3 Strategies to Grow Your Fractional Business Through Networking

About the Authors: Alex Pracher and Katelyn McArdle know firsthand the transformative power of networking. As two of the founding partners of the impact-driven Plus One Collective, they’re building thriving fractional businesses by forging meaningful connections and cultivating strategic partnerships.

Alex specializes in guiding purpose-focused fractionals to grow businesses that align with their values through 1:1 coaching and mastermind cohorts. Katelyn brings over a decade of expertise in digital transformation, helping clients and consultants align their systems and marketing strategies to drive sustainable growth.

Their collaboration is a testament to the power of networking. What began as a conversation (inspired by Alex’s first Fractional Jobs blog post!) turned into collaborative workshops and eventually a social impact partnership. Their collaboration began through the very strategies they now advocate, leveraging networking to create impactful partnerships. In this article, they share actionable insights to help you harness the power of connection, unlock new opportunities, and grow your fractional business.

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The Surprising Truth about Networking and Fractional Growth

A striking statistic from the FRAK Conference reveals a critical disconnect in fractional business development strategies: 93% of fractionals find clients through their network, yet only 73% prioritize networking as a business development strategy. 

If that’s the case, why do some fractionals overlook networking?

We understand the hesitation. Tactics like cold outreach feel productive because they promise quick results. If you’re lucky, you may get some bites. But, more often than not, those leads fall short.

And let’s face it. Traditional “networking” can feel forced, awkward, and even gross. Planting seeds without seeing immediate results can be agonizing, especially when you need clients now.

But networking shouldn’t just be about “planting seeds”.

It should be an active, intentional effort to cultivate meaningful connections and create opportunities that align with your values. Networking is about more than just adding LinkedIn followers or attending surface-level events. It’s about building an ecosystem of authentic relationships where ideas, resources, and opportunities can thrive.

By focusing on cultivating a strong network, you’ll open doors you didn’t even know were closed and unlock long-term growth. Let’s explore how to make networking work for you.

Here are three proven strategies to grow your fractional network, based on our own experience:

1. Build your Tribe (and Reputation) in a Community

Communities are groups of like-minded professionals who pool resources, collaborate, and often even share leads. Joining one instantly expands your network and provides a built-in support system. It's about more than clients; it's about finding your tribe.

These groups often have more structure than casual networking, with membership guidelines, regular meetings, and sometimes even roles to manage and maintain the community. This keeps things organized and encourages participation.

Beyond leads, communities often offer valuable resources like templates, best practices, and shared marketing. You can establish and build your personal brand, while leveraging the reputation of the community. This saves time and resources while amplifying community impact.

To build your reputation within a community, focus on providing value to the group. Share your expertise by offering helpful insights or resources that can benefit other members. Actively participate in group discussions and be willing to offer support and guidance where you can. 

By demonstrating your knowledge and willingness to collaborate, you can establish yourself as a valuable member of the community.

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How to Select The Right Community:

• General Fractional Communities: If you're looking for a broad community of fractional professionals, established groups like Fractionals United offer a great starting point.
• Niche Communities: Many communities cater to specific fractional roles or industries. For example, Fractional People People is a go-to for HR professionals.
• ‍Value-Based Communities: If you're passionate about aligning your work with your values, consider joining a purpose-driven community like the soon-to-launch Plus One Collective (note: authors are founding partners).

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2. Masterminds: Your Personal Growth Accelerator

Masterminds are intimate, focused environments. Small cohorts meet regularly to provide feedback, brainstorm, and hold each other accountable. It's about cultivating strong relationships with peers invested in your success, and vice versa.

Unlike larger communities, mastermind cohorts are typically limited to 6-12 members. This facilitates deeper discussions, personalized feedback, and greater trust.

The focus is mutual support and growth, creating a powerful environment not only for tangible business growth but also for increased clarity, confidence, and a greater sense of fulfillment in your work.

Finding the Right Mastermind for You

If you're ready to accelerate your personal and professional growth, finding the right mastermind group is key. Here are a few ways to find a cohort that aligns with your goals and aspirations:

• Tap into Your Network: Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or other professionals in your field and ask if they're part of a mastermind or know of any that might be a good fit.
• Search Online Communities: Explore fractional communities on LinkedIn, Facebook Groups, or industry-specific forums where mastermind opportunities might be shared.
• Look for Facilitated Masterminds: Some fractional coaches or consultants offer facilitated masterminds that provide structure and guidance. 
• Create Your Own Mastermind: If you can't find the perfect fit, gather a group of like-minded professionals and form your own mastermind cohort, tailoring the experience to your specific needs and goals. (For example, Alex's Clarity and Connection Mastermind was born from this need for a purpose-driven group). 

