LinkedIn, Shapr, Bumble: Networking Tactics for Introverts

I recently came across an incredible one-liner from a fellow LinkedIn user:

If this article isn't actionable, I don't care!

In the spirit of this user, we are going to keep this article actionable with a few suggestions to help you grow your existing network from the comfort of your couch... Or your bed... Or on the toilet if that's your thing. Whether you're introverted or extroverted, I want to help you create more professional connections.

If you're really short on time, just scroll to the bottom for some quick tips.

The Goal Here // To help you find, meet, and communicate with new people in order to meet a professional milestone.

Don't read this if you enjoy being completely comfortable, if you fear change, and you are terrified of personal growth. This article is geared towards my friends and colleagues who are more used to swiping and double tapping than shaking hands and making eye contact (I empathize with you, fellow introverts).

But, If you're feeling stuck in your current network, or you can't find the opportunities you're craving, it's up to you and only you to find a way to achieve your goals. Nobody is going to email you tomorrow with a dream job offer, a massive account ready for your authorization, or a life changing mentorship opportunity. Let's take life by the horns today and make something amazing happen.

Backstory // I recently deleted Facebook and Instagram for a month. I wanted to reset my relationship with my social networks.

In doing so, I was able to convert wasted leisure time into much more productive time. Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Snapchat, even LinkedIn can oftentimes feel like echo chambers: You see similar posts from the same people within a relatively small network.

Unless you are actively searching through comments and likes, it is likely you will not come across many new people, ideas, or information.

The aforementioned apps have lackluster discovery features built into their primary user experience. Once you find your friends and family, most people just check-in, read some posts, and check-out.

So let's change that.

LinkedIn // Let's begin with old faithful, because if you are reading this, we both know you already have it.

LinkedIn has enormous scale. Just about anybody you want to meet with is already a user here. But, few people understand how to harness its power. Here are a few steps to helping you conquer LinkedIn and make new connections.

Sign-up for Premium

If you come across someone interesting, but you are not connected by a mutual party, you have no way to contact that person on LinkedIn. With a Premium Membership, you gain access to inMail, LinkedIn's premium messaging platform.

This membership is also full of search features that allow you to fully take advantage of the platform with refined search queries. The best part? There is a free trial, so if you can't stand paying another monthly subscription, just cancel after a few weeks. #noexcuses

Text Strings and Search

Aside from using advanced search filters, the best advice I have for anyone new to LinkedIn is this: use quotation marks in your search. Quotation marks allow you to search strings of text rather than individual words. This is a fantastic way to find people who are part of a specific organization, or have gone to a particular school.

For example: If I were searching for Sigma Chi Fraternity alumni who had connections with Amazon, I could type in "Sigma Chi Amazon" in the LinkedIn Search bar. After narrowing those connections down to people living in the Greater Los Angeles Area, I still have 180 connections to sift through... this is anything but leisurely.

To make the best use of your networking time, and to avoid connecting with someone based on false , let's add some quotes to "Sigma Chi" to create a text string in the search criteria.

By adding quotes, we cut down the matching results by nearly 50%, meaning less time you will spend sifting and scrolling... this feels nice doesn't it?

Making the First Move

I don't think most people are afraid of rejection. I think they are afraid of being judged. So here's the primary thing you need to remember when reaching out on LinkedIn, and anywhere else in general: present yourself with good intent. With good intention in mind, here are some basic rules for starting a LinkedIn messaging or inMail conversation:

1. Appeal to Tribalism: People are tribal in nature. We are more open to those who are part of a similar community, so play that up! The best way to appeal to this feeling is to share a mutual personal connection. If you don't have that, maybe you have an industry in common, or you're passionate about an emerging technology, or maybe you volunteered for the same organization? If you can't find something in common, LinkedIn might not be the best way to meet this person.
2. Show Legitimate Interest: If this person is interesting to you, tell them why. People like to talk about what they know, and starting off with transparency makes it much easier to engage with you. Pro-tip, if they are publishing content online, they likely want to talk about it, so try to start there.
3. Be respectful of their time: Keep the message short, and don't start off right away with asking to buy them a coffee, or arranging time for a phone call. The advantage of networking from afar is to keep things efficient. Part of that means letting multiple conversations develop and becoming comfortable with a handful of people at once.

