Planning For Virtual Networking Events

People Google everything. Including you. Before meetings, interviews, or even dates, your online presence is scrutinized. It's not just about looking good online, it's about strategically positioning yourself as an authority in your field. Here's how to make your PERSONAL BRAND stand out: 1. Create content that showcases your expertise • Write articles or blog posts on industry trends • Share insights from your professional experiences • Showcase unique stories from your personal client experiences. 2. Use SEO to ensure your content ranks • Research relevant keywords in your industry • Optimize your LinkedIn profile with these keywords • Include them naturally in your content titles and descriptions 3. Build a network that amplifies your voice • Engage meaningfully with others' content • Collaborate on projects or co-create content • Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and discussions 4. Consistency is key • Maintain a regular posting schedule • Ensure your messaging aligns across all platforms • Keep your visual branding cohesive (profile picture, banner, etc.) 5. Showcase your achievements • Update your profile with recent accomplishments • Share case studies or success stories • Request and display recommendations from colleagues These strategies can transform your digital footprint from a mere online presence into a powerful personal brand. It opens doors to new opportunities, builds credibility, and creates a lasting impression in the minds of potential employers, clients, or partners. What steps are you taking to enhance your online presence? P.S. Need help with your personal brand? Send me a DM. #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalDevelopment #OnlinePresence #LinkedInTips

If your LinkedIn profile isn’t working for you, it’s working against you. A strong profile isn’t about luck, it’s about intention. And when you get it right, it transforms far more than your job search. A well-built LinkedIn presence boosts your: ↳ Visibility in your industry ↳ Credibility as a professional ↳ Access to new opportunities If you want your profile to actually open doors, start with these essentials: ✓ Choose a clear, professional profile photo ✓ Write a headline that tells people what you do, not just your title ✓ Craft an “About” section that speaks to your strengths and outcomes ✓ Highlight the wins that matter — not just your responsibilities ✓ Add certifications, skills, and endorsements that match your goals ✓ Use the Featured section to show your best work ✓ Share insights, not noise ✓ Engage consistently with your network ✓ Join communities relevant to your field ✓ Give and request recommendations ✓ Use industry keywords to stay searchable ✓ Keep everything updated and aligned ✓ Customize your URL for easy sharing Show up as the professional who stands out Not the one people scroll past. Know someone whose profile is worth celebrating? Tag them below. ⬇️

A lot of the value of attending or speaking at a conference doesn’t come from being there. It comes from what you do afterwards. How many times have you come back from a conference or event and thought, “I should’ve done more to maximize that experience”? Not just attending the sessions or showing up at the networking receptions, but turning it into something meaningful for your visibility, your relationships and your business development efforts. Me too 🙋🏼♀️ It’s easy to get caught up in our busy lives, especially after returning from a conference and then move on to the next thing without following up. What you proactively do after the event is what can turn conversations into relationships and visibility into opportunity. Here are some ways to make the most of attending your next conference: ✔️ Prioritize the people you met and follow up with context on LinkedIn or by email, referencing your conversation and suggesting a clear next step ✔️ Follow up with organizers to share feedback and express interest in speaking or getting involved in future programming ✔️ Turn your conference notes into key takeaways and share them as content (LinkedIn post, blog post or short video) connected to your work, your clients or what you’re seeing in the market ✔️ Host your own webinar to recap key themes and extend the conversation ✔️ Interview speakers or attendees whose perspectives stood out and use that content in a webinar, blog post or on social media ✔️ Host an internal recap to share key insights and connect them to your team’s work ✔️ Turn questions or conversations from the event into content or targeted outreach ✔️ Share insights from the event in an email newsletter ✔️ Add relevant new contacts to your email list so you can stay visible with them ✔️ Create a simple system to stay in touch with the people who matter most ✔️ Review the attendee list and reach out to people you didn’t meet ✔️ Follow up with speakers you admired, even if you didn’t connect in person ✔️ Identify one trend or theme you kept hearing across conversations and proactively share that perspective with clients or colleagues You already put in the time and energy to be there. This is how you carry that momentum forward. Which of these ideas resonated most with you? #LegalMarketing #ClientDevelopment #LinkedInTips #BusinessDevelopment #PersonalBrandingTips

