Here are Some Tips to Help you Keep Networking While Maintaining Social Distancing

Looking forward to hearing some good news amid coronavirus? We have some for you! If you are a professional who basically lives on networking and likes to make new connections face to face at parties or meetings, then you probably aren’t happy with the ongoing restrictions when it comes to socializing. Here are some tips that might help you cultivate new connections while maintaining a safe distance from other humans:

Contact clients that you haven’t heard from in a while

Clear your schedule for one day, and try to reach out to clients you haven’t communicated with since the quarantine was implemented. Ask about their health and how they are doing. A gesture of goodwill like this will let them know that you aren’t calling them to sell anything. Tell your clients that you just wanted to check up on them and how they are faring amid the crisis. Believe us, they will remember it later.

Make yourself more visible on LinkedIn

If you’ve been incredibly busy in your professional life before the outbreak, you can make the most out of this time by ensuring that your LinkedIn profile is up to date and that you have more contacts for recommendations. Also, make yourself present in the groups that are relevant to your industry and comment on your connection’s posts. Be as visible as possible.

Make new connections

Since you don’t have to walk or drive to the office these days, be as productive as possible. Think creatively and make new contacts, which you can add to your network. It is your job to assess if they are the right ones, or if they are worth your time and effort.

Most people make the common mistake of building connections with people who are easily approachable and share the same views with them. However, having connections with different perspectives on some aspects is one of the best ways you can expand your network.

Conduct informational interviews

Now is the right time to conduct informational interviews with some of your contacts, either old or now. For example, if you are looking for a new job, or want to expand your business, you might need insight into what that position or prospect really holds.

So, take your time and conduct informational interviews of professionals who are in the game right now. All you have to do is be polite and ask them for a quick phone call or 15 minutes over Skype. This request might sound weird, but that person you’re trying to interview might just be looking to make new connections to develop their business as well.