I got a client from just chatting at my neighborhood cafe

I mean, I was grabbing coffee at the spot around the corner and ended up talking to the barista. She mentioned her friend who runs a bakery needed help with social media posts. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I never saw casual chats as a way to find work. Now, I make small talk with local business folks when I'm out. It's led to three quick jobs in the past two months. Honestly, it's a low stress way to drum up freelance gigs. Just keep it friendly and see what happens.

2 comments

2 Comments

kimw162d ago

Totally get how forced networking events feel awful. I landed a project just by complaining about my wifi to the guy fixing it at the library. There's something way more natural about helping people you see around town anyway, it doesn't feel like a sales pitch.

paigep692d ago

Exactly! Forced events put everyone in "performance mode" where you're both trying to sell yourselves. It's weirdly competitive even when you're meant to connect. But helping someone with their groceries or chatting in a line, that's just being a decent person in a shared moment. That realness lets guardrails drop way faster than any "so what do you do" icebreaker. It feels like making a friend, not a contact, which ironically leads to better work down the line.