the art of digital networking.

The continually evolving environment lends itself well to following as many different groups and people as possible.

Take the time to seek out leaders in your chosen field, watch who they follow, read the articles they share, join the same forums and meet more like-minded individuals in the conversations that follow.

One of the best parts about networking online is bypassing the small talk and being very targeted in the thoughts you share, the questions you pose and the information you seek.

All the while, be mindful that you’re using a digital platform and without that face-to-face connection, you need to show you have a good understanding of who you’re talking to and why. Don’t wade into a discussion you’re not prepared for – ask direct and relevant questions, ensure you’ve done the research to back yourself up, and be respectful of differing viewpoints.

With every connection you make, ask yourself why you’ve targeted that individual or group, what you want to achieve from the connection and how you can contribute. Are you looking for a job specifically? Seeking a business partner? Or are you simply hoping to expand your knowledge base? Do you have useful knowledge or experience you can share?

Brand yourself

Once you’ve made some initial connections, it’s time to build those early relationships and your personal brand.

You can do that by sharing useful articles, commenting on those posted by others and regularly taking part in forum conversations.

Starting your own blog is a good way to establish your reputation too. Managed well – with a regular posting schedule, and high-quality content that’s useful to those people you want to meet –  a blog allows you to showcase your brand regularly, pose your own questions and invite others to comment.

Since the responses are quite public and span different platforms, you’ll be growing your network and establishing yourself as a thought leader in the process.