The internet has made many things easier for us, and one of those is building virtual networks with people across the world. Today, with the mere click of a button, you can connect to someone sitting at the other end of the globe for professional or personal reasons. This is called virtual networking, and it has surely opened up many career opportunities.
We use various tools and mediums to build virtual networks, including social media, but how can we ensure that this networking yields future success? Here are some tips that might help:
1. Build a professional following on social media
Social media is the answer to your prayers for a medium that connects you to a world of opportunities. People have built successful careers with its help, and the first step to creating networks using social media is followers. It all depends on who you follow and who follows you.
Your potential followers will specifically focus on certain aspects of your profile such as the profile picture, description, relevant hashtags, etc. The latter is extremely beneficial from the vantage point of social media as it helps customers to find you easily. Get these things right and you are well off on the virtual networking journey.
2. Send check-in emails and relevant broadcast texts
This ensures that the relationships you are building remain fresh. If you are out of sight for too long, you will also be out of mind, and people will eventually forget about your brand. Try to send check-in emails and relevant broadcast texts to avoid this.
3. Find relevant online communities for professional support
Are you looking for a virtual community of people with similar interests? You can easily find these online as they are a great way to connect, exchange insights and opinions, source opportunities, and seek support from like-minded individuals. In addition, you can track your favorite career-based organizations and check if they provide free or membership forms to join these online communities.
You need to remember a few things while joining these spaces-
- Maintain professionalism
- Initiate conversations and stay in touch
- Be up to date and relevant
4. Utilize chat features to connect during virtual events
Virtual events offer an excellent opportunity to find connections and initiate conversations with them using the chat features. Keep your texts short, or people might never read what you write.
5. Utilize social media platforms like Clubhouse
While Linkedin has existed for quite some time now and offers a great deal of scope for networking, do not fear to venture into newer platforms such as Clubhouse. This is another place for strangers to connect and build virtual networks. Discussions can be conducted in real-time here.
The chat rooms usually consist of people with shared interests, and they are never too crowded, something that the technical features of Clubhouse ensure.
To sum up
The digital age and, very recently, the pandemic have made people entirely reliant on the internet. While many use it for misdeeds, you have the opportunity to use it to further your chances of future success. This article shares some tips for virtual networking, and as you apply them, you will see how effective they are.
About the Author
BCjobs.ca is Western Canada’s largest job board, with the majority of the jobs coming from Vancouver. For nearly 20 years, BC Jobs has connected job candidates with companies looking to add talent to their team. If your team is looking to recruit, BCJobs.ca is the right tool for you. Our job board has grown through virtual career fairs, branding, and partnerships. Contact us at community@bcjobs.ca today.