Regardless of how great your ideas are in your virtual sales pitch, webinar, or team meeting… People are most likely checking their email, browsing social media, or working on other things while you present. How can you prevent that and actually get your audience to pay attention? Here are 4 of the most powerful techniques we use for our own virtual training courses: 1. Win the first five seconds According to research from the University of Toronto, people need only five seconds to gauge your charisma and leadership as a speaker. In virtual environments, this first impression is even more critical. To establish instant rapport: - Keep your posture open and inviting (avoid fidgeting, crossed arms, and closed-off postures) - Use open gestures that welcome the audience into your space - Gesture with your palms showing at a 45-degree angle - Speak with clear articulation and energy from the very first word The quickest way to lose your audience? Starting with tentative body language that signals you’re unsure or unprepared. 2. Design your presentation for virtual viewing When designing slides, assume varied viewing conditions. Design for the smallest likely device and the slowest likely Internet speed. Make your slides accessible by: - Using larger fonts (24-32pt) - Applying higher contrast colors - Limiting each slide to ONE clear idea - Adding more space between lines when using smaller text - Stripping excess content (you can provide additional information in a separate document) 3. Vary your delivery Our research shows the optimal length for linear presentations is just 16-30 minutes, while interactive ones can maintain engagement for 30-45 minutes. People’s attention will go through peaks and valleys during that time, so try these techniques to keep their attention: - Vary your speaking pace (faster to convey urgency, slower to express gravity) - Use intentional pauses to let key points land - Adjust your vocal tone (lower pitch for authority, higher for approachability) - Shift between slides, stories, and data at regular intervals Each change helps reset your audience’s attention and signals importance. 4. Build in structured interaction Don’t make your audience wait until the end of your presentation to interact. According to our research, presentations that incorporate audience engagement through polls, chat responses, or breakout discussions maintain attention longer. For the highest engagement: - Use a variety of interaction types throughout your presentation - Incorporate breakout rooms for small-group discussions - Switch modalities regularly to keep it interesting Remember: In virtual environments, you need to recreate the natural engagement that happens in person. Your virtual presentation success isn’t measured by perfection…it’s measured by action. Master these techniques and your audience won’t just pay attention, they’ll respond. #VirtualPresentations #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning

She was visible in the room but invisible online. A client said to me recently, “In person, people know who I am and what I bring. But online? You’d never know it.” And she was right. In person it was clear she had decades of credibility. She was the person people turned to when decisions needed to be made, things needed to get done, problems solved, or trust established. Her peers knew it. Her clients knew it. Her team knew it. But when someone Googled her, her LinkedIn profile came up, and the message simply didn’t match. 📉 A profile that undersold her expertise. 📉 Inconsistent or non-existent activity. 📉 A digital first impression that didn’t reflect the reputation she’d earned. And here is the challenge with this - people don’t separate offline from online anymore. ✨ The client meeting you tomorrow has already looked you up today. ✨ The board member you’re pitching to has already scanned your profile. ✨ The graduate considering your firm has already checked your team’s presence. ✨ The investor you’re meeting next week has already searched your name. ✨ The client referral you haven’t even met yet has already formed an impression. If your online presence doesn’t reflect your offline reputation, it creates disconnect before you even enter the room. “Are they really the expert?” “If their business is as strong as they say, why can’t I see it here?” You’ve worked too hard to be invisible. The good news? You don’t need constant posting or flashy campaigns to close that gap. What you need are the right foundations: ✔️ A profile that communicates value, not just a job title. ✔️ Consistent, purposeful activity that mirrors how you show up in person. ✔️ A digital presence that builds trust before the first handshake. Because your reputation shouldn’t depend on which version of you people happens to find first. Make sure the person people meet online is the same one they already trust in the room.

