Online Networking Tips: How to Build Connections in 2026

George El-Hage 🔗 LinkedIn

Founder, Wave Connect | 1M+ digital business cards shared via Wave

I've spent the last 6 years building a digital business card platform and networking my way through every type of online event you can imagine - Zoom calls, LinkedIn DMs, Slack communities, virtual trade shows. This guide is based on what I've actually seen work for me and for the thousands of professionals using Wave.

Online networking tips are everywhere, but most of them boil down to "be yourself and follow up." That's... not super helpful when you're staring at a Zoom screen trying to figure out how to make a real connection with someone you've never met.

Here's what I'll cover: how to set yourself up before you even open LinkedIn, platform-specific strategies that actually generate conversations, and a follow-up system that turns one-time contacts into long-term relationships. I've helped over a million people share digital business cards through Wave Connect, and online networking is where most of those connections start.

Why Online Networking Still Matters in 2026

Online networking has become the default way professionals build relationships, with 85% of jobs filled through networking and 61% of professionals reporting that online networking leads to more opportunities than in-person events alone. The shift that started during the pandemic isn't going away - it's accelerating. Remote work, global teams, and virtual events have made online networking not just an option, but a core professional skill.

I've watched this firsthand. When I started building Wave Connect in 2020, most people still thought of networking as "going to events and handing out paper cards." Now, the professionals I work with are building entire pipelines through LinkedIn conversations, virtual coffee chats, and Slack communities. The ones who treat online networking as a real skill - not a nice-to-have - consistently outperform their peers.

Here's the thing though: online networking is harder than in-person in some ways. You don't have the natural energy of a conference room. You can't read body language as easily. And it's way too easy to send a generic connection request and call it networking. That's why having a system matters.

Step 1: Prepare Your Digital Presence First

Before you send a single connection request, your digital presence needs to be ready - this means your LinkedIn profile, email signature, and contact sharing method should all be optimized and consistent. Think of it like cleaning your house before hosting a dinner party. Nobody's impressed by a great invitation if they walk into a mess.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your online first impression. Here's what I check on every profile:

• Headline: Don't just list your job title. Say what you do for people. "Helping SaaS founders grow through digital networking" beats "CEO at Company X."
• About section: Write it in first person. Tell your story. What problems do you solve? What drives you?
• Profile photo: Professional headshot with good lighting. This alone increases connection acceptance by a huge margin.
• Featured section: Pin your best content, case studies, or a link to your digital business card.

LinkedIn now has over 1 billion members, but most profiles look like they were written in 2019 and never updated. Spending 30 minutes refreshing yours puts you ahead of 90% of the platform.

Set Up Your Digital Business Card

This is where I'm biased - but hear me out. A digital business card solves the biggest problem in online networking: making it easy for someone to save your contact info.

You can drop your card link in a LinkedIn DM, include it in your email signature, or share a QR code during virtual events. No app required for the recipient - they just tap a link and your full profile opens in their browser. I've seen this single change increase follow-through on networking conversations dramatically.

Step 2: LinkedIn Networking That Actually Works

Effective LinkedIn networking in 2026 requires personalized outreach, consistent content engagement, and a shift from collecting connections to building relationships. The spray-and-pray approach of sending 100 generic connection requests a day is dead. LinkedIn's algorithm now actively penalizes low-quality outreach.

Write Connection Requests That Get Accepted

Here's the formula I use:

1. Reference something specific: "I saw your post about [topic] and really agreed with your point about..."
2. Explain the connection: "We're both in the [industry] space and I think there could be some synergy..."
3. Keep it short: 2-3 sentences max. Nobody reads a paragraph from a stranger.

What NOT to do: "Hi, I'd love to connect!" with no context. Or worse - pitching your product in the connection request itself. I get about 20 of these a day. They all get ignored.

Engage Before You Reach Out

Before sending a connection request, spend a week engaging with someone's content. Like their posts. Leave thoughtful comments. Share their articles. By the time you send that request, your name is already familiar. This is the difference between a cold outreach and a warm introduction.

I do this consistently with potential partners and industry peers. By the time I actually message them, they usually accept within hours because they've already seen my name in their notifications.

Post Your Own Content

You don't need to become a LinkedIn influencer, but posting once or twice a week positions you as someone worth connecting with. Share your perspective on industry trends, lessons you've learned, or quick tips from your work. The best-performing posts I've seen are honest, slightly vulnerable, and practical.

Step 3: Virtual Events and Email Outreach

Virtual events and targeted email outreach remain two of the most underused online networking channels - professionals who show up prepared and follow up quickly consistently outperform passive attendees. LinkedIn gets all the attention, but some of my best connections have come from webinar chat boxes and cold emails.

How to Network at Virtual Events

Most people join a virtual event, sit on mute, and leave. Here's how to actually make connections:

• Research speakers beforehand: Look them up on LinkedIn. Know their work so you can ask specific questions.
• Be active in the chat: Ask questions. React to other people's comments. Introduce yourself. The chat is where real connections happen.
• DM other attendees: See someone asking a great question? Send them a quick note: "Loved your question about X - I've been thinking about the same thing."
• Share your contact info: Drop your digital business card link in the chat when it's natural. "If anyone wants to continue the conversation about [topic], here's my card: [link]."

Cold Email That Doesn't Feel Cold

Cold email gets a bad reputation because most people do it terribly. But a well-crafted cold email to someone you genuinely want to connect with? That still works.

