Stop “Networking” — Start Contributing

If you're like most professionals, you've been told the key to career growth is networking.

"Reach out to your connections."

"Message new people in your field."

"Book informational interviews."

It all sounds productive. In theory.

But in practice, many find this advice uncomfortable, confusing, and unproductive. Cold messages go unanswered. Conversations feel transactional. Relationships fizzle before they start.

Here's the truth most people don’t say out loud: traditional networking advice often fails because it's rooted in asking. And in a world where people are stretched thin, few have the time or energy to respond to another vague request.

Networking is not about asking. It’s about contributing. And once you shift your approach, everything changes.

The Problem with How We Talk About Networking

When professionals are told to "network more," what they often hear is "ask more." Ask for referrals. Ask for calls. Ask to pick someone’s brain.

While there’s nothing wrong with a well-timed ask, a network built only on requests is fragile. It lacks the trust, familiarity, and mutual respect that real relationships require.

This is especially true for job seekers. When every interaction is tied to a need, it becomes difficult to build rapport. People sense when the connection is one-sided.

That's why it’s time to move away from the outdated idea of networking as outreach. Instead, think of it as visibility through contribution.

What It Means to Contribute Instead

Contributing is simple. It means offering something useful, thoughtful, or meaningful to others in your space — withoutasking for anything in return.

It is not about being loud or self-promotional. It is not about having a massive audience. It is about showing up, paying attention, and adding value in small, consistent ways.

On LinkedIn, this looks like:

  • Leaving a thoughtful comment on someone’s post

  • Sharing an article with your take on it

  • Answering a question in a professional group

  • Reposting someone else’s insight and tagging them with context

  • Starting a discussion about something relevant in your field

These actions are not glamorous. But they create presence. They build awareness. They give people a reason to associate your name with insight, clarity, and credibility.

Over time, that’s what opens doors.

This Approach Goes Beyond LinkedIn

While LinkedIn is often the easiest place to start, contribution-based networking works just as well offline.

In real life, this looks like:

  • Speaking up in a team meeting to offer helpful insight

  • Following up after a group call with a resource or summary

  • Introducing two professionals who should know each other

  • Volunteering for an industry panel or event

  • Writing an article or blog post that helps others navigate a challenge you’ve solved

  • Reaching out to former colleagues to say, “Saw this and thought of you — hope it’s useful”

These moments add up. They shift how people perceive you. They position you as someone who brings something to the table.

And when an opportunity does come up, you're no longer a stranger. You're the person who already showed up with value.

Why Contribution Works Better Than Outreach

Outreach puts the burden on the other person. Contribution shifts the focus to the community.

When you contribute:

  • People remember your name before they read your resume

  • Hiring managers notice your point of view before they post a job

  • Colleagues begin to associate you with action, not requests

  • Peers are more likely to introduce you because you’ve already shown you belong

Contributing builds visibility, credibility, and trust, the foundation of every meaningful professional relationship.

And it does this without putting you in the position of having to sell yourself.

How to Get Started Without Overthinking It

You do not need to become a content creator. You do not need to make daily posts or write 1,000-word essays. You just need to build a habit of contribution.

Start small. Here’s one weekly cadence to try:

  • Follow 5 to 10 people in your field whose work you respect

  • Comment on 2 to 3 posts each week with something real and specific

  • Share one article, story, or idea with a short caption explaining your perspective

  • Reply to one comment, question, or message in a group or thread

  • Reach out to one person with a genuine note that doesn’t ask for anything

This rhythm keeps you active without overwhelm. It also builds real visibility over time.

Eventually, the people you're commenting on become your connections. The people you help begin to follow your work. And the job leads, referrals, and invitations come organically.

Because people don’t just see what you do. They remember how you made them think.

Contribute First, Connect Naturally

The most powerful networks are not built in coffee shops or cold DMs. They’re built when people repeatedly see you showing up, thinking clearly, and offering value.

This is good news for professionals who feel uncomfortable “networking.” You do not need to chase people down. You do not need to fake interest. You do not need to ask before you give.

Start by contributing. Consistently.

And when the time comes to make an ask, it won’t feel like a transaction. It will feel like the next natural step in a relationship you already invested in.

Final Thought

You don’t need a bigger network. You need a stronger presence.

Contribute more. Ask less. Show up where people are already paying attention. The rest will follow.