W


ith the shift to our new virtual world, you have probably found it more difficult to build and sus- tain professional


relationships. Yet, the virtual technologies we are all using have actually ex-


panded our opportunities to network and build connections. We are no longer limited to connecting with those in our local community, as we now have expanded opportunities to con- nect with people from around the world. It is possible to build relationships by using virtual experiences. The challenge is, how do you do it?


Making Virtual Networking Connections Some social media efforts seem to be a complete waste of time, but social media now provides new opportunities to make connections with others. The key is how you use social media to build and sustain your relationships with others in your network.


Finding people to connect with by searching the social me-


dia sites using keywords and company names is one way to identify new connections. An even better way is to take ad- vantage of the various virtual meetings and events that you are already participating in and connect with those who are also participating in them.


If you have two monitors on your computer, use one moni-


tor to participate in the meeting and your other monitor as your search engine. If you don’t have two monitors, use your smartphone or tablet. Pay attention to the people with which


The most effective way to stand out to a new contact is to engage


with them on the social media platform. Start to regularly post com- ments on their social media post and share their post on your own


On your other monitor or device, go to LinkedIn and see if you can


find this person while you can still see their face in the meeting. You might be surprised at how difficult that can be, especially if they have a common name or have changed their appearance. By doing it while you’re still participating in the virtual meeting, you can double check that you have the right person before you send them a LinkedIn invitation.


When you send the invitation, be sure to personalize the connec-


tion message. Say something like, “Joe, I enjoyed your comments in the XYZ meeting today. I’d love to connect with you on LinkedIn to get to know you better.”


The goal here is to establish an initial connection—not to make a


sale or have them do something for you. You have to earn that right. Do not immediately reach out and try to sell them something once they accept your connection.


Successful Approaches Once you’ve established a connection with someone, begin to ex- plore the opportunities available to you to get to know that indi- vidual better. It is easier to do than you might think.


you are resonating or those who are making thought-provoking com- ments in your virtual meetings.


June 2021


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