Digital Handshakes: Building Your Professional Network in the Virtual Age

March 19, 2025

Who you know has always been as important as what you know regarding Office and Commercial career success. The relationships you build with the right people don’t just increase your access to industry insights and knowledge.

The trouble is that building genuine emotional connections with others isn’t always easy in today’s digital world. To create a thriving network, you must know more than just how to connect with someone in person. You’ll also need to master the art of forging virtual relationships.

Here’s how to build better connections and use your network to your advantage throughout 2025 and beyond.

Building the Foundation for a Robust Network

Building a robust Office and Commercial network is like building anything—it all starts with laying a solid foundation. This means creating a digital presence and personal brand that speaks to potential connections across various virtual channels.

Assessing Your Current Digital Presence

Start with assessing your current online presence. When someone searches for your name online (whether it’s a colleague or potential employer), what will they see? Do you have a strong LinkedIn profile with a bio that outlines your skills and Office and Commercial accomplishments?

Are you active on important industry forums and professional community channels, sharing information about your work or the latest trends in your industry? Do you have a personal website where people can learn more about you and your professional history?

Think carefully about your digital presence’s elements and how they work together. For instance, having an excellent LinkedIn presence is no good if your profiles and the content you share on other channels like Twitter (X), Facebook, and Reddit send a very different message about who you are.

Remember, around 28% of large organisations employers say they’ve rejected a job candidate because of their online activity.

Building an Impactful Personal Brand

Once you’ve assessed your current online presence, think about the kind of “brand” you want to portray online. Your personal brand is the unique combination of skills, personality traits, and experiences you present to the professional world.

Start by identifying your core strengths and values. Are you a data-driven problem-solver or a creative visionary? What makes you an attractive candidate to Office and Commercial employers, such as what you’ve achieved in your previous roles? What makes you a valuable connection for peers to interact with? For instance, it could be your commitment to sharing the latest industry news.

Identify the core elements of your personal brand, from your tone of voice and the language you use in content to your unique selling points and even your “visual” brand – how you present yourself in profile pictures and similar content.

Developing Your Online Profiles

Now that you have a clear view of your existing digital presence and the message you want to send with your personal brand, it’s time to start developing online profiles. This means choosing which platforms you’ll use to connect with peers.

Social media giants like LinkedIn and Twitter (X) are excellent starting points for Office and Commercial professionals. LinkedIn is ideal for connecting with business leaders, colleagues, and thought leaders. Twitter is great for fast-paced interactions and industry-specific conversations about trending topics.

Beyond social media, consider virtual forums, industry-specific communities, and platforms tuned to your specific Office and Commercial role. When you know which platforms are likely to link you to the right people and accelerate your career progress, develop a plan for optimising your presence on each. For instance:

LinkedIn

LinkedIn remains the gold standard for professional networking. Begin by perfecting your profile: use a professional photo, craft a compelling headline beyond your job title, and write a summary highlighting your values and accomplishments. Include relevant Office and Commercial keywords to increase discoverability. Regularly post insightful content, share industry news, and engage with others’ posts to stay visible.

X

X is a powerful tool for real-time engagement. Refining your bio with Office and Commercial keywords and hashtags highlighting your expertise. Follow thought leaders and participate in trending conversations using industry-relevant hashtags. Post concise, impactful content, such as commentaries on industry developments, to make your profile engaging. Engage directly with others by retweeting or replying to their tweets to foster connections.

Industry-Specific Platforms

Platforms like GitHub (for developers), Behance (for designers), or ResearchGate (for academics) allow you to share work, receive feedback, and engage with niche communities. Regularly contribute content, comment on others’ projects, and participate in discussions to demonstrate expertise and build relationships.

Professional Communities

 Forums and groups on Slack, Discord, or industry-specific Office and Commercial sites are excellent for targeted networking. Offer value by answering questions, sharing resources, or starting discussions. Consistent, thoughtful participation helps you stand out and build lasting professional relationships.

Engagement Strategies: Connecting with Peers

Building genuine relationships with professionals requires an intentional approach to engagement in the digital age. Here are some of the best ways to develop more substantial, meaningful relationships with your virtual connections.

Authentic, Personalised Communication

Building strong Office and Commercial relationships through virtual channels often starts with reaching out and connecting with peers through personalised authentic messages. Don’t just send connection requests randomly with generic messages.

Build rapport from day one by referencing a shared interest or something you admire about the other person. Consider offering various communication methods, such as messaging channels or conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Engaging in Online Communities

Professional communities, whether LinkedIn Groups, Slack channels, or niche forums, are great for building strong Office and Commercial connections. Participate actively by discussing, sharing insights, and supporting others’ contributions.

