela Schalow
- Feb 5
- 2 min read
The start of a new year is the perfect time to set intentions, make plans, and focus on personal and professional growth. While many of us set resolutions, write goals, or commit to improving our habits, one key area often gets overlooked: networking. Including networking goals in your plans can transform your year, opening doors to opportunities you may never have imagined.
Whether it’s attending more networking events, scheduling coffee meetings, improving follow-up, or booking discovery calls, intentional networking is a game-changer. It also means preparing ahead: researching who will be there, crafting thoughtful questions, and practicing your value proposition so your conversations leave a lasting impact.
Craft an Impactful Value Proposition for Purposeful Networking
One of my mentors once said, “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” This advice has guided my approach to networking for years. A strong value proposition isn’t about saying more — it’s about saying the right thing in a way that sticks. The most effective value propositions have three critical qualities:
Understandable: People get it immediately, without needing clarification.
Relatable: Your message connects to a challenge or desire your listener recognizes.
Memorable: Your words linger long after the conversation ends.
Ask yourself: How do you help others remember your name? How do you help them remember what you offer?
The common template “I help (client) with (problem) by (solution)” can work, but only if it reflects you authentically. Avoid blending in with everyone else; make your words resonate, connect, and stick.
Networking With Intention Leads to Opportunity
Before investing in expensive marketing campaigns or promotions, focus on refining your message. Ask: “What response do I want from my audience?”
When your networking message is clear, relatable, and memorable, conversations flow naturally. Connections turn into opportunities. Stepping into 2026 with intention means showing up authentically, being present, and making this the year people don’t just meet you — they remember you.
Take Your Networking to the Next Level
Ready to make 2026 the year people don’t just meet you — they remember you? Email me to learn more about purposeful networking strategies and how to turn every conversation into an opportunity.
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