Networking can be awkward and hard at the best of times, let alone in the middle of a pandemic that’s forced people to lock themselves in their homes and work remotely.
But here’s the rub: networking is as important now as it’s ever been — if not even more so.
As solo pros and small businesses struggle against economic turmoil, maintaining a strong network of professionals could be the key to keeping a successful business.
So, how do you network effectively in the middle of a global pandemic?
Here are 10 tips to help you do it effectively.
1. Know what you want to achieve
Before you even think about diving into networking, think about what you want to get out of it. Your goals could be things like:
- Strengthening relationships with old colleagues
- Making more connections in your industry
- Finding opportunities
- Seeking thought leadership opportunities
Whatever it is, identify it first. Reaching out to people with no goal in mind is a waste of time for both parties.
2. Consider your personal brand
It’s also wise to give some thought (and work, if necessary) to your personal brand. This could be your website, your social media presence, or even the way you present the products or services you offer.
But what matters is making sure that you position yourself so that the first thing people think of when they look you up is aligned with the professional image you want to convey.
3. Get comfortable with technology
Here’s a new fact of life: being pessimistic about technology isn’t an option anymore. If you want to network, you need to get familiar — and comfortable — with technology.
Since it might be challenging to connect in person for networking opportunities, you’ll probably need to schedule calls and meetings with platforms like Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams.
You should also consider instant messaging tools like Slack for easier chit-chat if you haven’t already.
4. Start with people you know
Now that you’ve determined your goals, touched up your personal brand, and gotten up to speed with today’s most commonly used technology, it’s time to start networking.
But hold on. Where do you even begin?
The simple answer is to start with people you know. Think about colleagues, friends, and family who can help you with your goals or at least put you in touch with someone.
Networking is all about creating connections and maintaining them.
5. Check-in regularly
Not every networking outreach needs to have a quantifiable outcome tied to it. Sometimes, the best thing to say is a simple hello.
Check-in with your network regularly. Ask them what’s new with them. Talk to them for the sake of learning what’s going on in their world and maintaining a good rapport.
Remember, frequency leads to familiarity. And that’s a good thing.
6. Attend virtual networking events
Networking events haven’t stopped. They’ve just changed forms.
Many networking events are now happening online so it’s wise to participate in those when it makes sense.
Platforms like LinkedIn are a great source of online networking and you can also look at sites like MeetUp. You might also want to look at professional organizations in your industry or even your alma mater’s alumni association.
When you attend these events, keep your elevator pitch handy, prepare some icebreakers, and make sure to get contact information before you end the event.
7. Host your own networking events
If you’re feeling proactive, you don’t necessarily have to seek out online networking opportunities.
On the other hand, you can play host and be the person who puts them on.
To do this, you should:
- Come up with a specific theme for your event
- Choose the best platform to host it (we recommend Zoom)
- Draft up some email and social media content to promote it
- Proactively invite people with personal messages
- Come up with a set schedule for your networking event
- Send out an email a few days before the event to all guests to introduce everyone
Then, once the event starts, you’ll want to:
- Proactively welcome everyone
- Ask each guest to do a quick introduction of themselves
- Get guests to answer specific questions, such as:
- What is an interesting or fruitful way you’re using your time now?
- Tell us about a time you’ve been resilient.
- How have you adapted to working and living while social distancing?
- What are you enjoying most about your job right now, and why?
- What’s something unexpected you’ve learned or done in the past month/year?
Try to wrap the event up within 90 minutes. Then send a follow-up email to each guest to thank them and share everyone’s contact information.
8. Increase your visibility
A great tactic for networking is to increase your visibility by positioning yourself as an expert in your industry.
This can include blogging, posting information videos, and remaining active on LinkedIn. The more you showcase your skills and experience, the more you can attract attention from people in your field.
9. Offer value, be empathetic, and make it personal
The previous point segues nicely into this one.
Why?
Because one of the most important things you can do is to provide value for people when you’re reaching out to them.
Rather than an impersonal message asking them to do something for you, send a personalized message that’s empathetic and understanding that they may also be facing challenging times, and leave some value on the table.
For instance, don’t just send a message and say you’re hoping to expand your network. Instead, let them know you’d love to catch up and that you recently wrote a blog article you thought would be relevant, interesting, and helpful to them.
10. Benefit from the professional community at a flexible office workspace.
While events are in large part not taking place right now, joining a flexible workspace like The Post can be a great way to maintain a professional network in a safe and sanitary environment.
Even with virtual office services, you can drop in a day or two per week to connect with like-minded professionals. And at The Post, our members get access to our Member Portal which allows you to:
- Create and customize your company and personal member profile
- Upload your business logo and/or a professional headshot as well as add in additional information about what you do or what services or goods your business offers
- Network and connect with other professionals in The Post Member and community portal
- Join The Post Workspaces community Slack Group
Networking might look a little different than normal right now, but it’s still equally important in supporting a strong and successful business during these challenging times.
Are You Looking to Expand Your Professional Network During COVID-19?
If you’d like to learn more about flexible office space and how it can help you build your network during the coronavirus pandemic, contact us today.