If you want to build a network in 30 days, read this: Goal: Build a foundation for your professional network by forming genuine connections with 10 individuals relevant to your career goals. Before you start: Define your goals: What do you hope to achieve by building your network? (e.g., career advice, industry knowledge, potential job opportunities) Identify target individuals: Who are the people you want to connect with? Consider their expertise, experience, and potential value in achieving your goals. Days 1-10: Laying the groundwork Utilize social media: Update your LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills and experience. Join relevant groups and follow industry leaders. Start small: Reach out to 2-3 people you haven't spoken to recently or connect with 1-2 new contacts. Personalize your message and focus on value. Attend online events: Look for webinars, online conferences, or workshops related to your field. Participate actively and introduce yourself to others virtually. Identify industry influencers: Research thought leaders and key players in your field. Follow their work and engage with their content online. Volunteer your expertise: Research volunteer opportunities related to your industry. This allows you to give back, network, and build your reputation. Days 11-20: Building connections Follow-up with initial contacts: Send a follow-up email or message expressing your appreciation for their time and reiterating your interest in staying connected. Engage in online communities: Participate in relevant online discussions. Offer your insights, answer questions, and build your online presence. Connect through mutual connections: Research your existing network for potential connections who know people you'd like to meet. Seek introductions and personalize your outreach. Attend local events: Look for industry meetups, networking events, or conferences in your area. Prepare conversation starters and actively connect with new people. Leverage alumni networks: If you're a college graduate, reconnect with alumni in your field through professional groups or university resources. Days 21-30: Nurturing relationships Share valuable content: Share relevant articles, industry news, or resources with your connections through emails or social media. Offer congratulations and support: Celebrate your network's achievements and offer support during challenges. Show genuine interest in their lives and careers. Schedule informational interviews: Reach out to individuals you admire and request informational interviews. Use this opportunity to learn more about their career path and gain insights. Be a resource: Look for ways to help others in your network by offering introductions, sharing opportunities, or providing relevant information. Schedule coffee chats: Invite 1-2 people you've connected with for virtual or in-person coffee chats to deepen your relationships and explore potential collaborations. Source: "Reach Out" by Molly Beck

Drowning in Zoom calls and Slack threads? No energy left at the end of the day? 🥱 Zoom fatigue is real. So is information overload. It certainly happens to me. To understand science-backed strategies that get better results while preserving our energy, I invited Andrew Brodsky to Speak Like a CEO. Andrew is a management professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the author of "Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication". His PING framework is a simple, research-backed method to help you communicate smarter, not harder, in today’s virtual world. 📌 Perspective-taking 💡 Initiative 🎭 Nonverbal cues 🎯 Goals P = Perspective-taking Virtual communication makes it easy to forget there’s a human on the other side. Whether it’s a blunt email or a cold video call, always ask: How will this message feel to them? Clarity and empathy go further than you think. I = Initiative Don’t accept the weaknesses of a platform – fix them. Add warmth to text-based chats, build rapport before negotiations, or switch formats to better match your message. N = Nonverbal cues Your tone, lighting, posture, and even silence send signals. Be intentional. On video, your background, gestures and eye contact matter. G = Goals Start with the outcome. Want quick input? Use Slack. Need alignment? Meet live. Trying to build trust? Turn on the camera. Match the medium to your goal, not your habit. Our virtual communication has become a habit. Let’s challenge them and replace outdated routines with science-backed strategies. ❓ How do you ensure your message lands virtually?   ♻️ Repost to help someone improve their virtual communication. 📌 Follow me, Oliver Aust, for daily strategies on leadership communications.

Great to be back London Business School this time delivering virtually. Virtual doesn’t mean distant. But it does demand intention. Some hasty soft furnishing improvisation to get the camera at eye level and pushed back to allow natural movement and gestures. Connection starts with presence. If you want engagement through a screen, you have to work harder than you would in the room. A few non-negotiables for speakers and leaders presenting virtually: • Multiple screens - (my preference) One for content, one for faces, chat and polls. If you’re not collecting input, you’re broadcasting, not engaging. • Eye contact Camera placement matters. It’s the difference between talking at people and communicating with them. • Body language & gestures Hands, posture, movement, and facial expression create meaning and energy. If the audience can’t see you gesture, they can’t feel your emphasis. • Energy creation Tone, pace, variation, and intentional pauses matter as much online as on stage. • Confidence in delivery Clarity plus calm presence builds trust fast even through a lens. Virtual audiences don’t lack attention. They lack connection. That’s on us as speakers and leaders to create it. Different medium. Same responsibility. Inspire people to lean in!

