Ten secrets to successful virtual networking midst pandemic

Ever since COVID-19 made its debut in the world, our lives haven’t looked the same. Workdays, hobbies, and travel have all transformed to meet the demands of social distancing. One of the silver linings to this situation is that events that used to rely on in-person attendance are now being held virtually. Timezones no longer restrict us and anyone anywhere can attend any event.

Today I want to share ten tips and secrets I’ve discovered while navigating the world of virtual events:

1. Having an up to date online presence makes networking much easier. A LinkedIn profile filled in with accurate interests, career roles, and a recent profile picture allows greater approachability for others to connect with you and find shared commonalities.
2. Many virtual events now have online chat rooms that open up 15–30 minutes before the main event. Plan ahead and have some fun introducing yourself there!
3. Throughout an event use the chat box to provide thoughtful ideas and questions (if appropriate) related to the content being shared.
4. Towards the end of an event, leave your LinkedIn URL in the comments in case if anyone wants to keep in touch. Alternatively, feel free to reach out to anyone who leaves their social media accounts in a similar fashion.
5. Many larger events feature portals where you can view the profiles of anticipated attendees up to several weeks beforehand. Reach out to these people and make a new friend!
6. Don’t forget you can also connect with event speakers and organizers after an event, not just the other attendees!
7. Don’t send LinkedIn requests with empty invitation messages after a talk. Try to include something you enjoyed or learned from the event as a reminder of where you “met” them!
8. Follow companies you’re interested in on LinkedIn. They often post exciting new research, announcements, and networking opportunities on their pages!
9. Offer support! Don’t know what to say to someone you really want to network with? Offer any service or support you can give —your new friend will warmly remember this act of kindness.
10. Just as you would in “normal” life, you still have the power to connect others! If you meet someone who might mesh well with another one of your contacts, introduce them to each other virtually!

Thank you for stopping by — I hope this list was helpful!