Showing Up Still Works — In Person
New logo collaborated on with my sister, inspired by dahlia images I took.
So much advice these days is about doing everything online — posting more, applying everywhere, sending endless emails. And while digital tools matter, I’ve learned something that keeps working no matter what:
“Showing up in person allows you to build trust and connection in ways digital interactions can’t replicate.”
It’s not just nostalgia. Research backs it up:
According to Forbes and Harvard Business Review, face-to-face interactions are essential for building real business relationships.
95 % of professionals see in-person meetings as crucial for relationship-building.
89 % say they’re key to closing deals.
Another study projected an average 36 % revenue increase when key meetings happen in person (press.accor.com).
When you walk into a local business — not to pitch, but to really talk about what they’re doing and where they want to go — you create something digital can’t replicate: trust, connection, and clarity.
Start With What You Already Notice
You don’t need a giant list of leads. Start small.
Pick five local businesses where you can actually see opportunities to help — a website that doesn’t reflect who they are, branding that feels off, or a social feed that hasn’t been touched in months.
Pro Tip: This isn’t about pointing out what’s “wrong”; it’s about noticing gaps where your skills could make a difference.
Then do the part most people skip: show up.
Walk in, schedule a call, or start a conversation. Lead with curiosity, not a pitch. Ask questions, listen, and notice. That’s how relationships — and opportunities — actually start.
Real Examples: How Showing Up Works
Hope Blooms Floristry
Showing up with Hope Blooms has meant being present — not just in strategy calls, but in real conversations about the future of the business. Sometimes that’s sitting together in their shop, flipping through ideas. Other times, it’s a call where we’re brainstorming possibilities, not checking off a to-do list.
Highlight: Keeps strategy grounded in the real business, not an abstract marketing plan.
Konover Real Estate
With Konover, showing up means being available and engaged — whether on calls or in person — so we can collaborate on strategy as the business evolves. They’re not just clients; they’re partners. That trust makes the work feel effortless compared to pushing a plan that doesn’t fit.
Neither of these relationships started with a pitch. They started with listening and showing up.
Line art sketches of dahlia design for Modern Social logo
Job Boards — Focus on Quality and Connection
Job boards aren’t about submitting as many applications as possible. They’re about quality, focus, and real connection.
Instead of applying everywhere, pick one or two platforms that match the kind of work you want. Treat each posting as a signal, not a checklist: Does this align with my skills, my values, and the clients I want to work with?
When something fits, slow down. Read carefully. Notice what the business emphasizes and what they need. Then craft your application intentionally — reference specifics, show understanding, and highlight how you can help.
Pull Quote:
“It’s not a numbers game. It’s about being deliberate, showing up thoughtfully, and building connection.”
Research from Forbes and Harvard Business Review shows that targeted, relationship-driven applications consistently outperform high-volume submissions, especially where trust and connection matter.
Network With Purpose, Not Pressure
You don’t need to be everywhere or join every Slack group.
Pick one space — online, local, or virtual — and show up consistently. Ask questions. Listen more than you talk. Be curious.
Pro Tip: Relationships grow when there’s trust, not pressure. Showing up thoughtfully compounds over time, and opportunities often appear where you least expect them.
Momentum Comes From Consistency
Here’s the part people often overlook:
You don’t have to do everything at once.
Even committing to one approach for a single week — showing up in person, sending a thoughtful application, or attending a meetup — can change how it feels to run your business. Not because clients instantly appear, but because you stop feeling invisible.
You’re present. You’re engaged. You’re showing up.
And momentum? It usually follows.
If you feel like sharing, I’d love to hear what outreach strategies have worked for you. Someone reading this might need your perspective today.
