It’s no secret that one of the best ways to build your brand and get ahead in your career is by networking. In fact, a survey by LinkedIn revealed that in 2016, 70% of the people hired that year had a connection within the company. But networking can be a lot more daunting when you’re forced to stay at home due to a global pandemic. Fortunately, in this digital age, physical barriers are a thing of the past. That’s why we’ve come up with three effective ways to continue networking while under quarantine.

1. Nurture Existing Relationships

When talking about networking, we often think about meeting new people, but per Duke Today, it’s “equally important to maintain the connections you’ve already made.” Even though you may be unable to keep in touch by meeting in person and attending events together, there are plenty of other ways to connect.

If your time is limited, a simple email is a great way to check-in with the people in your network. However, a more personal touch in the form of a phone call or video chat makes a world of difference. For that reason, you must personalize your approach; the last thing you want to do is sound like a Hallmark card. People appreciate authenticity, and approaching the interaction from a perspective of genuine interest will yield far better results.

2. Don’t Underestimate Social Media

With more people spending time indoors than ever before, social media use is booming. Now is an excellent time to go over your social media profiles and ensure they are up to date. You can also use your social media to promote any projects you’ve taken on since the pandemic hit, as well as highlight how you’ve managed to adapt to a highly unpredictable work environment.

The key to building a successful online presence is focusing on what makes you unique. Law Times points out that when you focus too much on marketing yourself to as many employers and connections as possible, your profile comes off as painfully generic; “Because it’s loaded with buzzwords and generic information, it could apply to almost anyone.” This makes it harder for anyone to see what you, as an individual, can contribute.

3. Take a Chance and Put Yourself Out There

Communication online is very different, and the societal norms that generally dictate social interactions don’t apply in the same way. People tend to be more receptive to a bold approach from a stranger when contacted online as opposed to being approached face to face. If there’s a particular person with whom you’ve been wanting to connect, but have yet to find an organic lead, you currently have the best chance of being successful with a “cold call” approach.

This applies to organizations as well. So many businesses and nonprofit organizations have put forth a wealth of opportunities for online networking, including digital courses and public forums. Best of all, there’s no invitation necessary to participate in such things. Take advantage of the lack of barriers to pick up a new skill or introduce yourself to a new community.

Putting These Tips Into Action

We’ve outlined a few crucial steps towards successfully networking as the country faces the pandemic; however, you might find yourself wondering how to actually apply the advice given. If you’re unsure of how to achieve the right balance of professionalism with personal interest when connecting with someone in your network, how to make yourself seem unique without limiting your opportunities, or how to reach out to someone you’ve never worked with before, Susan Ascher can help. Learn more about our career coaching program and start expanding your network today!

Additional Resources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353165
https://www.lawtimesnews.com/news/general/how-to-maintain-business-development-and-networking-during-a-pandemic/331869
https://today.duke.edu/2020/07/new-ways-network-virtual-times
https://news.linkedin.com/2017/6/eighty-percent-of-professionals-consider-networking-important-to-career-success

Business is on hold due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Much of America is either piecing together a strategy to work remotely from home or readying to join the (virtual) unemployment line. With so much uncertainty surrounding our economy and the jobs outlook moving forward – and the majority of the country confined to the home – there’s not a lot to be done on the networking front, right?

Wrong, say experts. In fact, now is the ideal time to make connections with current and future clients, vendors, coworkers, and perhaps even potential employers. While many companies and individuals alike are focusing on staying above water until the current threat passes, once the hiring  and buying process begins in earnest again, we may see a distinct separation between those who have continued to participate in the business conversation and those who spent quarantine hunkering down and waiting for opportunities to come to them.

Virtual Networking Tips

So, how can you network during this time of social distancing? Thankfully, the internet has provided us with more ways to stay in touch than ever. Here are a few key ways you can network throughout the COVID-19 crisis:

1. Reach out via video conference. Sure, videoconferencing existed before social distancing swept the nation. However, between virtual schoolrooms, virtual office meetings and even virtual cocktail hours, the demand for video conferencing services has surged. In fact, the popular Zoom app was downloaded over 600,000 times in one day in March 2020. Currently, video conferencing via Zoom, Facetime, Skype, or Google Hangouts is one of the only ways to truly make a personal connection with your contacts.Just be sure to use this method with consideration for those on the receiving end and schedule meetings in advance so others have time to prepare. It’s also important not to over utilize the service, as Susan Ascher mentioned in a recent Inside Hook article: “In this age in which everybody is texting and emailing and not wanting to pick up the phone, all of a sudden, everybody wants to Zoom! It’s an oxymoron. Maybe that Zoom call could just be a phone call!” She cautions against wearing out your videoconferencing welcome: “There’s just a time and a place for it: Not every single chat wants to become a Zoom.”
2. Update your networking profiles. With the world experiencing more time online than ever before, now is the time to make sure your LinkedIn and other networking profiles are up to date for recruiters, potential employers, colleagues and more. Ensure your recommendations are comprehensive – at least 4 to 5, according to experts – and at least one is relatively recent. Update your photo, fine-tune your experiences, and make an overall effort to represent yourself professionally online.
3. Participate in forums. Online forums are quickly becoming 2020’s social-distancing-friendly answer to the business conference. Through a forum, you can glean advice from industry experts, gather insights from peers, find new resources, and perhaps even share some of your own. Better still, you’ll make connections within your business circle and open up to opportunities in other circles.

As difficult as these times are for businesses and America’s workers alike, it’s more important than ever to stay actively engaged with your career. Fortunately, virtual networking provides us with a way to maintain current connections, and even make new ones that could continue to show benefits once COVID-19 is behind us.

Additional Resources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawngraham/2020/03/18/corona-and-your-career-how-to-effectively-network-during-a-quarantine/#7c3c8d215f9d
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robinryan/2020/03/29/a-new-way-to-network-during-the-coronavirus/#20206f6e4311
https://www.wired-gov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/App+for+that+how+business+apps+are+helping+during+COVID19+24032020162500?open

Have you ever analyzed how effective networking events you attend are? Oftentimes, people attend these events to socialize but walk away without bringing in any potential business opportunities. Sure, you might have had fun and made connections, but you could be missing a huge chance to expand brand awareness and grow your business.

In order to make the most out of networking events as an entrepreneur, you need to be in the right mindset with a work-related strategy in place. Let’s take a look at three ways you can get the most out of networking events.

3 Ways to Be Productive at Networking Events

Attending networking events offer you value to not only connect with influential industry leaders but also self-promote yourself and your business. Follow the tips below to ensure you’re taking advantage of these opportunities successfully.

1. Establish a Goal

Before the event, ensure you establish what you hope to achieve from it. Do you want to be introduced to someone in particular? Are you looking for an investment? What type of clients do you want to attract? Set goals for how many people you want to meet, appointments you make, or the number of business cards you want to collect. Determining your specific goals will help guide you to a more successful event.

2. Meet the Right People

After you have your goals in mind, it’s time to start talking to the right people that can help you reach success. It’s important to make genuine connections and act complimentary and positive—ask questions about the person’s personal and business life. Remember that these events are not for selling—don’t just pass on your business card and move on. The people you meet at events could have an impact on future business, so you need to make valuable connections.

3. Keep in Touch

The key to making each networking event productive for solopreneurs is the follow-up. Events are for connecting and exchanging contact information, but actual business outcomes happen afterward when you stay in touch with these new contacts. Create a follow-up strategy that you can continuously use after each event. Consider touching base 48 hours after you meet on social media, email, personal card, or a text to take action on your goal.

Attend Networking Events to Grow Your Business

With these steps in mind, you have the ability to grow your business and make valuable connections at your next networking event. While events can be intimidating at first, above all—it’s important to be yourself and act with purpose.

Additional Resources

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashiraprossack1/2018/10/27/how-to-make-the-most-out-of-every-networking-opportunity/#75bdbd1974f8
https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2019/04/22/8-ways-to-get-the-most-from-a-business-networking-event/?slreturn=20190526163316
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/08/17/five-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-networking-event/#7a6f092658e8
https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-networking-event-3d6736d4ca5f

The word “networking” sends many people into a panic, and it’s easy to understand why. We’re told time and again that it’s never “what” you know, but “who” you know. Careers make and break because of our social network, so why shouldn’t you panic?

Because we’re all approaching networking the wrong way.

Building a strong network isn’t about manipulating your way to the top with some carefully concocted persona. If there’s one thing everyone hates, it’s inauthenticity. Successful networking means putting yourself out there. Don’t show the world who you think they want to meet, show them the real you.

Paradigm Shift

The reality is that we’ve all been given the same bad advice. You prepare an elevator speech, print your business cards, and come into a conversation with curated remarks intended to leave an impression.

Then you never hear back.

It’s not that these are bad techniques, it’s that walking around like a billboard for your resume isn’t impressing anyone, and certainly doesn’t show new contacts the real you. Starting an introduction with a bullet-pointed list of your accomplishments only tells the other person you’re after a job or useful reference, not a meaningful business relationship.

Networking isn’t just about you and your accomplishments. You need to show a genuine interest in the other party. Show them that you care about what they do, how their business operates, and ask questions. An elevator pitch isn’t for long events, it’s for interviews or high-speed events. If you have time, don’t rush through the conversation. Genuine connections form because of shared interests, specialties, and mutual relationships. Giving a 60-second pitch all about you means you’re not showing an interest in the other person. It also means they can’t slow you down and ask questions of their own.

At the end of the day, the less you think about networking as, well, networking, the more authentic a person you reveal yourself to be. Networking events are social functions above all else. Though professionalism is key, remember that you’re talking to another person, no matter how high-ranking they are.

Give and Take

Remember that nobody owes you anything. Going into a networking event with the intent to score friends and opportunities without giving anything in return only wastes everyone’s time. The smallest of favors can leave a better impression than the best sales pitch in the world. You also show that you’re goal-oriented, rather than just a smooth talker.

Another way to leave a strong impression is following through on every promise you make. If you say you’ll follow up with an email or business card, absolutely do!

The “Who” of Who You Know

Networking usually brings the same thoughts to mind of watercooler events where young, talented professionals try to get in the good graces of the successful business mogul. But if your approach to networking only involves the top-ranking members of an organization, you’re guaranteed to miss out on some opportunities.

Everyone at a company, regardless of status, has something to offer. Sometimes, it’s as small as a tip about a new project. It can also be huge, like an opening in their department that you’re perfect for. Everyone can offer you something, and all you need to do is meet them.

Additional Resources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2013/03/27/how-to-become-a-top-networker/#7cad7fad2847
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/299800
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/21/secrets-to-becoming-a-master-networker.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-become-a-master-networker-2015-5
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130328160526-5799319-7-tips-from-professional-networker
https://www.inc.com/larry-alton/7-ways-to-up-your-networking-game.html