Online Networking Is Actually More Impactful Than In-Person - Here's Why

Meeting people in a digital environment can be even more productive than cocktail hour.

You get in the car and drive away at 7AM only to realize you forgot your business cards as you hop onto the expressway. Going straight from work to a BNI meeting without catching dinner. Arriving at a social event with business cards, 30-second commercial polished, and pre-arranged side conversations only to realize 20 minutes in this is not your caliber of attendees.

Credit: Tom Fishburne of Marketoonist

The little bumps that we experienced pre-COVID in our journey to meet new people, clients, and connections that we've all felt at some point. BUT, at least it was face to face right? We could gauge the body language of the other person, connect on a more intimate level, and be memorable. I miss it, you miss it, we all yearn for it again.

But as we leave being a teenager, become an adult, and then have children, we learn to assess the situation, accept the facts, and make the best of things. And that is what we need to do in growing your networking, building your business, or finding a new job.

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Networking is the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. Building your network is a necessary component to growing your reach in your career or business. The pandemic should not halt your networking efforts and there are in fact benefits that many do not realize are advantages versus in-person networking.

The advantages of digital networking:

• More efficient actual networking. - No travel needed to and from cuts down on the overall time allotted to unproductive time.
• You can network in your sweatpants. - Or in my case (living in South Florida) shorts. Virtual networking is also less judgemental in the dress code, but be wary as this can get out of hand.
• Virtual backgrounds can be talking points - Or they can be distracting. I have used video backgrounds where someone comes around the corner until they realize I am on a Zoom call and they wave and hurry away. Choose wisely.
• More choices. Industry, Topic, or Location-specific - Virtual networking allows you to join networking groups or meetings from all over the world and learn from all kinds of people.
• More in less time. - In virtual networking meetups or events there is usually a 2-5 minute sweet spot, just enough time for introductions, exchange contact info, share who would be a good introduction/referral or what you are currently working on. If you have this mindset you can make more initial connections then in 2 hours at a hotel lobby or bar.
• Introverts Unite! - Aa an ambivert that heavily leans towards the extrovert side, I do miss people. Hugs, handshakes, high fives, and the feeling of, well yeah....feeling. But for introverts, virtual events have been great. Introverted colleagues have noted to me that they feel more comfortable being in their own surroundings and less pressure to perform. this allows them to be more at ease in order to engage with people. I have heard this from educators, students, and professionals.
• Explore. Be open to new things. LEARN. - Digital allows you to commit less and try new things out. New areas of interest that you would never set aside 90 minutes before COVID.

There is a big IF here that I must mention. you are only going to find going all-in with virtual networking worthwhile if you have a plan for after the event.

There is nothing more wasteful of time and resources than when attending conventions or networking events, not having a plan in place in advance to follow up

Ever go to a conference that your company paid thousands of dollars for you to attend, where you scan badges or collect business cards only to return to the office and have that information sit in a rubber band? DON'T BE THAT GUY!

Some helpful tips:

Screenshot the event for each screen of attendees.

Save the chatbox before leaving the meeting.

When posting your info, leave a short CTA or something memorable.

Then after the event within the hour if you can, go to their LinkedIn profile of the people you connected with and request to be connected. ALWAYS add a personal note, make it a habit. Mention the event you both were and would love to connect.

Bonus Tip - In your personal note of your connection request, offer to connect in order to engage in their content share your network with them.

By commenting or reacting on connections on LinkedIn, their content will now also show up on your network which is now all 2nd-degree connections. You just doubled or perhaps 10X's their LinkedIn landscape.

Here are some online network "Zoom Salons" that I have come to appreciate. (Credit Shelly Palmer of the Palmer Group)

Click here to request access to these exclusive networking opportunities HERE.

Have some tips of your own or still think the only way to network is in person? Let me know below! My oldest mentor and owner of the most powerful Rolodex on earth, Harvey Mackay: