These days it isn’t always necessary to head along to the latest networking meeting. You may possibly gain a handful of good connections, maybe not. Why not network online first and build a relationship up and then meet face to face – if you really need to – to cement the connection. If, like me, you are quite shy in a crowd, then online networking is ideal.
I’m not saying don’t meet people in person but sometimes it can all be done online therefore saving time and money travelling. The internet has shrunk the world – you can do business with someone the other side of the world just as easily as in the same county. If you don’t have to go to the other side of the world to do this then why drive for miles either? Although it is good to put a face with an avatar sometimes. 
LinkedIn is more professional than other Social Media sites. It is very good for professionals seeking work. People and businesses connect up on LinkedIn via recommendations and groups. Or maybe they link up because they see you would be good to connect to from your updates, blogs and connections. You can network with like-minded professionals in the groups and discussions.
Ensure that your Profile is completely updated so that it attracts people to link up with you. Don’t forget it is an advertisement of yourself and your business too. One bad habit that people do is sending an invite to link up without saying why. Explain why you want to connect and you’ll find it will work better for you.
Join in Groups and discussions that are relevant to your business or even create a Group yourself and invite people to join. You can upgrade your LinkedIn profile by paying a monthly subscription and have more features which are useful for networking and linking up with other professionals.
Remember that your business must have a page and not a personal profile – that is just to chat to your friends. I wrote a post recently about using Facebook and networking so you can read more – How To Get Reactions On Facebook.
For Twitter to work you have to chat. If you don’t tweet then it’s like going to a networking meeting and sitting in the corner not saying anything. It won’t get you very far. Search for people with similar interests using the search tabs. If you see something interesting then retweet it to your followers. It’s another good way to connect with the original tweeter too sometimes. And possibly they will reciprocate and retweet something of yours to their followers some time – thereby extending your network.
I use Tweetdeck but other platforms are similar – you can keep columns open searching for tweets with words in that you cover in your business. For example I’m an accountant as well as a writer and I have used searches for accountant or accountancy to see people tweeting those words. Not only can it connect you with people in a similar field to you but also to people searching for your services. I have also used this to help people who may have an accountancy question – if I can answer it simply in a tweet then why not? Sometimes it sparks off a conversation and maybe an open thank you which is similar to a recommendation.
Google+
Google+ has several great features for networking online. You can use it in a similar way to Facebook with status updates but you can also create “circles” to choose who you are sharing the information with. Google Hangouts are brilliant for networking face-to-face without leaving your house. It is a live video chat and can be used by up to 9 people in one go – from wherever you are.
Skype
Everyone uses Skype these days – it’s easy to connect and share using video calls, conference calls or just voice-talk. You can share files and screen shots too. It’s perfect for business use or just connecting across the miles as some people need to do when apart.
Disqus
Disqus is an application which provides an online profile across several platforms. It is like an online business card showing your description, contact details, picture, website links and also your previous comments and likes when you have used Disqus. Every time you comment on a blog using Disqus it provides a link to your profile – everything all in one place. It is also a great application to add to your blog, making comments and discussion easy.
There are so many Social Media sites and useful applications for networking online these days it certainly does make it easier to “network from your sofa”. However a lot of people still prefer the face to face meetings and often to “seal a deal” this would be better. Each to their own.
I would love to hear of any sites that you use to network online or any suggestions you can give to help.
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Hi Sian,
The world village as facilitated by the online space, every one online is just a click away. Great post, surprised by you saying your are shy…..
Thanks John, I’m very shy unless I know someone and everyone that knows me doesn’t agree
Coming from a world of traditional offline networking, I really enjoy the online space for networking now also. And when the intention is there, great connections can be made and developed.
When I began networking on twitter, LinkedIn and G+, I endeavoured to meet as many of those new contacts offline as I could.
I believe in order to build real trust and learn about the other person, face to face is vital. We always “act” differently online, even when we think we are being ourselves, so a face to face coffee or collaboration is very useful. This can be done on skype or a hangout
And you are right, and John is right about the world village. A quote I read recently – “Think global, act local” Very apt indeed
Thanks for the comment Elaine. I would think of you as a Queen of networking as you do it effortlessly. Some people, like myself, would really struggle to network face to face which is why I find online networking invaluable to myself and my business. I agree that face to face would have to happen for the majority of deals being sealed but not always. I have three jobs in which I have never met the person, two of them are for American companies. It just shows how the world has shrunk with online networking I believe – thank goodness it has for people like myself
I cannot say enough about how effective online networking can be! From my own story, I’ve become a blogger on a business site outside the US, collaborated with colleagues on projects, served clients (within and beyond US borders) and participated in radio interviews. One other thing that has also occurred due to online networking is that I became a chat host and now KaizenBiz has become bigger than just a Twitter chat.
One benefit that is sometimes overlooked is that it makes you think about your message so you are clear and succinct. This transfers quite well into in-person networking.
Thanks for your comment Elli. And thanks to Social Media I “met” you too and have collaborated on an interview. And I’m sure there will be more in the future.
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