7 e-Networking Tips Every Professional Needs
(Updated Dec 2020) The best ways to create productive relationships
Networking is the top unwritten rule of business success! If you are doing business virtually, connecting with clients on Zoom or using email and social media, you need to be a pro at e Networking. Learn the best ways to network online, be visible and connect effectively!
Business takes time to grow — whether you’re acquiring customers or finding that great freelance job. It takes time and lots of effort to connect, follow-up and close. And right now, Networking online is not only very relevant, it is essentially the only way to do business. But e networking is more than passively connecting, and way less than hustling for business!
What is e Networking?
e Networking is a way to build outreach online, with personal interaction with virtual tools, for strong and lasting business (or professional) relationships.
Here the top 7 e-Networking Tips Every Entrepreneur Needs
How can you you keep in touch smartly and build relationships — here are the best ways to network online that help you stay ahead on the conversion curve.
Prep your networking skills for a digital-first world
Have you aligned yourself to a digital business mindset? Are you comfortable with pitching, conversing and closing on phone, via email or online?
Make sure your personality and communication comes across the right way in an online setting as well. How can you translate your interpersonal skills to be knowledgeable and persuasive, without being persistent. Or worse, getting ignored because they feel that you’re not worth paying attention to.
Explore these top soft skills for business success in the online world and see how you stack up.
Master your networking tools
Networking is all about being ready for an effective exchange. Technology not enables you to grab attention with more ease, it’s actually a prerequisite now. Whether you’re pictching, asking for a referral, turning a lead into a prospect, who need to know your tech.
Email is bigger than ever
Create a clear outreach plan via email. Whether you are doing an intro, following up after a lack of response or conducting a transactional conversation, make sure that your words are on point.
Save templates for standard text that you always use, which make composing emails faster.
Keep a long, medium and snappy version for outreach emails. Add colors and formatting elements (bold, italics) judiciously for stand-out text.
Use email signatures for standard contact details but vary different calls to action. Add info about an upcoming event, a new blog post or a promotion you are running — a short message (no more than 6–8 words) which can be hyperlinked to your website or Page. You get both visibility and click traffic!
Personalize with a name.
Make a reference to the context or of the meeting or mention the conversation you had. Even better, look up their their website or product line and add a meaningful comment about it.
Needless to say, always send a thank you or ‘great talking to you’ email if you connect with someone new. And importantly, do this fast — preferably within 48 hours of the meeting.
Want to write a relationship-centric networking email? These email templates offer great inspiration.
e-Networking Tip: Connect with purpose, reach out persuasively, but never spam!
Embrace the visual mediums
Use Zoom like you were born doing it. Practice until you master the tech. Interact with confidence and panache. Use elements like screen share to sell with savvy.
Make the most of your time — set up and host online meetings with other entrepreneurs, without glitches!
Experiment with a LinkedIn live. Or upload a video to facebook or YouTube and schedule it to publish it as a ‘live’ video.
Basically, there is no getting away from video.
Smart, not Constant Messaging
Most professionals use email signatures for sharing contact details and social media links. Similarly, use the Pinned Post feature Facebook and Twitter offer to draw attention to any event, article or achievement that you want to direct your visitor traffic to.
Explore the best places to network virtually, and expert tips to rock your e-networking online!
Don’t be invisible.
Findability works both ways. Make it easier for others to find you. An average user gives up the online search for you in 40 seconds. So Google yourself to see what comes up. Search for your business website or Facebook Page from a device that’s not yours. LinkedIn profiles that are most recently updated or have more connects appear higher in the name search results.
Similarly, if you are on other Professional Networks, ensure that you update your business, contact and social media details.
Make LinkedIn your (best) friend!
LinkedIn is one of the best ways to network online!
It’s your professional profile and it’s out there for anyone to see (they don’t even need an account to see your limited profile). Clients can check you out and learn all about you without having to ask. Even better, a strong LinkedIn profile makes you more findable and attractive to work with. But even better, your LinkedIn Profile is often the top result for a name search on Google.
