15 Tips To Be More Efficient When Networking Online

The internet is packed full of people who are willing to help each other out, with multiple social media channels and sites like Meetup.com providing the opportunity to meet new people and potential business partners. Online networking is a fantastic way to get yourself out there and meet new people. However, it can be time consuming, so here are a few tips to help you get the most from your online networking experience.

1) Structured Networking

When you’re new to the world of online networking, it can be quite intimidating. Everyone has their own way of approaching these kinds of events, but one thing that everyone is going to be doing is searching for potential contacts. To find them, try using search queries like #sales #marketing #management and relevant Twitter hashtags. You can then approach people who have used these terms in their user names or bios on social networks or using search engines like Google and Bing.

2) Know The Channels

There are plenty of ways to network online, with each offering a different experience. The most popular ones are LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, but that doesn’t mean you should discount other social networks or groups. Another great idea is to attend live events like Meetups.

3) Give Value First

A sure fire way to make an impact is to give something of value first rather than just asking for help. If you can provide something in the form of information or an interesting article, then people are much more likely to return the favor. For example, a great networking tip is to recommend a new book that you have read, or link to an article you have written.

4) Be Yourself

Don’t try and be perfect online just be yourself! If people can see how passionate you are about your industry then they will want to connect and talk more with you.

If you are able to come across as genuine and authentic it will help your networking experience as everyone loves to feel special.

If a person doesn’t want to get involved with your request for help, don’t take it personally; this could be because they don’t have the necessary information or are simply busy with their own schedules.

5) Make Connections

When you’re networking online, you need to be as open and generous as possible. This will ensure that people are willing to return the favor when you ask for help. Don’t be scared to follow people on Twitter or LinkedIn who could be of benefit to your business; if in doubt, just send them a nice tweet (even if it doesn’t get reciprocated), this could lead to future opportunities. The main priority should be making the first move and taking a step towards building those much-needed relationships.

6) Don’t Forget About Your Real-Life Connections

However, never forget about your real-life connections too. This is a really valuable resource for anyone who is looking to get started with online networking.

You will be able to share your new online relationships with them at events, dinners or other gatherings, and you might even find that certain people are able to help you out online.

If you feel confident enough to recommend someone from a different industry or from a different part of the country, then it could make the difference between success and failure.

7) Use The Right Tools

When networking online it’s important to have the right tools at each of your fingertips. For example, you could write a list of the top people that you would like to get to know online and then keep track of their online activities on a regular basis. That way, when they do log in, you will be able to start chatting to them very quickly.

8) Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

One of the biggest difficulties when it comes to networking is knowing who to ask for help. However, there is a great way that can make this process much easier. Asking people for help within your network can lead to some fruitful results and getting people involved in your own marketing efforts will give them a better understanding of who you are and what your business does.

9) Be Flexible

Certain times of the day are better than others, and this can also affect how you approach networking. For example, most people will prefer to complete tasks at night when they have time to reflect on what is happening in their business.

Therefore, if you have morning meetings then make sure that you use them to network with other people. You never know who might be a potential connection for your business; this could mean that it could be someone who is looking for a job or someone who has an interest in something similar to what you do.

10) Join Meetups

If you haven’t already, then I would recommend that you join a Meetup group for your area. There is a good chance that there’s one that’s close to you and if not then there are plenty of other groups to look at. You should also consider attending live events, like local networking groups or even your local Chamber of Commerce meetings to take advantage of the great people there.

Some of the best ways to make connections in your niche are through Meetup.com and other similar sites, or social media channels like Twitter and LinkedIn.

11) Attend Conferences

If you’re looking for targeted leads in your industry, then attending networking conferences and conventions can be a great way to build a new audience.

They provide an amazing opportunity for you to meet people face-to-face and make some valuable connections that could lead to more business. Even if you don’t do any networking there, it can be useful just to get a feel for the industry as a whole.

For example, if you run an accounting firm, then it could be a good idea to take time out of the office on occasion and go to see what some of your competitors are up to.

12) Attend Professional Events

It can be very difficult to make a connection at a professional event like an accounting conference, for example. However, you could use this opportunity to set up those much-needed personal contacts for your business.

This will enable you to get the most out of the whole event and build some solid connections with other individuals within your chosen field. So, attending events can be a great way to network online and meet new people from all different industries.

13) Help Others Out

It’s also important to help others out when you can – it will encourage them to return the favor when you need their help in return. You can do this in so many different ways. Giving others the opportunity to talk about themselves can be a great way to get some valuable advice.

You could also send them an interesting article or news feed, or even just share your own thoughts and allow them to add their own input.

However you choose to help out, it will make it easier for people to talk with you online; this is because it will show them that you’re not just interested in getting more business for yourself, but that you are dedicated and willing to help other people too.

14) Be Honest And Open

It’s important to be honest and open about who you are with people online. This will allow people to take you at face value when it comes to what you do and how you like to network. If they know that you have a great reputation, then they might be more willing to help out with your business in return.

15) Research Your Website

When establishing your own website, it’s important that you set it up in a way that allows for user-friendly navigation and easy navigation for visitors. You should also provide clear information about your company so that the overall experience is very clear, especially when potential customers are viewing your website on the internet.

In Conclusion

If you use these 15 tips for networking online, then there is a good chance that you will be able to generate a greater volume of new business in the future. You should also feel confident knowing that these same techniques can be used for networking in person, so you won’t have to worry about constantly changing your approach to the process.