Networking plays a critical role in career, growth, professional development, friendship and can even open doors to new mentorship opportunities. Staying connected is another way to explain networking that has become even more important after the lessons learned during the Covid19 pandemic. Networking is much more than just connecting with people, and it is about creating connections with the right people for developing a deeper bond and long-lasting relationships. Socializing is the most common form of networking when you attend events and occasions to mix with people and establish relationships with a selected few. As physical distancing became mandatory during the pandemic, virtual networking and various social media channels became highly popular.
The need for virtual networking
The popularity of social media thrives on remote networking as technological advancements give us a feeling of being present when interacting across social media platforms. Even without face-to-face meetings, we can communicate the same way we would have done physically. Group chats encourage virtual networking on a larger scale, and it is easy to connect with anyone and anytime virtually. The Covid19 pandemic that led to prolonged home detention and prevented physical interactions compelled people to embrace virtual networking ideas to drive away loneliness and isolation, which caused immense mental stress. Staying connected virtually gives us the confidence to combat the pandemic effectively while taking care of our wellness and wellbeing.
To forge new relationships by using digital channels, here are some tips for virtual networking.
Join the conversation on Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is an audio platform that allows users to connect with people and even follow them as you do on any social media platform. By choosing people who share common interests, you can start a conversation with any individual or group and discuss topics in real-time. You can build your community on Clubhouse and gain mileage from it, especially if you are an influencer with a decent fan following. For joining the community or creating a community on Clubhouse, you must join rooms that appear attractive. Raise your hand and earn an invitation to speak. It’s an excellent opportunity to establish your authority to express your views on the topic. You can even join an ongoing discussion during a podcast and expand your networking capability.
Be talkative during virtual events
To expand your network by making new friends and acquaintances, take advantage of the chat feature of virtual events. It is one of the most exciting tips for virtual networking as you can use the chatbox within virtual events like the conference hallway during physical events. Use the space effectively when the host encourages participants to introduce themselves. Use the opportunity to tell in a few words about you by stating your name, profession, and interest, your intention of making new connections, and leave a link to your URL or LinkedIn profile. Keeping your LinkedIn profile open while chatting should help you respond to new connection requests instantly. Even if the virtual networking event has too many participants, like a big conference, the attraction of networking draws more people towards it.
Make personal connections across social media channels
The social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter provide ample opportunities of turning professional relationships into personal ones. You can connect with individuals who you might know professionally at a personal level. You can identify the persons you take an interest in and set up alerts on Twitter to receive an intimation as soon as they upload a post so that you can interact in real-time. This method is helpful for professional advancement as you can connect with some targeted professionals who can help you discover new opportunities for career growth. Moreover, it would introduce you to many potential employers who, on knowing more about you, could make you an offer to join their organizations on learning more about you.
When you get an opportunity during any virtual networking event, it is most important to speak meaningfully. You must articulate your conversations to add value to the topic under discussion and not just use the opportunity to draw attention. Providing a unique perspective to the conversation should help establish your authority while demonstrating your willingness to be a good listener.
