Make It Human: Outreach, Boundaries & Building Real Connections - Group Call #4
From outreach mindset shifts and managing unresponsive clients to old-school networking, newsletters, and staying top of mind.
Hello everyone!
You can access our most recent group call HERE
✉️ “Make It Human: Outreach, Boundaries & Building Real Connections”
Here’s what we covered in this week’s mentoring session — from outreach mindset shifts and managing unresponsive clients to old-school networking, newsletters, and staying top of mind.
[00:00] Email design & accessibility
Casual start discussing the realities of email marketing design.
Why image-heavy newsletters hurt accessibility and deliverability.
Text-based, “plain” designs often outperform overly branded templates.
Example: big creators’ emails are often simple text — because readability and human tone drive connection.
[05:00] Intros + community overview
Quick welcome and overview of the Creatives Help Desk — a space for honest conversation, shared challenges, and creative support without the performative pressure of “10k months” culture.
[10:00] The 100 Connections Challenge
Introduction to the Social Currency challenge by Phoebe Dodds — focused on expanding your network with genuine, meaningful outreach.
Mapping your network and identifying potential collaborators or clients.
Reframing outreach as connection-building, not cold selling.
Encouragement to reach 100 new connections by the end of the year.
[20:00] Overcoming outreach awkwardness
Discussion around the discomfort of reconnecting with past contacts.
How to shift from “asking for work” to “offering value.”
Reframing outreach as sharing opportunities, not begging for them.
Using empathy and curiosity — “What are they working on?” rather than “Can you hire me?”
Approaching it like bumping into someone you know — casual, genuine, and human.
[35:00] How to handle unresponsive clients
Exploration of strategies for when clients disappear mid-project.
The power of follow-up with clarity and professionalism.
Setting clear feedback timelines in contracts from the start.
Using new subject lines (“Have you seen my last email?”) to cut through inbox noise.
Framing follow-ups around the success of the project — not frustration.
Introducing or reinforcing boundaries mid-project if needed.
[50:00] Setting boundaries + verbal contracts
Conversation on defining expectations early.
The “verbal contract” technique: reading key collaboration terms aloud in kickoff calls.
Building trust and mutual accountability from the beginning.
The difference between healthy flexibility and losing boundaries.
Examples of restart fees, response timelines, and communication clauses.
[01:00:00] Working with multiple stakeholders
Insights on managing feedback when working with larger teams.
Establishing weekly feedback cycles and fixed meeting days.
Having all stakeholders sign off on the same timeline for smoother collaboration.
[01:10:00] Reaching out to local businesses
How to approach smaller, local clients with warmth and creativity.
The value of showing up in person and building community.
Print vs digital marketing — what still works and what doesn’t.
Examples of creative offline marketing (handwritten cards, flyers, business cards).
The takeaway: being memorable matters more than being perfect.
[01:25:00] Blending online + offline visibility
Reflections on combining social media with in-person networking.
Local reputation and word-of-mouth still matter — people trust familiar faces.
Use local outreach as relationship-building, not a sales tactic.
The power of being “the creative person in your community.”
[01:40:00] Overwhelm, planning & creative rhythm
How to stay consistent without burning out.
Using a “goal roadmap” to prioritize tasks by impact and timing.
Focusing on what enables the next task instead of doing everything at once.
Planning content around themes, energy, and what feels exciting — not just obligation.
[01:50:00] Newsletters & creative consistency
Practical discussion about starting and sustaining a newsletter.
Simplicity wins: short, conversational, and high-value.
Use 2–3 content themes that feel natural to you.
Consistency matters more than perfection — even one short note a week keeps you top of mind.
Repurpose content from socials, or share reflections that feel personal and real.
[02:05:00] Visibility & long-game thinking
Closing reflections on how opportunities build over time.
Connections made today can lead to projects years later.
Think in terms of clients, fans, peers, and competitors — all contribute to visibility and opportunity.
Success often comes from being consistently visible, genuine, and helpful over the long term.
[02:15:00] Wrap-up + community reminder
Encouragement to keep connecting, collaborating, and supporting each other beyond the calls. Everyone was reminded to follow up with each other after the session — because real growth happens through relationships.