What do you do if your digital strategy lacks networking?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start networking, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to increase your brand awareness, generate leads, improve your customer loyalty, or find new partners? Do you want to learn from experts, share your insights, or collaborate on projects? Your goals will determine who you need to network with, where to find them, and how to approach them. Write down your specific and measurable goals and keep them in mind as you develop your networking strategy.

2 Research your network

Once you have your goals, you need to research your potential network. Who are the people who can help you reach your goals? They can be customers, prospects, influencers, mentors, peers, competitors, or media. Where do they hang out online? What are their interests, pain points, and preferences? What are they talking about, sharing, or asking? You can use tools such as Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, Quora, or industry forums to find and learn more about your network. You can also leverage your existing contacts to get introductions or recommendations.

3 Engage with value

Once you have identified and researched your network, it's time to engage with them in a meaningful way. Rather than spamming them with sales pitches or requests, you should offer value and demonstrate interest. You can do this by sharing relevant and useful content that solves their problems, commenting on their posts with thoughtful feedback, asking them open-ended questions, mentioning them in your own content and giving them credit, inviting them to join your email list or webinar, or sending personalized messages that show you have something to offer. This approach will help you build relationships and foster trust with your network.

4 Follow up and nurture

The last step of networking is to follow up and nurture your relationships. Don't just disappear after one interaction. Instead, stay in touch and demonstrate that you care. You can do this by sending a thank you note or feedback request after an event, meeting, or collaboration. Congratulate them on their accomplishments, milestones, or awards. Recommend them to others who may benefit from their services, products, or expertise. Introduce them to other people in your network who share their interests, goals, or challenges. Ask for referrals, testimonials, or reviews. Offer discounts, free trials, or bonuses. Networking is a critical aspect of any digital strategy and can help you build your online presence, connect with new audiences, and expand your business. With the right time, effort, and strategy, you can maximize your digital strategy through successful and genuine networking.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?