Remember, the ideal mastermind is one where you feel comfortable sharing openly, receiving constructive feedback, and collaborating with others who are committed to their own growth and yours. Whether you join an existing group or start your own, a mastermind can be a powerful catalyst for achieving your fractional business goals.

Leveraging Your Mastermind Cohort for Referrals

Beyond the immediate benefits of peer support and accountability, your mastermind cohort can also become a valuable source of referrals. As you build trust and rapport with your fellow members, you'll naturally become more familiar with each other's businesses and ideal clients. This positions you to make warm introductions and direct referrals, connecting your cohort members with potential opportunities.

Furthermore, by actively promoting your cohort members' businesses and sharing their expertise within your own network, you create a reciprocal environment where everyone is top-of-mind for potential collaborations and client referrals. This "pay-it-forward" approach can significantly expand your reach and generate new business opportunities for everyone involved.

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3. Leverage Small-Scale Strategic Partnerships

You've likely met professionals whose skills complement yours. This could be through a fractional community, a mastermind cohort, or simply within your existing network. Instead of going it alone, consider a strategic partnership. A "1+1=3" approach where you can achieve more together. This structure allows fresh perspectives on stalled projects and compelling joint proposals showcasing diverse expertise. It also enables cross-promotion for shared offers, all while maintaining the autonomy to pursue individual projects.

These partnerships can range from informal collaborations to formal joint ventures, or even the creation of micro-agencies. Micro-agencies are essentially a collaboration of several fractional professionals who pool their expertise to offer a wider range of services to clients, essentially functioning like a flexible agency without the overhead and structure of a traditional firm. This allows for greater flexibility and agility in responding to client needs. 

The key to any successful partnership is finding aligned partners who share your values and vision. The benefits extend beyond revenue to include skill enhancement, increased visibility, and greater overall fulfillment.
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How to Identify Potential Partners:

• Look for gaps in your own services that someone else’s skills could fill. For example, if you’re a fractional CFO, consider partnering with a marketing or HR fractional.
• Review your existing network for peers who share your values and work ethic.
• Attend events, webinars, or groups to meet professionals in complementary industries. 
• Track your interactions with fellow participants and schedule conversations after the group networking opportunities. You may find that you’ll identify shared interests and aspirations to build your businesses by leveraging the strengths of your connections.

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Steps to Build a Partnership:

1. Start with a Small Collaboration: Propose a joint project, such as co-hosting a workshop or developing a shared service offering.
2. Define Shared Goals: Outline what success looks like for both parties and establish clear deliverables.
3. Formalize Roles: Set clear expectations for responsibilities, communication, and revenue-sharing if applicable.
4. Evaluate the Fit: After completing a project together, assess whether the partnership is worth scaling up to a more formal joint venture.

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Narrow Down Your Focus

Strategic partnerships thrive when both parties have complementary skills and expertise. For example, a fractional CMO could partner with a website developer, or a fractional COO might collaborate with a leadership coach. Increasingly, businesses are looking to build out a full fractional people strategy, so two or more fractionals can pool their expertise and offer a more comprehensive and appealing solution to win larger clients.

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Bonus: Fractional Super-Connectors

Be on the lookout for super-connectors - people, or companies, with a massive network, and can connect you to different opportunities in their network.

These might be influencers, well-connected VCs, or sites like Fractional Jobs (the site you’re reading this on!).

With Fractional Jobs, you can get access to a bunch of new client opportunities that otherwise would not have been in your network. Fractional Jobs then connects you with the hirer directly (assuming they’re interested in you too of course).

You can sign up for job alerts right here.

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Looking Ahead: Build Relationships, Propel Business Growth 

So, next time you're feeling stuck, remember it's not about firing off another cold email into the void. It's about looking around at the community you're building—or could be building. It's about asking yourself: who could I team up with to make something even better? Who could I learn from? Who could I help? Because ultimately, being a successful fractional isn't about going it alone. It's about recognizing the power of connection.

As you map out your strategy for 2025 and beyond, remember that building genuine connections isn't a quick fix—it's the bedrock of a thriving fractional career. By actively participating in communities, seeking out mastermind groups, and forming strategic partnerships, you can create a support system that fosters growth, collaboration, and lasting success. It's about investing in relationships that will not only bring you clients but also provide support, inspiration, and lasting opportunities for a more balanced and fulfilling professional life.

Don't wait for opportunities to come to you – take the initiative and start building your fractional network today. Reach out to your existing contacts, explore online communities, and consider joining a community or mastermind. 

Your future self will thank you

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If fractional work sounds exciting to you, or you want to learn more, check us out at https://fractionaljobs.io. We've got plenty of live jobs from startups looking for senior-level fractional talent.