How Improv Turned My Relationship with Networking Networking often feels like a necessary evil in professional life, but what if I told you it could be a fun and fruitful activity? Let me share how improv transformed my networking approach and led to the birth of WYSH - What's Your Story (huh)? Backstory: Years ago, while pursuing my interests in Washington, DC, on Social Impact Storytelling, I attended various meetups without a clear career path. To make these events more interesting, I decided to treat networking like an improv game. It wasn't just about making connections but about enjoying the process. Here’s how you can do the same: Embrace the Improv Spirit: Start every conversation with a "yes, and..." attitude. It encourages open, expansive interactions and can lead to unexpected opportunities. Invent Creative Introductions: Instead of the usual titles, I used playful introductions like "kombucha chemist" or "aspiring comic." This not only broke the ice but made conversations more memorable. Listen Actively: Improv is about building on the dialogue. Listen intently, and use what you learn to add depth to the conversation, showing genuine interest in others' stories. Offer Unique Value: At one event, I introduced myself as a “storyteller” to a startup founder, leading to a discussion about how I could help weave personal narratives into his company’s mission. This chance interaction sparked the idea for my current business. Follow Up Thoughtfully: Connect on LinkedIn with a personalized message that references something unique from your conversation. It shows you were listening and valued the connection. This approach led me to a startup founder who became pivotal in my career and helped me create a business that aligns perfectly with my passion for storytelling. Networking doesn't have to be drudgery. With a little creativity and genuine engagement, it can open doors you never expected. Have you ever found unexpected opportunities through networking? Share your story; I’d love to hear it! #whatsyourstory #storytelling #networking #communicationskills

Does “Packaging” still matter? The other day, a former client reached out, looking for a particular service provider. I immediately thought of someone I’d heard great things about—word of mouth was solid. They were known for doing excellent work. So I went online to find links to their social media pages and that’s where the problem started. Instagram? Mostly personal and church-related posts. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that, but there was little to nothing about their actual work. LinkedIn? Worse. There was no clear positioning, no compelling proof of expertise, nothing that would make an executive take them seriously. So, messaged them directly to ask for links showcasing their work. When they finally sent me something, the content itself was decent, but the packaging was off. The visuals were subpar. The presentation lacked polish. It just didn’t exude credibility—it didn’t match the standard that decision-makers are used to. And sure enough, when I sent it to the executive, the response was lukewarm. Here’s the thing: executives, especially baby boomers who built their reputations in a pre-digital era, need to understand that in today’s world, “packaging” is just as important as substance. People are accustomed to: ✅ High-resolution images that showcase professionalism ✅ Well-designed brochures that exude credibility ✅ Polished social media pages that demonstrate thought leadership If you’re a serious professional or entrepreneur looking to attract high-level clients, partners, or board roles, your digital presence must reflect the level of excellence you bring to the table. 4 Ways to “Package” Yourself for the Digital Era 1️⃣ Polish Your Online Presence • Your LinkedIn and Instagram should be aligned with your expertise. • Remove outdated, blurry, or irrelevant posts that don’t contribute to your professional brand. • Have a clear, compelling bio that tells people exactly what you do and who you serve. 2️⃣ Invest in Professional Visuals • First impressions matter. Your headshots, brand assets, and marketing materials should reflect quality and attention to detail. • Hire a photographer for high-resolution images and invest in clean, visually appealing designs. 3️⃣ Create Content That Demonstrates Credibility • Don’t just post about your work—package it in a way that resonates with decision-makers. • Share client testimonials, case studies, and industry insights in a structured, easy-to-digest format. 4️⃣ Make It Easy for Others to Refer You • If someone wants to recommend you, do they have high-quality links, a website, or a brochure they can send effortlessly? • Have an up-to-date portfolio, a polished LinkedIn profile, and a professional one-pager so people can confidently introduce you to their networks. Perception shapes opportunities. You might be amazing at what you do, but if your packaging doesn’t reflect that excellence, you’ll struggle to get the attention you deserve. Do you agree or disagree?