The Advantages of Virtual Networking Events

Over the past few years, networking groups have successfully conducted Virtual Networking Meetings. Through virtual media channels like Zoom and Teams, organizations have been able to present informative networking events that are attended by individuals who are not only geographically local to the presenting networking group, but from throughout the nation, and beyond.

Virtual networking tools allow networking groups to have a larger number of possible subject matter experts present to their attendees, regardless of the presenter’s geographic location.

From time to time, individuals have approached me frustrated that networking meetings are being held virtually. They enjoy speaking directly with peers, learning about each other, and understanding how they can help each other.? Given the economic and logistical constraints of conducting in-person networking meetings, a virtual component will likely continue in many networking.

Virtual Networking Meetings contain unique opportunities that produce more successful networking than “In-Person Meetings”.? Here are a few of these advantages.

1. A larger audience can attend Virtual Meetings than In-Person Meetings. The number of attendees at In-Person Meetings is constrained by the physical size of the meeting room and the logistics of physically attending the meeting.
2. Being in greater numbers and more geographically diverse, virtual attendees have professional experiences that tend to be more varied and valued than the fewer attendees of In-Person Meetings.? You can also more easily network with and learn from virtual attendees. (See the strategy outlined below)
3. By attending virtual meetings, you have the opportunity to learn the following;

• The Name and each attendee’s appearance through their Screen on the virtual meeting tool,
• The? Contact Information of each attendee can be shared through the Chat Feature,
• An attendee’s Professional Nature is learned by observing them during the meeting, and
• The opportunity to research each attendee in real-time through LinkedIn. This allows you the opportunity to invite targeted attendees to network at a later time.?

During In-Person Meetings, you can only speak with and learn about one person at a time. A pen and paper are needed to record each person’s name and the notes from your conversation. Given the time constraints before and after meetings, it is often difficult to meet, let alone network with more than a few attendees at each In-Person Meeting.

Here is the strategy that I use that enhances the effectiveness of networking during virtual meetings.

1. Ask each attendee to place the following into the virtual meeting’s Chat feature.

• Their name
• A short description of their expertise
• Their geographic location
• Their email address
• Their LinkedIn address

– Prudent virtual networkers have this information readily accessible in a Word document to be “Cut and Paste” into the Chat.

2. Use the Snipping Tool to make a screenprint of each screen of attendees. – Saving these screen prints helps you recall each member of the networking meeting.

?3.?? Take notes about each attendee highlighting why you may want to network with them after the meeting.

?4.??At the end of the meeting, copy and save the entire Chat Feature. – This will allow you to save each attendee’s contact information and their contributions during the meeting.

?5.??After the meeting, you can reach out and network with AS MANY attendees as you wish!

I believe that learning about each attendee of a virtual networking meeting and reaching out to network with targeted members after the meeting is the most effective way to meet, network, learn from, and build relationships with more individuals who attend networking events.

Ernie Russom is the Executive Director of the Retained and Dedicated Executive Search Firm The Westview Associates. Enhancing the ROI of the hiring process through a proprietary methodology that provides longer-tenured and more productive employees. Ernie can be contacted at [email protected]