My approach:

1. Subject line: Specific and relevant. "Quick question about your [recent talk/article/product]" - not "Networking Opportunity!!!"
2. First line: Why you're reaching out to THEM specifically. Reference their work.
3. The ask: Keep it small. "Would you be open to a 15-minute call?" is much better than "I'd love to pick your brain."
4. Your credibility: One sentence about who you are and why they should care.
5. Make it easy: Include your digital business card in your email signature so they can learn about you with one click.

Keep the whole thing under 150 words. Seriously. The shorter it is, the more likely it gets read.

Step 4: Build Authentic Relationships (Not Just Contacts)

The most effective online networkers focus on building genuine relationships rather than collecting connections - this means listening more than pitching, offering help before asking for it, and treating every interaction as the start of a long-term relationship.

I learned this the hard way. In my first year running Wave Connect, I was so focused on "networking" that I forgot to actually connect with people. I'd send 50 messages a day, have surface-level conversations, and wonder why nothing came of it.

What changed everything was slowing down. Instead of reaching out to 50 people, I started reaching out to 5 - and actually investing time in those conversations. Here's what that looks like:

Lead with Value

Before you ask someone for anything, give them something. Share an article relevant to their work. Introduce them to someone in your network. Congratulate them on a recent win. People remember who helped them, not who pitched them.

Be Genuinely Curious

Ask questions about their work, their challenges, what they're excited about. Not as a sales tactic - because you actually want to know. The best conversations I've had online started with me asking "What are you working on right now?" and then genuinely listening to the answer.

This is also where networking drives real career growth - it's the deep relationships, not the number of connections, that open doors.

Be Human (Not a LinkedIn Bot)

Drop the corporate speak. Use contractions. Share opinions. Admit when you don't know something. People connect with people, not professional personas. Every message you send should sound like something you'd actually say out loud.

Step 5: The Follow-Up System That Turns Connections Into Opportunities

Following up within 48 hours is the single most important thing you can do after making an online connection - a personalized follow-up message turns a one-time conversation into an ongoing relationship. This is where most people drop the ball completely. They have a great conversation, say "let's keep in touch," and then... nothing.

The 48-Hour Rule

Within 48 hours of any meaningful online interaction, send a follow-up. Here's what to include:

• Thank them for their time
• Reference something specific you discussed
• Suggest a concrete next step (share a resource, schedule a follow-up call, make an introduction)

That's it. Don't overthink it. A three-sentence follow-up sent within 48 hours beats a perfectly crafted message sent two weeks later.

For a deep dive on follow-up strategies, check out our guide on how to follow up after networking events. The same principles apply to online interactions.

Stay on Their Radar Long-Term

The follow-up isn't a one-time thing. Here's how I stay connected with people without being annoying:

• Quarterly check-ins: A simple "Hey, saw [relevant thing] and thought of you" message every few months
• Share their wins: When they post about an achievement, be one of the first to congratulate them
• Send relevant content: Found an article they'd find useful? Share it with a quick note
• Use a system: I track my networking contacts and set reminders for follow-ups. You can use a CRM, a simple spreadsheet, or Wave's built-in analytics to see when someone last viewed your card

If you're juggling a lot of connections, having a system for managing your network is essential. Even a basic approach prevents good connections from going cold.

Step 6: Digital Tools That Make Online Networking Easier

The right digital tools remove friction from online networking by making it easy to share your information, track your connections, and follow up consistently without manual effort. You don't need a dozen apps - just a few things working together.

Digital Business Cards

I'm obviously partial here, but Wave Connect's digital business card platform was built specifically for this use case. Instead of typing out your contact info in every DM, you share a single link. The recipient opens it in their browser (no app needed), sees your full profile, and can save your contact with one tap.

Where it really shines for online networking:

• LinkedIn DMs: Share your card link after every conversation
• Email signatures: Every email you send passively shares your card
• Virtual events: Drop your QR code or link in event chats
• Slack and Discord: Pin your card link in your profile

Email Signature Networking

This is the most underrated networking tactic I know. Adding your digital business card to your email signature means every email you send is a passive networking opportunity. A team of 50 people sending 30 emails a day? That's 1,500 daily touchpoints where someone can find your profile and connect.

CRM and Contact Management

Once your network grows past a few dozen active connections, you need a system. Wave integrates with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive so your networking contacts automatically sync with your CRM. But even a Google Sheet with names, last contact date, and notes is better than nothing.

Mistakes to Avoid When Networking Online

The biggest online networking mistakes are pitching too early, being inconsistent with follow-up, and treating online connections as less valuable than in-person ones. I've made all of these, so I can tell you exactly what not to do.

• Pitching in the first message: Nobody wants to be sold to by a stranger. Build a relationship first. The pitch comes later - if ever.
• Copy-paste outreach: People can spot a template message instantly. Take 30 seconds to personalize each one.
• Only networking when you need something: If the only time you reach out is when you're job hunting or selling, people notice. Network consistently, not desperately.
• Ignoring small connections: The person with 200 LinkedIn followers might introduce you to your next biggest client. Don't only network "up."
• No system for follow-up: If you're not tracking your connections, you're losing them. The Forbes Coaches Council consistently emphasizes that follow-up is where networking actually happens - the initial conversation is just the door opener.