Indulge me while I rant for a bit…Why do so many people treat online networking groups differently than in-person networking events? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to engage with a million leading questions. I sure as hell don’t want to see a stream of ads. Give me advice, and let me share my knowledge with you (STOMPS FEET IN PROTEST). I am here to make authentic connections. Mirriam-Webster defines networking as, “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”

If you aren’t cultivating relationships, you’re doing it wrong. 

When I attend in-person networking events, I enjoy the community, meeting new people, and feeling that my time has purpose. The goal of engaging with online networking groups should be the same.

I like to play a game when I find myself mindlessly scrolling through the many online networking groups I am a part of… read a question from the poster and guess what their industry or niche market is. 

Christy has her hair in a messy bun and is wearing a purple tie dyed hoodie. She has her fingers nestled in her bun and a confused look on her face. The caption reads, "Struggling to build your online network? Check out these 5 tips to help you create authentic professional connections."

I am WINNING! 

The most recent posts where I accurately guessed the industry:

“What is your mission and how do you communicate it?” – BRAND MARKETING.

“How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle while owning your own business?” – HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACH

“How do you generate new business leads?” – LEAD GENERATOR (and if you are a lead generator trying to generate leads from random businesses on a FB group, red flag 🚩).

Making a connection online is like starting a new relationship in-person. It requires that you have a genuine interest in who you are communicating with. Asking leading questions tells me you aren’t really interested in connecting with me. Instead, you are more interested in validating your confirmation bias. In fact, researchers agree that you should avoid asking leading questions in any type of survey.

Create Authentic Connections

Think about what you do when you first meet someone. You don’t just dive into leading questions or blast them with your sales pitch! You get to know the person, find out if your personalities vibe. 

Image of a woman sitting at a desk in front of her computer. There is a Zoom meeting on the screen.

When you first meet someone (in real life), you don’t think about what they can do for you… or maybe you do… but if that’s you… you aren’t my people. Seriously though. You start a conversation with someone because there is something that you share. Whether it’s space in the grocery store line, kids on the same sports team, a mutual friend, a mutual interest… I would argue that the same applies in the online space.

So, how do you build authentic relationships in groups without asking leading questions? You don’t. Can you imagine walking into an in-person networking event, standing at the microphone, and asking 1,000+ people how they automate their business processes? NO! That’s not how it works.

You can’t build a relationship by jumping to the middle of a conversation that hasn’t started.

You build a relationship with people based on mutual understanding, shared interests, or to share knowledge. 

5 Tips to Get You Started:

Christy is wearing a beige sweater and is pointing at the caption, "5 tips to make authentic connections in online networking groups."
  1. Build Trust – You don’t need to be a conversation starter. Aim to be a conversation closer. People won’t remember you for the leading question you asked, instead they will remember you for the sound advice you gave.
  2. Be Honest – You don’t have to know all the answers. Aim to only answer questions that are within your specific area of expertise. You want to be remembered for your honest, smart, and timely answers; you don’t want to be considered a SPAM artist.
  3. Make a Connection– Don’t consider every person you meet a potential customer. You know who you want to work with. Building your professional network is about authentic connection. 
  4. Listen to Understand – Don’t respond to anything without taking time to truly understand the comment or question. Listen (or read) to understand, not to respond. This means you need to ditch your canned response for every comment or question.
  5. Keep the Lines of Communication Open – Don’t ignore the people who took the time to engage with you. Keep the lines of communication open and reply in kind.

See networking groups for what they are, a place to share knowledge, not a place to pitch to 1,000+ strangers in a small room.

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