I Moved to a New City With Zero Contacts—Here’s How I Rebuilt My Network

When I left Austin for Seattle, I knew I’d be trading barbecue for rain jackets, longhorn pride for Seahawks jerseys, and yes—my tight-knit network for total anonymity.

No friends. No former coworkers. No coffee shop barista who knew my name.

Just me, my two suitcases, a lot of Google Maps navigation, and the faint, hopeful belief that I’d somehow figure it out.

If you’ve ever relocated to a new city without a social or professional network, you already know how disorienting it can feel. Starting over isn’t just emotionally taxing—it can slow your career, disrupt your confidence, and leave you stuck in a cycle of solitude if you don’t intentionally build your way out of it.

But that’s the thing: it can be built—sometimes better than before.

Today, a year into my life in Seattle, I have a thriving network, a go-to coworking space, professional contacts I trust, and even the beginnings of a regular friend group. It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen.

Here’s exactly how I rebuilt my network from scratch—with zero contacts, no shortcuts, and only a mildly annoying amount of LinkedIn DMs.

1. I Gave Myself a “Networking Identity”—Before I Had One

This might sound odd, but it worked: I picked one phrase I wanted people to associate me with. Something light, professional, and specific enough to spark a real conversation. In my case? “I’m a content strategist who just moved here from Austin.”

That sentence became my go-to intro—for events, emails, DMs, and awkward moments in line for coffee.

Why it helps: Having a clear (but casual) intro makes you memorable and saves you from over-explaining or underselling yourself. It gives people something to anchor you to—and keeps you from spiraling into identity limbo during a transition.

You don’t have to be established to introduce yourself with confidence. You just need to show up with clarity and consistency. That’s how credibility builds.

2. I Prioritized In-Person Events First (Even If They Were Small or Awkward)

As someone who could easily fall into the trap of “I’ll just network online,” I had to force myself into the real world. Seattle is known for its cool distance—what some call the “Seattle Freeze”—so it felt doubly important to show up physically and consistently.

I looked for:

• Local business meetups
• Creative breakfasts (shoutout to CreativeMornings Seattle)
• Women-in-tech panels and founder forums
• Community coworking days

Here’s what I learned: You don’t need to click with everyone at these events. What matters more is being seen in the same rooms repeatedly. Familiarity creates comfort, and comfort leads to connection.

Factually, this checks out. According to a study from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people are significantly more likely to develop connections with others they see often—even if they don’t interact deeply at first.

3. I Built a Personal “Follow-Up” System That Didn’t Feel Cringey

Let’s talk about the awkward part: following up after meeting someone. It can feel self-promotional, pushy, or just downright exhausting—unless you have a system.

Here’s what worked for me:

• After meeting someone at an event, I’d send a short message within 24–48 hours.
• I’d mention something we talked about (even if it was small: “Hope your dog recovered from the zoomies!”)
• If it felt like a potential coffee-chat connection, I’d gently propose it: “Would love to hear more about how you’re navigating freelance life here if you’re ever up for a casual coffee.”

This tone—light, specific, and low-pressure—yielded more responses than I expected.

The real secret? *Keep a running list of who you’ve met. Not to be creepy, but to keep connections warm. I used a simple spreadsheet with columns for names, where I met them, what we discussed, and when I last reached out. It kept me organized, accountable, and intentional.

4. I Used LinkedIn for Warm Leads, Not Cold Pitches

If I’m being honest, I’ve never loved cold networking. And Seattle doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for strangers asking to “hop on a quick call.” So I took a softer approach: LinkedIn, but with purpose.

Instead of mass-adding people in my industry, I:

• Followed local voices in content, design, and strategy
• Commented meaningfully on their posts (not “Great insight!” but actual input or questions)
• Reached out after consistent interaction with a message that reflected that familiarity

My messages sounded like:

“Hey, I’ve been following your writing on [X topic] and really appreciate your take on [Y]. I just moved to Seattle and am navigating this space—if you’re ever up for a casual chat or coffee, I’d love to learn more about your journey here.”

Again—casual, human, and not all about me.

This approach turned into two key referrals, a project offer, and one unexpected friendship.

5. I Found “Third Spaces” That Made Regular Socializing Easier

There’s a lot of power in becoming a regular somewhere. Not just at the gym or your local grocery store, but at spaces that naturally attract people with shared interests.

In Austin, I had this accidentally through a co-op workspace. In Seattle, I had to go find it.

My favorites:

• An artist-run café with rotating exhibitions and community events
• A shared coworking studio with drop-in desks (a huge help for casual connections)
• A niche fitness class that attracted the same crowd weekly

None of these places felt like networking zones, but that’s the point. They helped me grow roots in ways that felt natural, not transactional.

The more you show up, the more faces you recognize. From there, all kinds of doors can open—social, professional, or somewhere in between.

6. I Stopped Waiting for “The Right People” and Started Creating Value First

In the beginning, I kept waiting for some perfect-fit mentor, friend, or work buddy to appear. Eventually, I realized: building a network isn’t about finding people who already understand you—it’s about creating momentum and letting people meet you in motion.

So I started sharing:

• Things I was learning about the Seattle scene
• Books and tools I loved in my professional niche
• Quick posts on LinkedIn or local Slack channels when I had an insight or resource others might find useful

The goal wasn’t to look impressive. It was to be visible and valuable.

And that value? It attracts people. Slowly, people started DMing me. Responding. Asking to collaborate. It wasn’t magic—it was consistency.

If you want connection, offer contribution. That principle holds in work, friendship, and community.

Research from Harvard Business Review suggests that professionals who proactively share knowledge and offer help—even without direct payoff—tend to have wider, more resilient networks.

The return on generosity is real, even if it’s not immediate.

7. I Made Peace With the Long Game

This one matters more than anything: rebuilding a network takes time, and it’s okay if it’s messy.

Some days I felt invisible. Some events were a bust. Some connections never texted back. But over time, the little actions—messages, show-ups, follow-ups—added up.

A year later, I have:

• A small, consistent group of women I brunch with monthly
• A few local clients and collaborators I trust
• A coworking space where I feel like I belong
• And people I can call when I need to vent, celebrate, or bounce an idea

It’s not about going viral socially. It’s about slowly weaving relationships that are real.

Key Takeaways

• Give yourself a clear introduction. A short, memorable “who you are” line makes networking easier and more effective.
• Show up in person when you can. Physical presence builds familiarity, which can lead to meaningful connection over time.
• Follow up with intention. A casual, thoughtful message goes further than a perfectly worded pitch.
• Use LinkedIn like a real human. Interact before you ask, and make your reach-outs personal.
• Be a regular in third spaces. Community happens when you consistently show up where shared interests live.
• Create value before asking for it. Share knowledge, tools, and ideas—contribution attracts connection.
• Embrace the long game. Relationships, like good cities, take time to explore and grow into.

A Network Isn’t Found. It’s Built.

Moving to a new city without contacts is daunting, no doubt about it. But it’s also freeing. You get to build with intention. No expectations. No baggage. Just curiosity and a little courage.

If you’re standing where I was—new zip code, empty inbox, and maybe a little lonely—know this: you’re not behind. You’re just beginning. The connections will come, not all at once, but steadily—through effort, kindness, and the decision to keep showing up.

And one day, you’ll look around and realize: You belong here now.