How to Reach Out and Build a Network When You’re New to a City or Town

/ Business, Networking, Personal branding / By

Arriving in a new city like Adelaide, South Australia can feel both full of opportunity and slightly disorienting at the same time. The connections you had, the shorthand conversations, the easy introductions, they all need to be rebuilt. The good news is that Adelaide is one of those places where people are open, collaborative and willing to connect if the approach is right.

This is not about blasting out messages or asking for meetings with no context or AI generated messages and emails. It is about being intentional, relevant and respectful of people’s time, while positioning yourself as someone worth knowing.

Start with how you reach out

Keep it simple, short and human, giving first where you can.

A good outreach message is rarely more than a few sentences. It gives just enough context for the person to understand who you are, why you are reaching out and what the connection point is. It is not a pitch but an introduction, with a potential ask for a chat.

If you can, anchor it in a warm introduction. Even if the person has not formally introduced you, referencing a mutual connection helps.

For example:

“Hi [Name], I’ve recently relocated to Adelaide and [mutual contact] suggested I reach out given your work in [area]. I’m working across [brief context] and would value connecting when it suits, especially to learn more about what you are working on.  Hope you might be open to a chat, thank you.”

That is enough – clear, respectful and leaves space for a response.

Get your profile and presence right first

Before reaching out, make sure your digital footprint holds up.

Your LinkedIn profile should be current, specific and aligned to the work you want to do, the industry sectors, topics and connections you’d like to make. This is often the first place people will go after receiving your message or when they search your name.

A strong profile does a few things:

  • Clearly states what you do and who you work with and serve
  • Includes examples, interests or outcomes, not just job titles
  • Signals your areas of interest, whether that is AI, workforce development, inclusion or industry sectors

Alongside this, having access to relevant databases or contact lists matters. Whether that is through industry memberships, program participation or curated lists you build over time, it helps you move beyond random outreach to targeted connections.

Be warm, not transactional

Tone matters more than people realise.

Adelaide is a relationship-based ecosystem. A direct, overly transactional message can shut down an opportunity before it starts. A warm, collaborative tone opens doors.

Think about language that signals curiosity and shared value rather than immediate gain. Words like “connect”, “learn”, “explore” and “collaborate” go a long way.

Events are where relationships actually start

You can do a lot online, but relationships are built in spaces.

Attending events gives you context, credibility and shared experience. It is much easier to follow up with someone when you have heard them speak, seen their work or had a brief conversation.

For example, events like, AI Adoption, Integration & Impact Networking with Real Intelligence AAIIG bring together people across business, government and technology who are actively working on AI in practice. These are the types of environments where conversations move quickly from introduction to opportunity.

Similarly, curated blogs like Switch Start Scale provide visibility on upcoming events, programs and connections across the state.

Be intentional about who you connect with

Not all networking is equal.

Think about your focus areas and identify people who are active in those spaces. Adelaide and South Australia has strong communities across technology, workforce development, inclusion and entrepreneurship, and there are individuals who are highly connected within each.

For example:

These are not cold leads but people who are already active, visible and contributing to the ecosystem.

Go where corporate and government connections are

If your focus is business development with corporate or government clients, you need to be in the right networks.

Look at professional associations and communities of practice such as:

People like Abbie Taylor are often at the centre of these networks, connecting learning, capability and organisational development conversations.

Also consider local and state government engagement through councils such as City of Charles Sturt; City of Onkaparinga; and the City of Marion active in economic development, workforce initiatives and local business engagement.

Use role-based and topic-based outreach

Another way to approach networking is to focus on roles rather than individuals.

If you are working in AI or digital transformation, look for:

  • Chief Technology Officers
  • Digital Transformation Leads
  • Heads of Data or AI

If your focus is workforce, training or organisational development:

  • HR Directors
  • Learning and Development Leads
  • OD practitioners
  • People and Culture Managers

You can also connect through communities such as:

These groups provide a natural entry point where the conversation is already happening.

Follow up and build the relationship

The first message is just that, the first step.

If someone responds, follow up. If you meet someone at an event, connect within a day or two while the conversation is still fresh. Reference where you met and what you discussed. Relationships are built over time, not in a single interaction.

Networking in a new city is not about knowing everyone. It is about knowing the right people for where you are heading and building those relationships in a way that is genuine and sustainable.

Adelaide rewards people who show up, contribute and connect with intent so start small, be consistent and stay human in your approach.

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