How to Network Online Without Feeling Awkward or Fake
I used to think networking meant walking into a room, handing out business cards, giving your elevator pitch, and trying to meet as many people as possible.
That never felt right to me.
And online networking can be even worse.
You connect with someone and immediately get:
"Hey! Thanks for connecting. Let me tell you about my opportunity..."
No conversation.
No relationship.
No idea who you are.
Just a pitch.
If that's what you think networking is, I understand why you hate it.
But I've learned something over the years:
Good networking doesn't really feel like networking.
It feels like having a conversation with another person.
That's it.
And once I started approaching networking that way, everything changed.
Stop Trying to Impress People
One reason networking feels awkward is because we put pressure on ourselves.
What am I going to say?
How do I explain what I do?
How do I make myself sound successful?
What if they don't care?
Here's an easier approach.
Stop trying to be interesting and become interested.
Ask questions.
What are you working on?
How did you get started?
What are you excited about right now?
What's something you're trying to accomplish this year?
People generally enjoy talking about things that matter to them.
And suddenly you're not trying to perform.
You're having a conversation.
You Don't Need the Perfect Elevator Pitch
I've heard people spend forever trying to create the perfect 30-second introduction.
There's nothing wrong with being able to explain what you do clearly.
But you don't need to sound rehearsed.
If someone asks what you're doing, tell them.
Simple.
For me, a big part of what I'm building centers around helping 9-to-5 professionals create relationships that can lead to opportunities.
Then I'll probably ask:
"What are you building?"
Now we're talking.
Networking becomes awkward when you're waiting for your turn to pitch.
It becomes interesting when you're actually curious about the other person.
Online Networking Can Start With a Comment
You don't even need a networking event.
Some of the best online relationships I've built started in the comments.
I see someone share something interesting.
I respond.
They respond back.
I check out their profile.
Maybe I notice we have something in common.
Another conversation starts.
Eventually one of us sends a message.
Sometimes we jump on a connection call.
I've had that process eventually lead to podcast guests, collaborations, introductions, community members, referrals, and friendships.
And it started with a comment.
I wrote more about this process in How to Turn Social Media Content Into Real Business Relationships.
Your content can open the door.
Conversation is what takes you through it.
Don't Fake Interest Just to Make a Sale
People can feel this.
You ask three scripted questions and then suddenly:
"That's interesting because my program actually..."
Come on.
😂
You weren't curious.
You were waiting for your opening.
If you're going to ask someone about what they're doing, actually listen to the answer.
Sometimes there won't be an opportunity for you.
That's okay.
Maybe you know somebody they should meet.
Maybe you can recommend a resource.
Maybe you learn something from them.
Maybe you simply have a good conversation.
Not every person you meet needs to become a customer.
Once you remove that expectation, networking gets a lot easier.
Look for Ways to Help
This has probably become my favorite networking question:
"Who can I help?"
Maybe someone needs a podcast guest.
I know somebody.
Maybe they're trying to understand Skool.
I can point them toward a resource.
Maybe they're looking for someone with a specific skill.
I might be able to make an introduction.
Maybe they need information I've already learned the hard way.
I'll share it.
You don't have to solve everyone's problems.
Just pay attention.
Sometimes the smallest introduction can create a huge opportunity for someone.
And people remember that.
Move the Right Conversations Off the Platform
Comments are great.
DMs are great.
But sometimes you know there's more to talk about.
That's when I'll suggest a connection call.
Not a sales call.
A connection call.
There's a difference.
I'm not getting on Zoom thinking:
"How do I close this person?"
I want to know:
Who are you?
What are you building?
Where are you going?
Who are you trying to meet?
How could we potentially help each other?
I've had connection calls turn into podcast episodes because the conversation was so good that we basically said:
"We should be recording this."
You can't plan every opportunity.
You can create more situations where opportunities have a chance to happen.
Don't Judge a Connection by Their Follower Count
This one is huge.
Someone has 50,000 followers and suddenly everybody wants to know them.
Someone else has 300 and gets ignored.
Why?
You have no idea who that person knows.
You don't know their experience.
You don't know their relationships.
You don't know what they'll be building two years from now.
I recently wrote Why 10 Strong Relationships Can Be Worth More Than 10,000 Followers because I've become increasingly convinced we're measuring online success incorrectly.
I'd rather genuinely know 10 great people than have another 10,000 strangers scroll past my posts.
That's the idea behind building your Power 10.
Follow-Up Is Where Networking Becomes a Relationship
Meeting someone is easy.
