We’ve all met them: the people at networking events who circle the room telling everyone how brilliant they are. They don’t really listen; they simply wait for their turn to speak so they can keep selling. In the digital world, they behave the same way on LinkedIn, sending a connection request followed immediately by a sales pitch. If you prefer relationships to transactions, these networking tips for women in business are for you.

They’re hunters. They see a room, a feed or a forum as a pond full of prey. They look for the weakest-looking fish and pounce, firing off business cards or direct messages like crossbow bolts.

Farmers take a different view. They look across the field and notice which crops are ready to harvest and which need tending. They nurture relationships, knowing that a little care produces a stronger crop over time. They water the shoots and never pluck the fruit before it is ripe.

For women in business, this farming mindset matters more than ever. According to the British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets 2024 report, women-led businesses account for around one in five UK SMEs. The original Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, published in 2019, estimated that women-led businesses contribute £85 billion per year to the UK economy and that closing the entrepreneurship gender gap could add up to £250 billion. Yet Beauhurst data from 2023 showed that all-female founder teams received just 2% of UK equity investment, and ONS figures from 2024 put the number of self-employed women in the UK at more than 1.6 million. Many women still tell us they feel uncomfortable at traditional networking events, or that online networking can feel transactional and noisy. A farmer’s approach, generous, patient and strategic, cuts through that noise. Explore our Women in Business: Key UK Facts for the full picture.

Networking, whether face-to-face, virtual or hybrid, remains one of the most effective ways to grow a business. Word-of-mouth recommendation is still the most powerful form of marketing, but before people can recommend you, they need to know, like and trust you.

Why the farming mindset suits women founders

If you dread striking up a conversation, remember: almost everyone in the room feels some level of nerves. The loudest, most confident person is often a hunter, and they are usually remembered for the wrong reasons. Don’t let them intimidate you.

Until you start talking, you will never discover who is interesting or who they know. Often it is not the person in front of you who helps, but someone in their network. Without rapport, why would they invite you into their inner circle?

Being an introvert can be a real advantage. Introverts tend to prefer depth over breadth, so once they step out of their comfort zone and into a conversation, they linger there, building stronger and more satisfying relationships. Social butterflies are not always the best networkers: they may collect dozens of business cards or LinkedIn connections and forget half the conversations by the time they get home.

A farmer is also skilled at knowing when to approach a flock. In a networking situation, look for open body language. People facing outwards are usually receptive; two people talking at an angle are often happy for a third to join. Online, look for conversations where you can add genuine value rather than barging in with a pitch.

If someone is standing alone, often by the refreshments, they may be more nervous than you. Offering a friendly opening can be a relief to both of you. In virtual rooms, the equivalent might be sending a thoughtful comment in the chat or a short, personalised message after the event.

Fear often comes from feeling out of control. The antidote is preparation.

9 networking tips for women in business

1. Decide what you want to achieve

Jot down your intentions or create a quick mind map so your thoughts stop swirling. Clarity reduces anxiety. Are you looking for a mentor, a referral partner, industry intelligence, or simply to raise your profile in a new sector? Knowing the answer changes how you spend your time.

2. Set a realistic goal

It might be “I’d like one warm lead to follow up,” or simply “I will start one conversation with someone I don’t know.” Small wins build confidence. If you are attending a large conference, three meaningful conversations usually beat thirty superficial ones.

3. Come prepared with the essentials

Bring business cards if you are meeting in person, but also make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date. A notebook and pen are still invaluable for capturing details that apps forget. If the event uses a particular app or hashtag, set it up before you arrive so you are not fumbling at the door.

4. Prepare a short introduction

Sum up what you do in one or two short sentences, and have answers ready for likely questions. Think conversation starter, not sales script. A useful format is: “I help [type of client] to [solve this problem] by [your method].” Then ask what they are working on.

5. Make follow-up easy

Note where you met someone and what you talked about, on the back of a card, in your phone or in a CRM. A message that says, “It was great to meet you at the [event name] and hear about your work on…” is far more memorable than a generic connection request. For more on turning contacts into customers, see our guide to referral marketing tactics for UK women-led businesses.

6. Treat others as you would wish to be treated

Be friendly, respectful and curious. You never know when someone might reappear in your professional life, so don’t burn a bridge before it is built. This includes being generous with introductions: if you cannot help someone directly, you may know exactly who can.

7. Don’t hide in the corner with a friend

If you attend with someone you know, agree to split up for part of the event. You are there to expand your network, not to have the same conversation you could have had over coffee. Arrange to reconvene afterwards to share introductions.

8. Be yourself, not perfect

You do not need to be formal or perfect. People warm to genuine enthusiasm and honesty. Aim for “good enough” rather than polished. If you are nervous, saying so can be disarming and create an instant connection.

9. Relax and enjoy yourself

Be bold, smile and act confidently, even if you do not feel it. You might surprise yourself, and you will certainly make a better impression than the hunter firing business cards across the room.

Where to practise your farming skills

Useful places to start include your local Chamber of Commerce, sector-specific groups, women-focused business networks and platforms such as LinkedIn. Our Women in Business Networks UK: The Best Communities to Join in 2026 guide lists current communities worth exploring.

No one attends a networking event, or joins an online community, to be sold to. So why waste energy pitching? You are not there to drag prey back to your cave.

Your next action steps

• Pick one event or online community to join in the next 14 days.
• Draft a one-sentence introduction and a follow-up message template before you go.
• Set one realistic goal for that first event.
• Follow up within 48 hours while the conversation is still fresh.

Be helpful, be generous and be patient. Nurture your contacts like a farmer tends a field, and in time the seeds you sow will bloom. Put these networking tips for women in business into practice at your next event, and watch your network grow. Happy harvesting.