The Laws of Networking in the Digital Age: Building Connections Beyond Boundaries
Insights from Daniel Priestley
Building a network of people who can support and help you is crucial to shaping your story and success. After all, humans are inherently community-driven.
So, how do you build meaningful connections?
For me, being in Silicon Valley provides plenty of opportunities to meet new people—whether they're founders, makers, investors, or marketers, —at various local events. I've gained tremendous support and made lasting friendships at these gatherings.
However, networking within geographic limits has its constraints. Expanding your professional network isn’t just about attending local events and exchanging business cards.
In today’s digital age, networking has evolved beyond physical boundaries, offering endless opportunities to connect globally. Let’s explore how this shift is redefining the way we network.
From Local to Global
Traditionally, networking was confined to local events where professionals would gather to meet face-to-face. While these events had their merits, they were limited by geography and time constraints.
Today, the most valuable connections in your network might be scattered across the globe.
The digital age has eliminated these barriers, allowing us to connect with like-minded individuals and industry leaders regardless of their location.
Why?
The truth is, interestingly, our brains don't distinguish significantly between digital and analog interactions. Whether we've met someone in person or only engaged with them online, we can form strong connections. This is why we often feel a genuine connection to celebrities or influencers we've never met in person.
The key factors in forming these connections are time spent, number of interactions, and the variety of contexts in which we engage. By leveraging these factors in our digital presence, we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships with our network.
The Power of Digital Presence: The 7-11-4 Rule
The 7-11-4 rule is based on research into human behavior and relationship-building in the digital space. It consists of three key components:
7 Hours: This is the amount of time people need to interact with you before they start to care about you or consider you friendly.
11 Interactions: Research by Google shows that people typically need about 11 interactions with a brand or person before making a purchase or forming a strong connection.
4 Contexts: Engaging with someone across 4 different platforms or contexts helps deepen the relationship more effectively than interacting on a single platform.
To harness the power of the 7-11-4 rule, you need to ensure that you're "7-11-4 ready." This means having enough content and presence across various platforms to allow people to:
Engage with your content for at least 7 hours
Have 11 distinct interactions with you or your brand
Connect with you across 4 different platforms or contexts
Being 7-11-4 ready lays the foundation for building a wide, engaged network.
It provides people with ample opportunities to get to know you, like you, and trust you, even from a distance.
Social media platforms have become powerful networking tools. These "engines" are designed to connect people with similar interests and goals. By strategically using these platforms, you can extend your reach and connect with the right people, regardless of geographical limitations.
Quality Over Quantity
While digital networking allows for a wider reach, it's crucial to be strategic about who you connect with.
Who should you target?
Instead of focusing on geographical proximity, concentrate on connecting with people who:
Share similar interests and goals
Face similar challenges
Operate in the same niche or industry
Can serve as mentors or inspirations
What types of relationship should you build?
Focus on building relationships with three types of partners:
Distribution Partners: Those who can help spread your message to a larger audience.
Credibility Partners: Individuals whose association enhances your credibility in your field.
Product Partners: People with complementary skills or products that could lead to collaborative opportunities.
Creating Content: The New Networking Currency
Content is king. By regularly producing valuable content – whether it's blog posts, videos, podcasts, or social media updates – you're constantly putting yourself out there and providing opportunities for people to connect with you.
This content serves as a 24/7 networking tool, working on your behalf even when you're not actively engaging.
Check out OSCR to help you with 80% of your content! Remember, AI at 80% will save you 90% of the time, but a post with that 20% of you being genuine and authentic will make a whole lot of difference in building a strong and engaged community.
Advanced Networking Strategies
For those looking to take their networking to the next level, consider these advanced strategies:
Connect with super connectors: These are individuals with vast networks who can exponentially expand your reach.
Engage with financiers: Building relationships with those who have access to funding can open doors to new opportunities.
Embracing the New Networking Paradigm
The digital age has revolutionized networking, offering unprecedented opportunities to build a global network of valuable connections. By embracing this new paradigm and focusing on creating a strong digital presence, you can cultivate a network that's not limited by geography or time zones.
Remember, the key to successful networking in the digital age is to provide value, engage consistently, and be strategic about your connections. With these principles in mind, you'll be well-equipped to thrive in the new networking landscape, building relationships that can propel your personal and professional growth to new heights.
If you are interested to hear the full talk, check it out here: YouTube Video: Networking Has Made Me Millions. Here's How...