Staying connected is where most people drop the ball.
I covered this more deeply in How to Follow Up After Networking Without Being Salesy, but here's the simple version:
Remember people.
If someone tells you they're launching something next month, check in.
If you see an article that reminds you of your conversation, send it.
If they post a win, congratulate them.
If you meet someone they should know, introduce them.
You don't need a complicated follow-up funnel.
Be a human being.
Relationships grow when people know you actually care about what they're doing.
Use Communities to Practice Networking
Online communities are one of the easiest places to practice this.
Why?
You already have context.
You're both there for a reason.
Instead of joining another community and immediately posting about yourself, spend some time learning who is inside.
Read posts.
Comment.
Help.
Answer questions.
Attend live calls.
Meet people.
That's why I believe community can become so much more powerful than simply collecting followers.
I talked about this in Community vs Social Media: Which Builds More Income?
Social media helps us discover people.
Community gives us somewhere to deepen those relationships.
Networking for Introverts Doesn't Have to Mean Working the Room
If you're more introverted, you don't have to become the loudest person in the room.
You don't need to shake 50 hands.
You don't need to dominate the Zoom call.
Have one good conversation.
Then another.
Maybe your goal at an event isn't:
"Meet everyone."
Make it:
"Meet three people I actually want to know better."
That's manageable.
And in my experience, it's a lot more valuable.
Three meaningful conversations beat 30 business cards sitting in a drawer.
Build a Network Before You Need One
This might be the biggest lesson.
Don't wait until you need something to suddenly start networking.
Don't disappear for six months and then message someone because you need a referral.
Build relationships when you don't need anything.
Help people.
Stay connected.
Share their wins.
Introduce them.
Create together.
Then when an opportunity eventually comes up, the relationship already exists.
You're not asking a stranger.
You're talking to someone who knows you.
Try This Today
Don't overcomplicate online networking.
Pick one person.
Maybe they're inside a community with you.
Maybe they've commented on your content.
Maybe you've followed each other for six months but never actually spoken.
Go to their profile.
Learn something about them.
Then start a genuine conversation.
No pitch.
No link.
No agenda.
Just:
"Hey, I saw what you're building and wanted to learn more about it."
See what happens.
That's networking.
And it doesn't have to feel fake at all.
Keep Learning
If you're working on building better relationships online, these articles are the natural next steps:
How to Turn Social Media Content Into Real Business Relationships — Move beyond views and turn engagement into conversations.
Why 10 Strong Relationships Can Be Worth More Than 10,000 Followers — Learn why I'm building a Power 10 instead of obsessing over audience size.
How to Follow Up After Networking Without Being Salesy — Don't let a great first conversation become your last conversation.
How to Build Trust Online Without Being Salesy — Learn how helping first can create stronger business relationships.
Community vs Social Media: Which Builds More Income? — See how discovery and deeper relationships can work together.
The Complete Beginner's Guide to Content Creation — Start creating the content that can introduce you to your next connection.
One reason I continue hosting the Network Marketing Insider Podcast is because conversations are where I learn the most.
I get to sit down with entrepreneurs, creators, community owners, affiliates, and people building something different.
And many of those guests came into my world because of networking.
A comment.
A community.
An introduction.
A connection call.
Then a podcast.
Check out the latest episodes, subscribe, and when you hear someone interesting:
Connect with them.
Don't just consume their story.
Start a conversation.
If you want somewhere to practice building relationships online, check out Evolve Now Social.
But don't join just to promote yourself.
Show up.
Meet people.
Comment.
Help.
Ask questions.
That's how a community becomes valuable.
If part of your goal is also creating additional or recurring income, explore the TLP Projects I'm continuing to follow and share.
Relationship building matters here too.
Don't recommend something simply because there's an affiliate commission attached.
Understand it.
Use it.
Know who it can help.
Then share it when there's a fit.
That's how you build trust while creating income.
This is exactly what we're practicing inside Connection Creator Academy.
🔥 BUILD YOUR POWER 10 IN 30 DAYS
You don't need to become a master networker.
You don't need thousands of followers.
You need the right 10 relationships.
And we keep the process simple:
POST 1 → HELP 2 → CONNECT 1
One post.
Help two people.
Start one genuine conversation.
Then do it again tomorrow.
Your challenge today isn't to meet 100 people.
It's much easier:
Have one real conversation.
Then see where it leads.
Remember:
Action Creates Momentum.
Connections Create Opportunities.
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