No one builds a career alone—especially not one in the outdoor or creative worlds. Whether you’re a freelancer, contractor, full-time employee, or something in between, relationships are your foundation. Your basecamp.
And just like in the outdoors, a solid basecamp helps you go farther, safer.
When people say, “It’s all about who you know,” they’re not wrong. But that doesn’t mean you have to be cold pitching on networking sites like LinkedIn.
Start with what you already have. Past colleagues. Old mentors. Clients who became friends. These are your first anchors. Stay in touch. Share updates. Offer support, even if it’s as simple as sharing their work or checking in.
Then widen your circle—strategically. Look for people doing work you admire. People you genuinely like. And remember: small businesses and nonprofits aren’t always out looking for help. Sometimes they don’t even know what they need until you reach out.
That’s how I found some of my best clients. I noticed campground owners talking in Facebook groups about needing better maps or struggling with marketing. So I showed up honestly. Not with a pitch, but with a, “Hey, I get this. Here’s something I made that might help.”
When you add value, trust starts to build.
You don’t need to be the loudest or most polished person in the room. You just need to be clear, professional, and timely. I cannot overstate how important this is.
If you:
…you are already ahead of the game. That is what builds trust.
Want to go above and beyond? Write a short summary after a meeting. Confirm what you heard. Set next steps. It doesn’t take long, but it builds confidence fast. Especially when you’re working remotely, your communication is your professionalism.
This also goes for your peers. Your fellow freelancers, contractors, or creatives aren’t your competition—they’re your ecosystem. Your trail family.
Some of the best advice I’ve received came from others in my same boat. We traded tips on tools, invoicing platforms, setting boundaries with clients, even navigating dry spells. But we also respected when it wasn’t the right time to swap leads or pitch work.
Being part of communities—even informal ones—can give you perspective, motivation, and sanity.
The key to good outreach is relevance. It’s not about blasting the same message to everyone. It’s about saying:
The best messages I’ve sent or received have been simple and sincere. They also aren’t telling someone what they are doing wrong and how you can fix it. Here is a draft:
Hey [Name], I saw your recent project/post/campaign and loved [specific thing]. I work with small outdoor businesses on communication and marketing, and thought I’d reach out in case you ever need support. Happy to connect or just cheer you on from afar!
No pressure. No gimmicks. No negativity.
And yes, it’s okay to follow up—once or twice. People are busy. Just don’t take silence personally.
The worst emails I get are cold pitches where someone has not even looked at my website or social media. It is a generic message they change… they might even take your bio from Instagram, but they haven’t really looked at who you are and what you offer. I also get so many emails telling me what is wrong with my website or social media, the negativity isn’t going to come across as helpful. And yes, follow up… but after one or two times don’t keep cluttering someone’s inbox.
Building relationships isn’t about how many names are in your contacts list. It’s about quality, not quantity.
Basecamps are built one piece at a time: a few key mentors, a couple of collaborators, a network of peers who’ve got your back. Over time, this becomes the community that sustains your work.
Your career isn’t built in isolation. It grows through connection. The good kind. The real kind. The kind where you root for each other, show up when it matters, and do what you say you’ll do.
Your basecamp won’t look like anyone else’s. That’s okay. Build it strong and steady, and it will support every adventure that comes next.
Next up: Trail Markers — How to Reach Out (Without Feeling Weird About It).
