A couple of days ago, I mentioned on LinkedIn that I've started sending random postcards to my friends.

Sure, WhatsApp is more convenient, but receiving something unexpected in the post is freakin' marvellous and completely makes your day.

You know your friend was not only thinking about you, but they also put time, effort, and money into letting you know.

You feel special.

One of the comments on the LinkedIn post was from an Irish VA who'd signed up for a postcard exchange.

"I still write actual letters, though not as often as I used to, I'll admit. I also write postcards and send them through Postcrossing.com, and for each one I send somewhere in the world, I get one from somewhere else. I've gained a few penpals along the way as well. It's also fun to exchange packages of things like train tickets, travel brochures, tea, and other random things."

I absolutely loved this idea and signed up immediately.

It's totally free, and yesterday I sent my first postcard to a woman in Germany.

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I don't know about you, but to me, the world seems to be getting more frenetic. We have countless ways to communicate, but connection is pretty thin on the ground.

Speaking of connection, do you know the least effective way of landing clients?

Social media.

We think we need to post endless streams of content, but surveys, including the SVAs’ annual report and my own regular group surveys, consistently show social media right at the bottom of the list.

The most successful way to get clients?

Networking. And by a huge margin.

Turns out that people much prefer to work with someone they know in real life. Someone they have an actual connection with.

So if you're looking for more work, it pays to get really good at networking.

But what if your ideal client isn't at your local networking event?

Great question. I'm glad you asked.

My ideal clients are social media consultants and digital marketers - neither of whom I am likely to meet locally. Especially now I live in a small village in Scotland.

Luckily, I have a way to find clients without even leaving the house.

It's not face-to-face networking, but it's the next best thing.

I simply decide who I want to work with, research them, qualify them, connect with them, and then contact them, explaining exactly how I can help improve their business and why we're a great fit.

The best thing about this method is that it also makes the client feel special, because you've clearly done your homework and are approaching them with an offer to make their life easier.

I put the method together as a video guide, which you can find here.​

Have a wonderful day, and I'll see you next week!