How can you build a strong professional network in Data Visualization storytelling?

I've tried both being very specific and just being casual and sending messages to connect. I have found having a reason easier to carry on a conversation. The reason doesn't need to be as broad as learning new skills, it can be - I want to ask you about some tool. That helps as a starting point

In today's world showcasing you're an expert or even interested in something is both easy and difficult Easy because you have all the knowledge to do it and difficult because everyone has access to that knowledge. What can set you apart is consistency. Make not 1 but multiple posts on data visualisation. Analyse multiple products. Refer others' works in your posts. And be original.

For Data Visualization storytelling, it is essential to diversify your network from other Data Visualization experts to connections within the realms of art, storytelling, and creativity - filmmakers, musicians, journalists and so on. The central element here is to improve your storytelling skills. Listen to how they tackle a narrative. Now, to make sure you know how to cut your data well, you should seek out engineers, mathematicians, statisticians, and data critics. In both instances, your most valuable connections are those who can critically evaluate your work, as this will enhance the robustness of your data and, thus, your storytelling. No Data Viz storyteller is good until their data analysis is good.

Data visualization community platforms are a great place to build a strong professional network. Here, you can showcase your own creative visualizations and collaborate with others to improve them. You'll also have the chance to work closely with other professionals and review their work.

Reaching out to influencers doesn't mean you are always in a 1:1 connection with them. You can learn from them. Add on top of what they write or say. When your opinions become strong they will also see that You can try connecting, but that might not always be possible

There's a lot of clutter in the world today. Everyone sends a newsletter. Try to have a few deeper relationships and engage by going to meet ups/ give talks more. That's more relevant than sending your updates. Contribute to group discussions, help others. That will definitely come back.

To build a robust network in data visualization storytelling, I've found active participation in data visualization hackathons to be highly effective. These events typically provide a dataset and a submission deadline, along with specific key performance indicators to address. In my experience, a compelling storytelling format is essential. I begin by narrating the entire project journey, encompassing the entire data visualization process. This journey spans from data collection, through data cleaning and merging, and finally culminates in the visualization phase. Sharing this comprehensive narrative not only showcases expertise but also fosters connections within the data visualization community.