I've talked about the importance of networking before and stand by everything I said. But life has become increasingly different for me. The more I spend working remotely, the harder it becomes for me to network in person.
I do get some opportunities here and there, but overall, it's tough. In an office environment, you run into people in the elevators, cafes, and happy hours. All of those are opportunities for networking, building relationships, and so on. But how to do it when it's just you and your dog all day every day?
I'm no longer living in a big city, although I routinely travel to some of them, so I all have to work with is my computer. And here's how I trying to make the most of it.
Online networking 101
As someone afraid of other's opinions of me, putting myself out there has not been the easiest of tasks. But as I mentioned in my previous post about networking, it literally is the art of making connections and selling yourself, so putting myself out there is a basic requirement.
LinkedIn, for that reason, has become part of my routine.
I used to go in, check what went on the day before, read about some of my industry's news, and call it a day.
But who on Earth would know I was doing that if I was letting 0 traces of my online presence? I didn't post anything other than getting a position somewhere or getting a certification. Every so often, I would share an interesting article but nothing more than that. That needed to change for me.
Recently I started sending messages to people I want to get in touch with, writing some pieces of content, and trying to engage with my connections.
The hard part for me is flopping, and I think that is the same issue for a lot of us. I'm afraid of being disregarded, not paid attention to, and listening to a lot of crickets or "no"s.
Let me tell you a little secret I wish someone had told long ago: You will get that no matter what. When shooting your shot, you will probably not get straight ones right away. Networking is a skill, and as with every skill, it takes time to build it.
That doesn't mean you should stop reaching out and showing up. It's a mental game after all, and you gotta go through it to get through it.
Ok, but how are you doing it?
I love when you are eager to learn these things, so let's dive into it.
Something I learned from my current job is sending concise messages, explaining the core of why you are reaching out to that person. Later on, in the same message, explain how you wish to connect and what you expect to get out of this interaction. Here's an example:
I was introduced to a blog by a friend of mine who thought the content was similar to my own. I read some of the posts and I agreed with her. I looked for a way to connect with that person, so I could send her a message.
I was quick to discover a WhatsApp group to join and found the person on Linkedin. I decided to send her a message with this same structure, so this is what I wrote:
Hi, how are you?
I found your blog through a friend's recommendation, and I'm really enjoying the content there.
I can totally relate to your posts about burnout and freelance work because I went through the same thing at the end of last year.
In May of this year, after a relatively long period of unemployment, I decided to start a blog to talk about how I'm redefining my relationship with work and maybe help someone out there too.
Nowadays, I'm working on a really cool project with a fashion company, and I'm super happy, but I'm always keeping an eye out for signs of burnout :)
I'd love to chat more with you about your experience with burnout and freelance work (up for a call?) and maybe even exchange some guest posts if it makes sense to you!
Here's the blog: https://www.mylifefromscratchblog.com/ Let me know what you think :) Kisses and congratulations on your work!
I got this concept from this podcast episode I watched a while back. I've also been trying to do it on Instagram with some influencers I follow, just to let them know how their content impacts my life. And I've actually started some great conversations that way.
But it goes beyond that. I'm trying to practice that same approach with people I want to reconnect with. Maybe a distant friend, someone I used to live close to and still want to keep in contact with and people from social groups I'm not necessarily friends with but wish to be.
Other ways to do it
Another way I like to connect with people, which is quite recent for me, is through WhatsApp groups.
As I said above, I found a Whatsapp group to join and be more in contact with the girl running the blog I was introduced to, but also her community.
And this is so key. I started engaging more and more with them and exchanging stories.
I told some of them about the blog and I just felt very welcomed.
On that same note, at the last conference I went to, I got to know the founders of a women's collective called Women in E-commerce. I asked around a bit and chit-chatted with the founders to better understand what they were all about.
I, then, joined their WhatsApp group where I often connect with women doing similar things as me. They also offer free mentorships from time to time, which I always apply to. I would say I'm pretty active on Whatsapp and have made some great connections that way.
Definitely recommend!
Let's sum it up with some of the main takeaways
To finish it up, I want to leave you with some bullet points of what I think are the main topics to take and apply to your life:
Put yourself out there
Rejection will happen, but that should not stop you
You will get no engagement until you do, it's called the Ghost Town Phase
Networking is a skill, and it takes time to build it
Make time for connections, just as if they were in person
It feels amazing to have a voice out like that
People will most likely appreciate you reaching out
Don't be afraid to share your thoughts and ideas, that's how you build communities
Would you add anything to that? How do you feel about online networking?
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