Module 9 · Networking · Lesson 6 of 9

Networking online

LinkedIn and other platforms: real relationships, not connection counts.

7 min read · Level: Practising · Free — no account needed to read

The idea

Online networking — on LinkedIn, professional forums, community groups — works like offline networking: relationships, not connection counts. A thoughtful comment, a specific message, or sharing someone’s work well does more than a thousand silent connections.

When reaching out to someone new, be specific and brief: why them, what you appreciate, and a small, easy ask (or none). Avoid copy-pasted messages; people can tell. A good online relationship often becomes an offline one.

Why it matters

Online networking reaches people you would never meet in person, but only if you treat it as real relationships.

See it happen

Mehjabin sends the same connection request message to fifty people in her field. Almost nobody replies.

The first reaction

She concludes that people online are unfriendly.

With the idea

She writes five specific messages mentioning something each person wrote, with one small question. Three reply, and one becomes a regular contact.

What changed

Specific, personal messages started conversations that templates never did.

Easy to get wrong

• Sending a sales pitch as a first message.
• Collecting connections with no interaction at all.

Try it now: One real message

1. Pick one person online whose work you appreciate.
2. Write a three-sentence message: what you noticed, why it mattered, one small question.

Questions to think about

• What online relationships have become real ones for you?
• What makes you reply to a message from a stranger?

Your challenge this week

Send one specific, personal message to someone online whose work you admire.