If you notice that a conversation really starts to take on some life, it's probably best to exchange numbers or emails and arrange a meeting from there.

Linkedin is a great way to expand your network if you know who and what you are looking for. But maybe you are unsure of who to look for, or maybe you feel like you're at a dead end? Don't worry, there is an app for that.

Shapr // This mobile app has all the ingredients needed to serve up relevant connections, create conversations, and keep its users engaged.

Shapr is by far my favorite networking application. After spending a few minutes creating your profile and establishing your interests, the app pairs you with other users in your geographic area based on your common interests.

You are then served a finite number of people per day to swipe left and right on. For those who are unfamiliar: swiping right indicates you'd like to connect with the other person.

Here is the best part: those people are swiping back.

If you swipe right on someone, and they also swipe right on you, Swipr opens up a messaging feature between you. Because Shapr only allows messaging between people who have expressed interest in each other, the awkward first approach phase of networking is completely cut out. What a glorious day for introverts! This means you can get right to business and have meaningful conversations faster than most other networking methods.

You can download Shapr for your device here.

Understanding the App

Shapr allows you to display up to 12 "interests" on your profile. Because Shapr uses interests to determine best matches for you, I highly encourage you put some thought into how you'd like to be matched.

After you have dialed in your interests, you need to tell the other users why you are on the app in the first place. Shapr has selections like "find mentors" and "hire employees" as well as "make friends" choices. Shapr limits users to three reasons why they are using the app.

Finally, you can write a short introduction and add social media pages and websites to your profile. This gives people even more context around what you are up to, and how you can potentially benefit each other.

Optimize your Profile

Chances are, you probably know why you are networking in the first place. If you are networking for more than one reason, try to pick one and focus in on just that for a while.

For example, if you're an aspiring Mechanical Engineer, I don't recommend putting #realestatedeveloper as an interest here. However, if you are a Tax Attorney who just returned from Burning Man and you're suddenly having a midlife crisis, it might be a good idea to slightly more exploratory in your profile.

I've seen people approach professional networking in the app without a clear purpose, and it's a huge turn off. At the end of the day, people want to help you and they also want your help. Be as clear as possible with your goals to increase your chances for professional success with Shapr.

Get Swiping

Once you get the hang of the app, stay consistent. New people are fed into your profile every day. Just the other day I met with a foreign exchange student studying Interaction Design and then had coffee with an energy entrepreneur. Connections happen quickly here, so enjoy!

Bumble Bizz // Bumble has a business side to it's popular dating application, but I don't recommend it unless you are looking to connect with absolutely anybody.

Bumble is the most casual of all networking apps I've come across. I downloaded Bumble at SXSW last year, and while at the conference, I met with a handful of interesting people in energy production, advertising, and virtual reality.

But without the high concentration of professionals that a business conference provides, this application still feels like a hookup application. It lacks the ability to focus on specific industries or common interests, and that randomness makes it a huge time suck.

I recommend trying Bumble Bizz while at a large convention, or if you get really bored and want to wear your thumb out with endless swiping.

If you don't have Bumble, you can check it out here.

In Summary //

• Buy LinkedIn Premium: use quotations to form text strings and narrow your search. Talk with people who you have something or someone or someplace in common with. The access this service grants you is priceless; it's up to you to extract value from it.
• Download the application Shapr: take some time to create an informative profile. Use the application everyday for 5-10 minutes. Don't be afraid to start the conversation here! If an introverted person like me can do it, you certainly can too.
• Don't bother with Bumble: there are better ways to spend your time networking. The best Bumble Bizz results are at conferences, in which case you should probably just say Hi to the person looking at their phone standing next to you.

I hope this guide helped you find just a little bit of clarity. Connecting with new people is less scary when you have some tools and tactics to get started with. Show off your personality and stay more interested than interesting.

Please let me know if this article was helpful to you below. If you'd like me to clarify anything, or want more information, let me know how I can help. Good luck!

Note: I am in no way sponsored or endorsed by LinkedIn, Shapr, and/or Bumble. This is an independent review based on my own experiences intended for informational (and entertainment) purposes only. Have fun with it.