LinkedIn Groups, for example, offer targeted spaces to discuss industry trends and challenges. Consistently contributing value, whether you respond to a post with a thoughtful comment or send a link to a helpful resource, will help you earn the respect and appreciation of your peers.

Use Content to Capture Attention

Sharing valuable Office and Commercial content is a powerful way to engage with peers and showcase expertise. Curate high-quality articles, write thought leadership pieces, or create short videos addressing industry trends. Tagging peers in relevant posts, quoting their work, or crediting their insights is a good way to build goodwill and boost engagement.

Encourage interaction by asking questions or inviting opinions on your content. When someone comments on something you share, respond promptly and thoughtfully.

Make the Most of Virtual Events

Virtual events and Office and Commercial webinars are excellent opportunities to expand your network. Actively participate in chat discussions during events, ask thoughtful questions, and connect with speakers or attendees on LinkedIn afterwards.

Another great strategy is to share your key takeaways from the event on social media and tag relevant participants – asking them to continue the discussion.

Relationship Maintenance: Preserving Connections

Digital relationships, just like in-person ones, require ongoing nurturing and maintenance. Make sure you assign time in your schedule to build on your relationships and make them stronger. You can consider using strategies like:

  • Digital follow-up systems: Use digital tools like a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) app, a dedicated spreadsheet, or even LinkedIn’s contact features to track your interactions. Record notes about your conversations, shared interests, or milestones to personalise future follow-ups. Schedule reminders so you periodically check in with your peers.
  • Scheduled virtual meetings: Virtual coffee chats provide a relaxed setting for deeper conversations. Use video platforms like Zoom to reconnect, discuss Office and Commercial projects, or catch up on industry developments. Keep these meetings informal and brief—around 20–30 minutes – and focus on shared interests to strengthen the bond.
  • Constantly delivering value: Strong relationships are built on reciprocity. Offer value by sharing resources, introducing contacts, or providing feedback. For instance, if a connection shares a challenge, suggest an article, tool, or contact that could help. When they share accomplishments or achievements on their profiles, commend them.

Remember, consistency is key here. Set time aside at least once a week to respond to messages, comment on the posts of valuable network connections, and plan strategies for future discussions.

Strengthening Connections in a Digital World

As we progress into an increasingly digital-first era, ensuring your networking skills extend beyond simply building relationships in person is more important than ever. Knowing how to forge strong, authentic relationships with Office and Commercial peers online and attract opportunities with the right personal branding and online presence is essential.

Take actionable steps to optimise your online presence, engage thoughtfully with peers, and activate your network when opportunities arise. By staying proactive, you’ll boost your chances of developing a network that propels you towards future success.

Why Developing Your Personal Brand is a Good Idea This Year

February 26, 2024

In today’s competitive job market, a strong personal brand is more valuable than you’d think. Employers searching for top talent no longer consider only a person’s CV, cover letter, and credentials. They examine your entire personal brand, looking at the characteristics and attributes that set you apart from competing candidates.

While demand for candidates is increasing this year, the market is still extremely competitive, particularly as business leaders navigate difficult economic environments and budget shortages.

Whether you’re re-entering the job market or looking for new opportunities, developing a strong personal brand could boost your chances of success.

In fact, according to LinkedIn, 71% of professionals believe a good personal brand opens the door to new career opportunities.

Here’s why personal branding is important and how to build a brand with the right impact.

The Importance of Personal Branding in 2024

Your personal brand is a culmination of all your skills, values, experiences, and personality traits. It shapes how employers and peers view you in the landscape, what value they assign you as an employee, and even how you view yourself in your career.

A positive personal brand has always been a valuable resource for candidates and employees. The right brand helps you gain credibility as an industry professional, draw attention to your unique values, and capture the attention of employers.

However, the demand for personal branding is set to be even higher this year. Although there are significant skill shortages, finding the right role can be extremely difficult. Some studies suggest candidates can spend up to 6 monthsfinding a new position.

Today, the job market will be characterised by rapid changes as workplaces evolve, leading to demand for new skills and abilities. Competition will increase, particularly for roles with the best benefits and salaries in a difficult economic landscape.

Additionally, business leaders will become more discerning when choosing which candidates to add to their team as hiring budgets diminish. A personal brand will ensure you can access the right roles and demonstrate your value to your employer. It could even be the key to opening the door for promotion opportunities in the future.

