Networking on LinkedIn: How to Build New and Solid Connections

How to network on LinkedIn to boost your online visibility and establish meaningful global connections

How to network on LinkedIn to boost your online visibility and seize the opportunity to establish meaningful global connections

The need to network and therefore create a valuable network of contacts to establish solid connections is something that belongs to every human being. We all need to relate and interact with others in every sphere of life: family, friendships, the community we belong to, and work. Unless you choose to live, so to speak, in seclusion. There’s no area where the ability to manage relationships is more important than another; but today we want to focus on the work context, where valuable relationships can really make a difference, especially online. Let’s see how and what tools to use to maximize your online connections. Networking is a real strategy to put in place to grow, thrive in the market, and advance your career; this applies to both businesses and individual professionals. It takes skill and dedication to build a network of valuable connections in your field, and in the era of social media, you no longer need to wait for events, fairs, and local conferences to grow your network. Those who work while traveling know better than anyone how important it is to be ready and take every opportunity to create new connections. With social networks, from Facebook to LinkedIn, you’re always connected anywhere and at any time you can seize the chance to build new relationships, as long as you have a PC or smartphone handy. LinkedIn is the ultimate professional social network with more than 575 million users: it has profoundly changed not only how workers and companies relate to each other but also how each approaches the market. On LinkedIn, you can apply for a job, connect with colleagues and former colleagues, follow companies and entrepreneurs, reach out to other professionals in your field, and exchange ideas, experiences, and opinions. LinkedIn is a professional platform that opens countless doors, giving everyone the chance to meet and interact with people and companies that would otherwise be very difficult, if not impossible, to reach. It’s clear, then, that any professional or company that wants to grow and cultivate connections must be present on the world of work’s social media network. For this reason, it’s more important than ever today to take care of your online presence, invest in yourself to gain good visibility, and rely on a broad network of contacts. But to succeed, it’s not enough just to “be there”, creating a profile and leaving it while waiting for magic to happen. Online, just like in real life, you need to invest time and effort to get known and recognized; after all, no one would trust or rely on someone who just “sits pretty” without engaging. Here are a few tips and tricks to create a high-impact LinkedIn profile and network professionally and effectively. 1) 3, 2, 1, Cheese (but not too much)! No professional interested in your work wants to see a photo of you at the beach or sipping a beer at the bar; it’s essential to have a professional photo to leave a good first impression on those who don’t know you yet and increase your chances of making new connections and developing professional opportunities; and it’s equally important to confirm your professional look to those who already know you and may be looking you up online to ask for advice or offer a collaboration. 2) Give yourself a title! Just like with a book, article, or website, the title needs to be catchy and at the same time concise and consistent with the topics covered. So try to write a title that in just a few good words describes your role and sets you apart from the rest (max 120 characters). 3) Make an impression! Use the summary box to tell a short but compelling story about yourself, your skills, passions, and key traits that made you who you are: but be careful, no one wants to read a fairytale like “once upon a time, there was the best professional in the world”; rather, try to pack into a few lines what sets you apart from others, without sounding trite or cliché. Write in the first person and use a tone that suits your personality. 4) Leave nothing to chance! Try to include in your profile all the relevant information that can help those searching for you understand what you do and what you have done, which paths you’ve taken, and what experiences you’ve gained; fill in all the fields and keep them updated over time; include certifications, articles, publications, awards—everything you think might be useful for others to know. And once again, keep it up to date! 5) The key word is personalize! How many times have we complained about receiving standardized and impersonal messages or emails that certainly don’t help build valuable relationships? Well, on LinkedIn you have the chance to take your network of contacts to the next level by sending a personalized invitation to everyone you invite to connect with you: this way you can start a valuable relationship right away by starting a personal conversation, maybe highlighting what interests you about that profile or what you have in common. 6) Always on the ball! Re-sharing a post now and then and giving a few likes isn’t enough. Try to participate in the most interesting discussions that are happening online in the news feed or in the groups most relevant to your sector (of course, you have to join them first!). At least once a day, check what’s happening in your network and spend a few minutes contributing. You can also start a discussion on a hot topic or a work problem you’ve encountered: ask a question and try to spark a dialogue; monitor the answers, respond in turn, and keep the conversation going by asking further questions if needed. Your network, and LinkedIn itself, will notice your active participation and reward your effort. 7) Kindness pays off! It’s well known that online it’s easy to be tough because there’s always a screen to hide behind. It’s easy to come across unpleasant, rude, and sometimes brutal comments and responses. The important thing is not to get caught up in the hate but to maintain a polite and composed attitude. Those reading will notice the difference and attribute a different value to your behavior and therefore to you as a person. With a bit of patience and effort and by following these small tips, it’ll be much easier and more rewarding to network online: you can join global communities, start traveling and discovering new markets, and finally say goodbye to a local and narrow work environment. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll also choose to become a digital nomad and we’ll have the chance to host you in our coliving space in Palermo!   >