What do you do if your online networking efforts are falling flat?

On LinkedIn in particular, it's important to have a strategy. Be clear about your niche and connect with a few people every day. Post niche-related content regularly. Instead of worrying about the number of impressions, focus on your input. That is, posting 3 long-form articles/week, etc. Craft your posting tone. Your content should demonstrate your expertise in your unique voice. It is ultimately a blend of personality, experience, and expertise that attracts people. Engage with people you'd like to be a part of your network. Leave thoughtful comments and insights on their posts. Join groups, engage with people in those groups. Do the above for 6 months at least.

Engage authentically AND be interesting. Do interesting things that can get people's attention. As you engage with posts and other comments, people will naturally want to view your profile, but generic engagement won't cut it anymore.

Engagement is what you're looking for. The very basic: Don't just send connection invites, send personalised messages. Introduce yourself, let them know what you think about their content/experiences, and how you'd love to connect. Engagement begins: Once you have connected, go beyond superficial engagement. Look to: Share your thoughts on their content, instead of just reacting to it. Add to the conversation instead of just sharing your thoughts. Mention a personal experience to further a point. Engage with other commenters as well. Check out their profiles and send personalised invites if you think you are like-minded. Above all, be generous in sharing your thoughts and insights. And do this a few days a week.

Once those initial connections are done, it's essential to keep the momentum going with thoughtful follow-ups. Dropping a personalized email, setting up a casual coffee chat, or engaging with them on social media is a good idea. Participating in workshops, seminars, or skill-building sessions related to one's field offer opportunities to learn and improve where one can connect with like-minded individuals.

Join an online group that has similar goals as you, where you can meet up regularly and share your plans for the week . If you can't find existing groups, start one yourself. Send out invites to people you think would be interested in joining such a group. Doesn't have to be on LI, could be on any other platform like WhatsApp or Telegram. Connect often and discuss challenges and growth. Learn from each other's experiences. Seek out accountability buddies if a group is too much of an undertaking. Message existing contacts whose work you admire and ask them how they grew their networks/found opportunities. People are incredibly helpful, in my experience. And who better to guide you than someone who was in your shoes not long ago?