The Link Up Lounge: Strategic Networking for Small Business
THIS is The Link Up Lounge — your lounge for turning one link into endless opportunities. Your hosts, Tiffany and Donna, bring over 30 years of combined networking experience to every conversation. Here, we believe success isn’t just about what you know — it’s about who you link up with. Each week, we’ll share real-world strategies and powerful insights to help you network smarter, build lasting relationships, and create the kind of visibility that drives real business growth. Because the truth is — networking isn’t optional. It’s critical to your success.
And don’t miss our Networking Mode ON segment at the end of each episode — packed with quick, actionable tips you can use immediately to start building your next big opportunity. If you’re ready to make networking your business’s greatest asset — you’re in the right place. Networking mode ON!
Episodes
50 episodes
49 - Can Two Minutes Change Your Business? with Megan Renner
Want to get more out of networking events? This episode is packed with practical strategies for making meaningful connections, maximizing speed networking opportunities, and turning brief conversations into lasting business relationships.
48 - How to Ask for Help Without Feeling Like a User
Need help moving? You might want to rethink who you ask... because as Donna and Tiffany agree, helping someone move is a pretty big favor. We laughed about it, but there's a serious lesson behind the joke. Learn how to ask for help in a way tha...
47 - The 10 Networking Mistakes That Cost You Opportunities
One person at a networking event spent eight minutes introducing themselves... leaving almost no time for anyone else to speak. It was the perfect reminder that networking isn't about saying more—it's about making people feel seen, heard, and v...
46 - How to Work a Room With Confidence (Even If Networking Feels Awkward)
We all know the feeling—you walk into a networking event, scan the room, and immediately wonder which conversation you're "allowed" to join. Donna shares the story of choosing between two conversation circles, taking a chance, and discovering t...
45 - Networking in the Age of AI — What Changes and What Doesn't
Is AI making networking easier — or making real connection harder to find? We’re exploring where artificial intelligence fits into relationship-building, business growth, and professional networking. From drafting emails and brainstorming ideas...
44 - How Successful People Actually Use LinkedIn (Behind the Scenes)
Think LinkedIn is just a place to update your résumé and collect connections you never talk to again? Think again. We’re breaking down how successful professionals use LinkedIn differently — not by posting endlessly or chasing likes, but by int...
43 - The Hidden ROI of Networking - Stories You Don’t Hear About
Ever walked away from a networking event thinking, “Well… that was a waste of time because I didn’t get a client”? We’re talking about the hidden ROI of networking — the opportunities, confidence, perspective shifts, and relationships that ofte...
42 - The 5 Questions That Turn Small Talk Into Real Connection
A podcast manager and a realtor might not seem like they’d have much in common… until one asks, “What’s been exciting you lately?” Suddenly the conversation shifts from awkward small talk to AI, business growth, and new opportunities neither pe...
41 - Networking for People Who Hate Networking - How to Build Connections Without Feeling Fake
Ever walk into a networking event and immediately want to turn around and leave? You’re not alone. We’re breaking down why networking feels awkward for so many people, how to stop treating it like a performance, and why genuine conversations cr...
40 - Leveraging Podcasts and Content as Networking Tools - Turn Your Voice Into Opportunities
What if people are deciding whether they want to work with you… before you ever meet them? In this episode, Tiffany and Donna unpack one of the biggest missed opportunities in networking right now — your content. Because whether you realize it ...
39 - The Biggest Networking Mistakes Professionals Still Make — And How to Fix Them
What if networking isn’t working… not because you’re not trying, but because you might be fooling yourself? In this episode, Tiffany and Donna are calling out the most common networking mistakes that quietly break connection before it ever has ...
38 - Who Wins in Networking Today? Jennifer Faulkenberry Shares a Surprising Answer
So… what’s the surprising answer? In this episode, Tiffany and Donna sit down with Jennifer Falkenberry to unpack what networking really looks like today — and why it’s not just about being the loudest or most outgoing person in the room. From ...
37 - The Power of Micro-Communities - Why Smaller Rooms Create Bigger Opportunities
What if the reason networking isn’t “working” isn’t you… it’s the room you’re in? In this episode, we’re breaking down the real value of micro communities and why smaller, more intentional networking circles are where relationships — and result...
36 - Your Passion Comes from Your Past — Why You Understand Your Ideal Client So Well
What if the thing you’ve been overlooking is actually your greatest marketing asset? In this episode, Tiffany and Donna break down why your story — especially the messy, uncertain, figuring-it-out parts — is what makes people trust you, connect...
35 - Your Title Is Not What You Do — How to Introduce Yourself for Real Connection
“I’m a realtor.” “I’m in insurance.” …and just like that, the conversation is over. In this episode, Tiffany and Donna break down one of the biggest networking mistakes people make—leading with a title instead of impact. Because titles are fami...
34 - Networking Detox — Letting Go of What (and Who) Isn’t Working
Ever leave a networking event wondering why you even went? Or keep showing up somewhere out of obligation instead of opportunity? In this episode, we’re walking through what a real networking detox looks like — and why you might need one. A net...
33 - How to Create a Collaborative Event (The Inner Glow Session)
What happens when five women with different specialties come together with one shared vision? In this episode, we’re unpacking the Inner Glow Session — a powerful, hands-on lymphatic reset experience created by members of our Bond and Beyond co...
32 - Networking Outside Your Industry — Why and How to Expand Your Circle
What if your next big opportunity isn’t in your industry at all? In this episode, Tiffany and Donna share why stepping outside your usual circles can lead to unexpected referrals, collaborations, and momentum. From surprising client connections...
31 - Sweeten Your Network — Lighthearted Ways to Show Appreciation This Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to sprinkle a little sweetness into your networking strategy. In this heart-filled episode, Tiffany and Donna share creative, thoughtful ways to use this holiday to stay connected to your contacts—and remin...
30 - Networking Resolutions That Actually Work
Setting “network more” as a New Year’s goal? It’s not enough. In this episode of The Link Up Lounge, Donna and Tiffany break down how to turn vague networking wishes into clear, achievable actions.They explore why most resolutions fail (...
29 - Building Community Through Networking (and Coffee): Meet Jac and Jess of St. John’s BFF
Jac and Jess didn’t set out to just host events—they set out to build community. In this episode, Tiffany and Donna chat with the founders of St. John’s BFF about how their group came to life, the heart behind their gatherings, and the faith th...
28 - New Year, New Network — Creating a 90-Day Networking Plan
It’s easy to say “I want to network more,” but without a strategy, your time gets wasted and your connections fizzle out. In this episode, Tiffany and Donna lay out a 90-day networking plan designed to help you show up with purpose, make real c...
27 - In-Person vs. Virtual Networking — How to Show Up Strong in Both
Whether you’re walking into a networking event or logging onto a Zoom call, how you show up matters. In this episode, Donna and Tiffany break down the key differences between in-person and virtual networking—and how to stand out in both. From w...
26 - Confidence Is Your Best Networking Tool (Re-Air)
Merry Christmas and thank you for joining us!! We took time off to enjo out family so please enjoy this re-airing of ep. 3. Confidence isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about being anchored in your value. In this episode, Tif...
25 - Be the Person Who Brings the Quick Win — How to Provide Real Value in Networking
We've all left a conversation thinking, “Wait, what do they even do?” In this episode, Tiffany and Donna unpack how to avoid that by sharing real value—specifically, quick wins that leave people wanting more. From a story about a speed networki...