Start with a kickass headline that mentions what you do and the value you offer. For inspiration, check out these awesome examples of LinkedIn headlines from women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Share your work summary, skills and achievements to create more common ‘connection factors.’
Be Social.
Beyond LinkedIn, Social Media is a great e-networking tool for entrepreneurs too. It’s a great way to share and connect on a personal level too. The best part about social media is that you can stay on someone’s radar without having to make repeated contact. Post updates, wins, events or any elements that show your professional skills or your personality.
But, yes, social is a two way street. Just like you, everyone else needs activity on their page, so why not post and share on the pages of customers, prospects and peers. The engagement helps them — so naturally, they like you — but it also keeps you on their virtual horizon.
Professional Networking needs to be a steady process of staying connected, and being out of sight is as bad as being in your face.
Network where your audience is
Know the platforms your target audience favors and make sure you have a robust presence there. Explore Facebook and LinkedIn Groups in different niches for interactions relating to your industry.
A Picture or a 1000 words?
LinkedIn profiles with a picture get clicked 7 times more. Plus, given that LinkedIn memberships run 450 million plus, a picture helps with recognition — especially if yours is a popular name, it confirms to the Networking contact or a prospective employer which one is you.
Use headshots that fulfill the purpose for that channel. Upload a professional headshot for LinkedIn, but an informal one for Facebook or Instagram works very well too. Make sure you have clear mugshot for Twitter and WhatsApp as well.
On your channels, post images of you at work, during events. If you are comfortable doing that, maybe even at a community or volunteer initiative as well as recreational events.
Show up in the right way(s)
Do your homework — research your clients and identify the key stakeholders. Before sending out an email, or getting on a call, work on your conversation points.
Jot down your goals and success criteria. Anticipate the questions and prepare clear, succinct responses. If a negotiation is involved, plan your acceptance, base, walk-away points.
Offer value. Give shout-outs. Applaud wins.
Found an interesting article that might be useful to someone? Sharing it is a great conversation tool and what’s great is, that you are giving something instead of only asking. Even if you are responding to a professional query, offer up suggestions or tips without any expectations. You can showcase your expertise as well as have a dialogue which can turn into a mutual benefit down the road.
Don’t just sell. Engage.
Offer value. Give shout-outs. Applaud wins.
Found an interesting article that might be useful to someone? Sharing it is a great conversation tool and what’s great is, that you are giving something instead of only asking. Even if you are responding to a professional query, offer up suggestions or tips without any expectations. You can showcase your expertise as well as have a dialogue which can turn into a mutual beenfit down the road.
Tip for networking: Every professional needs to tread the fine line between becoming a digital contact of choice and a relentless pursuer.
Business doesn’t mean boring! Get Pro Tips on how to make virtual meetings fun!
Always end with a Call to action
Your communication channels always remain open when you end any interaction with an action point. Here are some ways this works.
If you are pitching or doing an interview, clearly mention that you are available for any further questions.
If your online meeting had a takeaway action, use email to summarize and articulate the next steps. Even if everyone took notes, people always appreciate this and it also keeps the conversation flowing. If you are submitting a proposal with some lead time, say 2 weeks, it’s always a good idea to drop a quick note in between to update the client.
Even if you have decided that you are not doing business together, end on a positive ‘keep in touch’ note.
A smart entrepreneur uses these e-Networking tips to build traction, keep a conversation going or staying connected after the fact.
So find the sweet spot for your career connectivity in terms of frequency, channel and audience and try these networking tips. The long term outcomes just might surpass your expectations.
A thank you or ‘great meeting you’ email when you connect with someone can be a good way to keep the communication open. Make a reference to the context or venue of the meeting; mention the conversation you had. Even better, look up their their website or product line and add a meaningful comment about it. And importantly, do this fast — preferably within 48 hours of the meeting
Call to action
If your meeting had a takeaway action, use email to summarize and articulate the next steps. Even if everyone took notes, people always appreciate this, and it’s a great ‘keep in touch’ tool as well. If you are submitting a proposal with some lead time, say 2 weeks, it’s always a good idea to drop a quick note in between to update the client.
Originally Published on Maroon Oak, a FREE Business Opportunities and Business Platform for Women.
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