The Summer Networking Advantage: Simple Summer Networking Tips for Business Owners
Episode 45
Does your networking slow to a crawl every summer?
You're not alone — but Episode 45 of The People Success Circle makes the case that this is exactly the mistake to avoid. In this solo episode, I break down why summer is actually one of the best-kept secrets in professional networking, and share simple summer networking tips that fit into even the busiest, most kid-filled schedule. With Q2 ending and Q3 beginning right in the middle of the season, this is not the time to go quiet. Keep reading for a no-overwhelm plan to keep your network warm all summer long.
In this episode of The People Success Circle, I explore the following:
I explain why summer networking tips matter more than ever, with Q2 ending and Q3 beginning right in the middle of the season
I bust the myth that "nobody does business in summer" and show why slower schedules actually mean more access to the people you want to reach
I share the one low-pressure opening line that works every time this time of year
I walk through creative, informal ways to connect — from outdoor walks to using travel as a natural conversation starter
I offer summer networking tips built specifically for parents, including how school breaks can become instant common ground
I explain how to stay visible on LinkedIn when everyone else goes quiet
I lay out a simple four-part action plan to keep your network warm all summer long
🔗 Helpful Links
🌐 Mindy’s website for business consulting: https://www.limerockcareerco.com
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Episode 45: Watch or Listen
Key Takeaways From Episode 45
Summer Slowdown Is a Myth, Not a Reason to Pause
Here's the thing — people do slow down in summer. That's actually the point. Slower schedules mean more access, less hustle means we can be more human with people, and fewer structured events mean less competition for the attention of the people we want to build relationships with.
Decision makers are often more reachable in summer because they're traveling less for work and conferences, and LinkedIn is quieter. People have their guard down and tend to be in a better mood. That means your consistency this season can become your competitive edge — while everyone else checks out, you're the one who shows up.
The Best Networking Opener Doesn't Feel Like Networking
We often overthink how to introduce ourselves or start a conversation. In summer, it's this easy: "How's your summer going?" That's the whole opener. Everybody can answer it, and nobody feels sold to.
A few more you can use: "Are you doing anything fun this summer?" "Do you have any travel coming up?" or, if you know they have kids, "Are the kids home? How are they staying busy?" These questions work because people can answer them without thinking — they're open and relaxed, which is exactly the vibe you want. Human first, business second.
Low-Pressure, High-Impact Ways to Connect
Summer gives you permission to ditch the formal coffee meeting. Invite someone to something you're already doing — an outdoor happy hour, a farmer's market, a walk instead of sitting across a table. People say yes more easily in summer because they want to be outside and active.
You can also use travel as a connection point: post on LinkedIn before a trip and ask for recommendations — people love to weigh in, and it grows your network geographically with almost no effort. Community events and volunteering work the same way. I walked a 5K with my family last weekend, and it was a reminder that people network without even realizing it — the difference between attending and networking is just staying curious about the people around you.
And if you're juggling kids at home, school breaks are common ground, not a roadblock. "What are your kids doing this summer?" is one of the most powerful openers for business owners who are also parents.
A Simple Plan to Stay Visible All Summer
Most people post less in summer — that's your window. You don't need to go viral, just stay consistent: one to two LinkedIn posts a week keeps you top of mind while everyone else goes quiet.
Here's the simple four-part plan I share in the episode:
One to two casual meetups a month — a walk, a coffee, an outdoor lunch
One to two LinkedIn posts a week to stay visible
One reconnect message a week to someone already in your network
One thing you're already doing that you can invite someone else to
You can't cram relationships — you have to build them before you need them. Summer isn't your pause. It's your head start.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of The People Success Circle for more practical insights and leadership strategies you can start applying right away.
Read the full transcript
Mindy: Welcome back to this week's episode of the People Success Circle Podcast. I'm going to do an audio-only short episode this week to give you some insight on how I feel networking should be done in the summer months.
So I want to start out by asking you a question. Do you actually network less in the summer? Most people do network less, and I get it. Kids are home, schedules are weird, totally not normal. Everyone gets in vacation mode, but this is actually what I want to talk about today. Summer might actually be your best kept secret in networking. I'm gonna break down why and give you a simple plan that you can stick to.
Now, before I dive in, I want to also add that the timing of summer is critical in business and in the professional world. That is because smack in the middle, we have the end of Q2 and the start of Q3. That alone means that we should be giving our business and our professional life the attention that it needs so that we don't lose momentum, so that we can finish the year strong and not have a dip that can often happen when we choose not to network in the summer.
The myth is that people think nobody's doing business in the summer. And the truth is, yes, people do slow down. That's actually the point of summer. But slower schedules can sometimes mean more access to people. Less hustle means that we can just be more human with people. And fewer structured events can mean less competition for us to talk to the people that we want to build relationships with.
