Remember those old, in-person networking events?
You know the ones I’m talking about. You’d show up to a hotel conference room, a local bar/restaurant or chamber of commerce breakfast, clutching your business cards like a lifeline.
There’d be name tags, lukewarm coffee, and that one person who’d corner you for twenty minutes while you desperately scanned the room for an escape route. If you arrived after it started, everyone would be grouped in conversations and you’d awkwardly find a way to join in.
Don’t even get me started on the awkward small talk followed by nodding politely throughout the event.
If you’re a small business owner who always felt like traditional networking was uncomfortable, I have the best news for you: those days are pretty much over. Well, they still exist if you want them, but here’s the beautiful part; you have some really good alternative options now.
The Old Way: Networking That Felt Like Homework
Let’s be honest about what networking used to look like for most of us.
You’d carve out an evening (precious time away from your family) to attend an event where you knew maybe two people. You’d walk in feeling a little bit like you were back in the middle school cafeteria, looking for somewhere safe to sit. The extroverts would work the room while you tried to figure out if it was weird to check your phone in the corner.
And for those of us with families? Forget about it. Between coordinating childcare, rushing through dinner, and hoping nothing came up at home, networking events often felt more stressful than they were worth.
Sure, occasionally you’d make a genuine connection. But more often than not, you’d drive home with a stack of business cards you’d never look at again, wondering if you’d wasted your time.
The Shift: When Everything Moved Online
Then things changed. (Well, a lot of things changed, especially in 2020, but let’s not dwell on that.)
Technology caught up with what busy entrepreneurial moms actually needed: ways to connect that fit into real life.
Suddenly, networking didn’t require dress shoes and driving across town. It could happen while you were waiting for soccer practice to end, or during your lunch break. Let’s be real; now you can network in your pajamas after the kids are in bed.
And you know what? It works. Actually, it works better for a lot of us.
Where Entrepreneurial Moms and Business Owners Are Connecting Now (And Why It’s Actually Easier)
Social Media: More Than Just Scrolling
I know what you might be thinking: “Social media isn’t real networking.” But hear me out.
Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook have become incredible places to build genuine business relationships. Not in that spammy, pitch-in-the-DMs kind of way (please don’t be that person), but in a truly authentic way.
Think about it:
- You can join Facebook groups specific to your industry or local community and actually talk to other business owners who get what you’re going through.
- You can comment on someone’s post about a challenge they’re facing and offer real help—no business card exchange required.
- You can see who your connections know and get warm introductions instead of cold calling.
- You can build relationships over time by showing up consistently, not just at one awkward 60-minute event.
The best part? You can do this in the margins of your day. This can happen between appointments, while you’re eating lunch or during your kid’s piano lesson.
Virtual Networking Platforms: The Game Changers
Then there are platforms specifically designed for business networking, and they’ve completely changed the game.
Alignable is a perfect example. It’s like a neighborhood for small businesses, except your neighbors are other business owners who actually want to connect, collaborate, and refer customers to each other.
Here’s why it works:
- You can browse by location, interest and industry, so you’re connecting with people who are actually relevant to your business. You can jump into groups that will likely refer people to you, not just the groups that have your ideal customer. I joined an active group of women business owners who are 50 years old and older.
- Recommendations and referrals happen organically, because the platform is designed around supporting each other, people will exchange recommendations based on a 1:1 meeting even if they haven’t done business with you.
- You control when and how you engage, no pressure to attend events at inconvenient times; you choose the events that work with your schedule. And, if you join an event that isn’t your cup of tea, you can log out without any awkward goodbyes.
- It’s built for busy people including entrepreneurial moms, with features that let you connect meaningfully without it becoming another full-time job.
There are others, too, like Meetup for finding virtual and in-person networking groups, and even industry-specific platforms where you can connect with people in your exact niche.
The Best of Both Worlds
Here’s what I love most about where we are now: you get to choose.
Some people thrive in person. If that’s you, congratulations! Those events still exist, and they’re often better attended now because the people who show up actually want to be there.
But if you’re someone who does better with time to think, who prefers written communication, or who simply has zero spare evenings to drive across town for rubber chicken and small talk? You’re not stuck anymore.
You can build a strong professional network entirely online, or you can do a little of both, whatever fits your life.
What This Really Means for You
The shift to virtual networking isn’t just about convenience (though that’s definitely a bonus). It’s about accessibility.
It means:
- The introverts finally have a fair shot. You can craft thoughtful responses instead of thinking of the perfect thing to say three hours after the conversation ended.
- Parents and caregivers aren’t left out. You can network during naptime, not just during evening events when you should be home for dinner.
- Geographic boundaries matter less. You can collaborate with someone three states away, in another country, or focus hyper-locally on your own community. The choice is yours.
- You can be more strategic. Instead of collecting random business cards, you can intentionally connect with people who align with your values and business goals.
- Relationships can develop naturally. You’re not forcing a connection in 60 seconds. You’re building trust over time through consistent, genuine interaction.
How to Get Started (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)
If you’re ready to dip your toe into modern networking, here’s my advice: start simple and stay authentic.
This week:
- Join one online group or platform where your ideal customers or collaborators hang out (Alignable, a Facebook group for your industry, or LinkedIn if you’re B2B).
- Spend just 15 minutes browsing and getting the lay of the land.
- Provide helpful comments on others’ posts.
- Introduce yourself genuinely. Tell the group who you are, what you do, and how you love serving your community.
- Give more than you take. The goal is to make connections, not to make sales.
This month:
- Comment meaningfully on 2-3 posts per week (not “great post!” but actual thoughts that provide value and make people curious to learn more about you).
- Start one conversation with someone whose business complements yours.
- Make a post to share something helpful like a resource, an insight, or even just encouragement to others in the group.
Over time:
- Show up consistently (even if it’s just a few times a week).
- Be the person who helps without expecting anything in return (this is key!).
- Build real relationships, not just a contact list.
The Truth About Networking in 2026
Here’s what I wish someone had told me years ago when I was forcing myself to attend those awkward networking events: networking isn’t about collecting contacts. It’s about building relationships.
And you know what makes relationships work? Being yourself and showing up consistently. You need to genuinely care about the other person and developing relationships. You need to be willing to offer help when you can without expecting anything in return.
Showing that you care and providing help are so much easier to do when you’re not pretending to enjoy small talk in a crowded room, counting the minutes until you can politely leave.
Technology hasn’t made networking less personal. It’s made it more accessible for those of us who are building businesses in the middle of real, messy, beautiful lives of raising kids and taking care of our families.
So whether you’re connecting on Alignable while your kids do homework, jumping into a LinkedIn conversation during your lunch break, or even attending an occasional in-person event when it truly makes sense, know this: you’re networking in a way that works for you, and that’s exactly right.
The old framework is not the only option anymore. You get to build your network your way on your schedule.
Your Next Step
Here’s my challenge for you this week: pick just one online networking platform or group and create or update your profile. I recommend Alignable. It is free, and it is full of people looking to connect. Once you’ve joined the platform or jumped into a group, introduce yourself.
That’s it.
You don’t have to master everything at once. It’s all about taking the first step. You don’t have to be everywhere; just start somewhere.
While the format of networking might have changed, the goal is still the same: connecting with good people who can support your business and who you can support in return.
The only difference now? You can do it in a way that actually fits your life, and honestly? That’s pretty great.