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Networking While Working Remotely

Working from home has found many fans over the last year; not having to commute every single day, having a flexible schedule, and honestly who does not want to attend a conference call from the comfort of their couch. However, it is easy to get comfortable and overlook the importance of networking while working remotely. Integrating technology into your profession to build good relationships with others in the concerned fields can greatly help you if you are working remotely.

Many researchers have found remote workers to be happier, healthier, and more positive individuals, since they have a good work-life balance.

Networking while working remotely can be very challenging, but this shouldn’t hold you back from making the right connections, at work and in the professional community. So, how can you build your network, and help your career or business while working remotely?

1. Interpersonal relationship building

To build your network while working remotely you need to challenge yourself. Step out of your comfort zone, change your mindset, and explore how you can build and incorporate interpersonal relationships while working remotely.

Purposefully share stories and experiences with your colleagues to get to know them better. This will help you and then learn and grow together. Discuss their work as well as yours and whenever possible, lend a helping hand to your colleagues. This will not only help you with work, but you will also develop lasting friendships with your team.

2. Maximize the potential of social media

While working remotely you can use various social media tools to your advantage in order to continue to network. Social media platforms can be very helpful for remote networking strategies. This does not mean that you have to be on every available social media platform. Instead, look for platforms to engage in opportunities that are relevant to your work or field of work. For example, LinkedIn is the platform for professional networking but if you are in the field of art and graphic design then Instagram is a more appropriate choice. You can make use of platforms like – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube to connect to continue networking while working remotely and be efficient at it as well.

Social media can help you drive meaningful connections and build your career. Your social media profile can function as a platform for your identity and reputation. But it is important to participate and contribute to the community, rather than be a passive listener.

You need to be active on these platforms in order to optimize the networking benefits they provide. You also need to be consistent and engage with content that reflects your work or your industry. Join existing community groups on these platforms in order to instantly connect with your peers. Or you can find others who relate to common topics and stay connected with them in order to build a community online yourself. You can do this by sharing relevant information or making relevant posts yourself. This is a great way to establish your preferences and interests. The bottom line to having a social media presence is the more you get recognized, the more people will be able to view your work, and in turn, the more your network and connections will grow.

3. Attend online networking events

When working remotely try to attend as many online networking events as you can. This helps tremendously when networking while working remotely. Use these events as an opportunity to connect with people with whom you have common interests. In-person events are no longer a part of what we are calling our new normal so start attending online events just as enthusiastically as you would in-person events. You can join all kinds of webinars that focus on various topics like leadership, marketing, financial topics, and pivotal business topics. You just need to find the ones that are relevant to your professional interests. Eventbrite, GoToWebinar, Vfairs are a few online platforms where you can find the top webinars taking place all around the world. You will also find Facebook event invitations to livestream networking events. The best part about some online events is that they are specifically based on networking strategies.

4. Join Slack communities

You Slack to collaborate better on projects that involve larger networks. Slack is a collaboration platform, with the help of which people can work together more effectively, connect their services, and find all the best information they may need to complete the work. Slack helps bring people together regardless of where they may be based. While Slack may seem to only serve internal teams as a chat, email or an events manager, it is also an effective place to network and connect with like-minded peers. The best way to benefit from Slack is to find shared work opportunities and job offer postings and connect with professionals through those mediums.

Slack can help you find new and exciting projects to collaborate on and spread your network and also connect with potential clients and peers. There is a slack community for everyone and everything, so you can definitely find some to fit your requirements. As a remote worker, you need to explore and use the best networking tools, and Slack communities is one such networking tool.

5. Build communities with others working remotely

Once you are familiar with groups and communities on these different platforms, you can start an online group, forum, blog, or podcast yourself. You can share your stories, experiences, and content related to your specific subject matter. Take your time to get to know fellow members, and slowly but surely your network will grow.

In order to set up your own community, start by defining the purpose and goal of the community you want to build. Set up rules and guidelines for what kind of engagement you want to encourage in your group and promote your community through social media. You can try building your own community on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Getsocial.

It may seem difficult to be the one who takes the first step, but before you know it you will be a part of many meaningful relationships.

6. Ask for help

Make a list of connections that you are interested in making. This can be a list of individuals, companies you are interested in working with, or potential clients. When it is possible, share this list with colleagues or peers and ask for their help to connect with your list.

7. Follow-up on your connections

Whether you follow-up via emails, phone calls, or chat, ensure that you do follow-up when you have made a connection with someone. It’s unprofessional to leave a conversation without resolve. And if you are the one who is seeking out information or a connection, it will not be taken seriously if you do not follow-up with them.

The best way to do this is to set up a follow-up process for yourself and refer to it every time you meet someone you think is a valuable addition to your growing network.

8. Do Your Research

Before you approach someone, spend some time making sure that they are a good fit. Do a certain amount of research on their business and their professional history to find out exactly why you should be interacting with them and how your connection will benefit you both.

While we are more accustomed to in-person networking, and might even feel that it creates meaningful as well as memorable relationships, networking online has its own set of advantages. It allows quick access and communication and a wider range of contact with people from all over the world. Something that is not the case with in-person networking.

As the need and want to work remotely persists, virtual networking offers many many unique opportunities for us to explore. The nature of work is changing rapidly, which also means the nature of networking is also changing. Finding the right ways to network remotely is one of the ways to ensure the sustainability of remote work.

And, while remote networking does not necessarily mean working only on virtual platforms, establishing a virtual presence is important. You need to make connections with people both virtually and in-person in order for your business or company to grow both online and offline.

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