Decision makers can actually be more reachable in summer because they aren't traveling as much for work or for conferences. And honestly, LinkedIn is less noisy. People have their guards down in the summer, and people are often in a much better mood. So your consistency in summer can actually be your competitive edge. While everyone else checks out for summer, you can be the person who shows up.
I also believe that summer gives you a perfect low pressure opening line. We often stumble with how we introduce ourselves or even what to say to people at networking events or in the workplace. And so I want you to just start with something so easy: "How's your summer going?" That's it. That's the whole opener. Everybody answers this question. Nobody feels sold to. They feel like you're talking to them as a human. And if you've been around long enough to hear me talk about networking, you know that a human-centered relationship focus is what gets you the best results.
So a couple other things you could say: "Are you doing anything fun this summer?" "Do you have any travel coming up?" If you know they have children: "Are the kids home? How are they staying busy this summer?" I want you to think about how you feel when someone asks you, "How's your summer going?" You can answer that question without thinking. You're open, you're relaxed, and that's exactly how people feel when they're talking to you during this laid-back time. So this is the vibe that you're actually going for. You really want to be human first and business second.
Another thing about summer is it's just not so formal. It gives us better options and we shouldn't feel like we have to have formal meetings. In fact, we could invite someone to something that we're already doing. Maybe it's an industry peer and we want to invite them to an outdoor happy hour or a farmer's market or to check out a new activity in the community. You could suggest a walk — lower stakes than sitting across from someone. And people often say yes in the summer. People want to be outside. They want to be active.
Another idea is to just host something casual. Maybe it's an outdoor lunch at your office. Maybe it's a patio coffee or a small lunch with a few peers in the industry with no agenda, just simply building relationships and getting to know each other.
I also suggest that you use travel as a connection point. If you're going somewhere this summer, post on LinkedIn before you go. Say something like, "I'll be in this city next week. Are there any spots that I should check out?" People love to give their advice, people love to reach out, and connections actually happen naturally that way. It expands your network geographically with almost no effort.
Another thing I actually experienced this weekend is volunteering and community events. My family and I walked a 5K this weekend — my sons, my husband, and I. And it reminded me that community events and volunteer opportunities are also great chances to network. You could even network at a neighborhood block party. People network without even realizing it. It's the difference between attending and networking — just really being curious about the people around you.
Now if you're listening to this and you're thinking, "I have kids at home," and that adds a whole new complexity — I get it. My kids are now 15 and 17, so I have a little bit more freedom. However, they still have activities and no driver's license yet, so summer can be busy. A quick note for parents listening: you have summer camps, sports, school breaks, kids at home who are restless and saying they're bored. But school breaks can also mean instant common ground with other people. You can say, "What are your kids doing this summer?" It's one of the most powerful openers for business owners who are also parents.
When we think of summer as a time to reconnect, collaborate, and stay in touch in a natural way, we can deepen relationships. Summer gives us this natural, not-weird reason to reach out to people that we've lost touch with. It's just a natural way to say, "Hey, [name], just thinking about you. I hope your summer is going well and I would love to catch up soon." No pitch, no agenda. Those are the kind of messages that people want to respond to.
And lastly, collaboration can help a lot. In the summer, collaboration deepens relationships faster than coffee chats. People are more likely to say yes. You could say something like, "Would you like to do a LinkedIn Live together? I think our audiences overlap." Ask the question. The worst they can say is not right now.
Most people post less in the summer, and that's actually your window. Less noise means more visibility for you. You don't need to go viral, you just need to stay consistent when so many other people don't. I recommend you post one to two times a week to keep yourself top of mind. And don't forget about the relationships you already have. You can send a quick message that says, "Just thinking of you, hope your summer is going well."
So here's a simple plan to stay connected with your network without the overwhelm. One or two casual meetups a month — going for a walk, meeting for a casual coffee outside, just something to keep in touch and build a relationship. One or two LinkedIn posts per week — we know LinkedIn rewards accounts that keep posting with more visibility, so don't pause this summer. Think about something you're already doing that you could invite someone else to — whether that's an industry peer or a future client. And last, reconnect with one person already in your network each week. Just one. Send a message to continue the relationship during a time you might not see them in person.
These small actions lead to compounding results. I often say you can't cram relationships — you have to build them before you need them. So if you go dark and quiet throughout the summer, you're going to have catch-up to do when things pick back up. Summer is not your pause — it's actually your head start.
Those who network with intention all summer will not skip a beat at the end of Q2 and the beginning of Q3. They'll be the business owners and professionals who finish the year strong. If this resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who's in that summer mode. I'll see you on the next episode.