The Benefits of Personal Branding Today

With 95% of recruiters now predicting the job market will become more competitive in the years ahead, personal branding has never been more valuable for candidates. A well-crafted personal brand can deliver a host of benefits, including:

  • Improved differentiation: A strong personal brand highlights your unique values and attributes, positioning you as the ideal person for a role. With your personal brand, you can separate yourself from the competition and increase your ability to access new roles.
  • Better online visibility: Working on your personal brand on social media platforms like LinkedIn can make you more visible to potential employers. Around 85% of recruiters and H.R. professionals say an employee’s online reputation influences hiring decisions.
  • Greater trust and credibility: A consistent and authentic personal brand builds credibility for you as an employee. Hiring managers and business leaders are likelier to hire and promote team members with a clear track record of expertise and shared values.
  • New career opportunities: Enhancing your personal brand and demonstrating thought leadership online and offline opens the door to new opportunities. It can help you expand your network and form relationships with people who guide you towards new positions.
  • Adaptability: As industries evolve and job opportunities change, your personal brand can act as a testament to your adaptability, continuous focus on growth, and willingness to learn. This can ensure you can apply for new roles in a difficult market.

How to Start Developing Your Personal Brand

The good news for candidates is that developing a strong personal brand doesn’t have to be as complex as it seems. You can even consider working with specialist recruiters in your industry for guidance, building your online presence, and showcasing the right attributes in CVs, cover letters, and online profiles.

Here are some of the key steps involved in building a personal brand:

1.    Conduct a Self-Assessment

First, you need a clear understanding of your strengths, positive attributes, and abilities as a professional in the industry.

Take a closer look at your skills and accomplishments in previous years.

Think about the key attributes that set you apart from other competing candidates in your industry, such as a focus on adaptability or a willingness to learn. What do you want to be known for in your sector, and what do you need to work on to improve your value to employers?

2.    Define Your Audience

Once you clearly understand your strengths and weaknesses, think about the target audience you’re trying to impress. If you’re hoping to access new promotions within your current role, it’s important to know which values and skills your employer values. If you’re trying to secure a new position, consider what matters most to new employers.

For instance, in 2024, 68% of employers prioritise digital skills, 82% focus on analytical skills, and 57% pay more attention to employee resilience.

Looking at the job descriptions posted by the companies you want to work for or speaking to a recruitment can help you identify which key attributes to highlight in your personal brand.

3.    Optimise Your Online Presence

90% of recruiters conduct online research to learn more about potential candidates. Another 70% say they’ve rejected candidates based on the information they found online. Search for your name and examine what information appears.

Is your LinkedIn profile complete and up to date? Does it accurately highlight your experience, skills, and credentials? If you have other social media profiles, what do they say about who you are as a person and employee? You might even consider developing a portfolio or website where you can tell people more about your skills and achievements.

4.    Invest in Networking

Developing your network is one of the best ways to enhance your personal brand and ensure its visibility to the right people. Join industry-specific groups on LinkedIn and Facebook, visit forums related to your industry, or work with a recruitment agency to strengthen your connections with new groups and potential employers.

Invest in both online and offline networking whenever possible. This means attending industry events and online webinars, joining professional organisations, and even searching for mentors or peers in your niche.

5.    Demonstrate Expertise Consistently

To further draw attention to your personal brand in the workplace, commit some time to creating and distributing thought leadership content. You can create blogs and articles you share through your website or social media pages. You could publish videos on YouTube or even create your podcast.

Whatever content you invest in, ensure you consistently send the same message about your values, abilities, and strengths. Using a consistent style, tone of voice, and messaging across all platforms will enhance your credibility.

6.    Be Ready to Evolve and Adapt

While consistency is important for a personal brand, it’s important to understand that your brand and the needs of employers will change over time.

Stay up to date with industry trends so you can draw more focus on the skills and characteristics that will help you appeal to future employers. Ensure you update your online profiles and social media accounts whenever you accomplish something new, highlighting your commitment to constant growth. This will make you more appealing to today’s dynamic employers.

Building a Strong Personal Brand

Effective personal branding has always been crucial to success in the job market. However, as recruitment processes change and employer priorities evolve, ensuring you’re effectively building and showcasing your personal brand is becoming increasingly crucial.

Follow the steps above to create a brand with impact in 2024, and work with your specialist recruitment agency to position that brand in front of the right employers.

 

At Everpool Recruitment, we’re committed to helping candidates like you stand out in a competitive job market. Get in touch with our team today to assist. Don’t settle for a standard application—let your personal brand speak for you. Your dream job awaits! Call us at 0151 556 2090 or email us here info@everpoolrecruitment.com.