8 Tips for Effective Networking in 2018

CHICAGO - May 29, 2018 - PRLog -- Luckily, with digital networking platforms such as LinkedIn, forming meaningful connections with people has become much more seamless.

Having said that, impactful networking is much more than a simple business card and/or a LinkedIn profile. Establishing a personal connection can truly help foster lasting relationships.

It's important to understand how to both establish and build relationships. Global Resources LLC experts recommend the following eight tips to networking success.

Master Your Social Media

Yes, it's a fact - consistently updated profiles garner 18 times more searches on various networking sites. You also want to regularly update your profile to both attract and engage your target audience.

Personalize Your Profile

Including as much information as possible in your profile gives people a deep understanding of who you are and what your business is all about. I'm sure you'll be interested to know that summaries of 40 or more words get more views.

Keep Personal Separate from Professional

By keeping these two separate, you'll know you're reaching the right people. According to a 2015 New Norms @Work study by LinkedIn and Censuswide, one in three people say separating social media accounts is important.

Use Photos Wisely

It takes less than a second to form an opinion of someone from a picture. Yes, you will get more views and messages with relevant photos on your account. Take time to keep your pictures updated.

Be Courteous and Be Yourself

Digital networking doesn't have to be ALL professional business talk. It's important to ask your connections about what's going on their personal lives outside of the office.

Follow-Up

You always want to follow up with your contacts as much as possible. If you met via the Internet at first, follow up with an in-person meeting (and vice versa).

Consider Co-Branding

You might want to think about sharing promotions and/or advertising opportunities with other companies that share similar goals. This will open up many new doors for your company, which will increase sales and revenue.

Attend Networking Events With a Strategy

You'll be able to explore significant opportunities for your business by making networking mutually beneficial. It's important to understand what your connections want and to figure out ways to help them.