How to Network as a New Woman Entrepreneur (Without Feeling Salesy or Overwhelmed)
- Sandra Wallmann
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
*Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use or have thoroughly vetted and confidently stand behind to help service business owners build structured, profitable companies.
When my husband and I started our plumbing business more than 35 years ago, I didn’t call it “networking.” I didn’t even know what “networking” was.
I was raising children, answering phones, sending invoices, and trying to figure out how to build a business with no roadmap and no formal connections. We didn’t attend fancy events. We didn’t have mentors lined up. We didn’t even know networking was nevermind its importance.
But looking back, I can tell you this with certainty:
Strong businesses are built through relationships whether you plan for it or not.
If you’re a new woman entrepreneur, networking can feel intimidating, awkward, or even unnecessary. I hear it all the time.
“I don’t like selling myself.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t want to feel fake.”
So let me show you what networking actually looks like when it’s done right and how to build real connections without losing yourself in the process.
Redefine Networking (This Changes Everything)
Here’s the first mindset shift every woman in business needs to make:
Networking is not pitching. Networking is relationship-building.
In our early years, our strongest growth came from:
Customers who trusted us
Vendors who respected us
Other business owners who recommended us
We didn’t “sell” them. We showed up consistently, followed through, and treated people well.
Networking becomes easy when you stop asking, “What can I get?” and start asking, “How can I help?”
Start Where You Already Are
One of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make is believing they need new connections to succeed.
You don’t.
Some of your strongest networking opportunities are already around you:
Past coworkers
Friends and family
Service providers (accountants, bookkeepers, bankers)
Existing customers
When we ran our plumbing business, referrals didn’t come from strangers. They came from people who already trusted us.
Start by simply letting people know:
What you do
Who you help
What problem you solve
No pressure. No pitch.
Choose the Right Rooms (Not All Networking Is Equal)
This is where many women waste time.
You do not need to attend every event, join every group, or say yes to every invitation.
Instead, ask:
Are these people aligned with my business?
Do I feel supported or drained after attending?
Is this community built on trust or transactions?
Over the years, I learned that quality connections outperform quantity every time.
If you’re attending online or in-person events, go in with one goal:
Have meaningful conversations, not just collect business cards.
Use Simple Systems to Stay Organized (This Is Where Most Women Drop the Ball)
Here’s a hard truth I learned the long way:
Networking fails when follow-up fails.
In the early days, everything lived in my head. Names. Conversations. Promises.
And memory is not a system.
If you’re meeting people, collaborating, or building partnerships, you need a way to track:
Who you met
When you last spoke
What you discussed
When to follow up
This is where simple business management tools make a massive difference.
I often recommend Jobber for service-based entrepreneurs because it helps organize clients, communication, and follow-ups in one place which is critical when relationships are part of your growth strategy.
[Check out Jobber here] (link to jobber page)
Lead With Value, Not Perfection
As women, we often wait until we feel “ready.”
Let me save you years of hesitation:
You don’t need to be perfect to be valuable.
When I spoke with other business owners early on, I shared:
What we were learning
What was working
What wasn’t
That honesty created trust and trust builds businesses.
If you’re networking:
Share your journey
Ask thoughtful questions
Listen more than you speak
You don’t need a polished elevator pitch. You need authenticity.
Learn From People Who've Been There Before You
One of the smartest networking decisions you can make is learning from people who’ve already walked the path.
Books, podcasts, and tools are a form of networking at scale.
One book I strongly recommend to new women entrepreneurs is “Building a StoryBrand” by Donald Miller. It teaches you how to clearly communicate what you do so networking conversations feel natural, not awkward.
Final Thought From 35+ Years in Business
If I could sit across from you today and give you one piece of advice, it would be this:
Networking is not about being seen, it's about being remembered for how you made people feel.
Show up with integrity.
Follow through.
Build relationships before you need them.
That’s how sustainable businesses are built and that’s how women entrepreneurs grow with confidence and clarity.
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If you want to build a more organized and profitable plumbing business, start by improving how your plumbing quotes, scheduling, and customer communication are handled every day.
The operational systems I implemented inside Pete’s Plumbing completely changed how our business functioned as we grew.
*Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend tools I personally use or have thoroughly vetted and confidently stand behind to help service business owners build structured, profitable companies.
Sandra Wallmann
35+ Year Service Business Owner | Founder of Sandra’s Business Guide
Sandra Wallmann has spent over 35 years running Pete’s Plumbing & Heating, building systems that support consistent revenue, strong client retention, and long-term growth. She is also the owner of Hit the Spot Treats, a corporate gifting business focused on client appreciation and retention.
Through Sandra’s Business Guide, she shares real-world strategies to help service business owners move from daily operations into true ownership.
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