The Power of Light Touch Networking

Networking is one of the most effective yet underutilised methods of job searching. Whilst attending in-person networking events and meetings still exist, with the rise of social media and digital interactions, online networking is an essential job search method to be aware of.

This article introduces the concept of Light Touch Networking and how it can be used by anyone. It highlights features on LinkedIn to help you to expand your connections, enhance your visibility and become a successful Light Touch Networker as part of a career transition.

What is Light Touch Networking?

Light Touch Networking involves building and maintaining professional relationships through more frequent and informal interactions. Social media has transformed the way we connect and communicate with other professionals, allowing light touch interactions such as liking or commenting on posts as a form of engagement. Even those who aren’t naturally outgoing can increase their professional profile and visibility through this method of online networking.

Light Touch Networking via LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform and can be used not only for job seeking but as part of your personal career development too.

Here are 4 ways you can use LinkedIn to become a Light Touch Networker and some of the features to look out for which are available for all LinkedIn members.

1. ‘Grow’ or ‘Catch Up’ with your connections

You can maintain and expand your professional connections using the ‘Manage My Network’ feature within ‘My Network’ on your LinkedIn toolbar.

• Catch Up: This section offers prompts to engage with your network on birthdays, anniversaries and job changes. Congratulating someone on a new role is thoughtful but also an opportunity to gain insights.

Ask how they secured the role, what methods worked for them, or which job sites they’d recommend? This subtly communicates your own career aspirations whilst helping you with your job search.

• Grow: LinkedIn suggests potential connections based on your profile and activity, including professionals in your industry, trending newsletters, online events to attend, groups to join as well as people you may know and wish to connect with.

Take advantage of these prompts as these reminders will help you to easily identify ways to expand your network. They could even help you to increase your industry knowledge or upskill further.

2. Be a Follower

Many professionals assume they have to be connected to other professionals when they look to grow their network. However, you don’t need to be connected directly with everyone on LinkedIn. Following individuals or companies is an easy and effective way to grow your network and can be a very light touch way of building your network and increasing visibility.

• Follow Professionals and Key Influencers: LinkedIn often recommends professionals to follow. These could include mutual connections or experts in your industry. Following someone allows you to see their posts, allowing you to like or comment on their content without sending a connection request.

By simply clicking follow can help increase your visibility to decision-makers in a Light Touch way.

• Follow Companies of Interest: Following companies not only keeps you informed about new opportunities and company news, but did you know you could also show your interest in working for them? Use the “Let us know you’re interested”  feature in the ‘About’ or ‘Life’ sections of a company’s page. This lets hiring managers see you’re interested when opportunities arise allowing them to contact you before they advertise roles. You can express an interest in up to 50 companies as long as the company has opted in for this feature.

3. Ring the Bell

Once you’ve followed another professional or a company, click the ‘Bell’ Icon on their personal or company profile. This feature ensures you never miss a post or update from them and will help you to manage posts of interest.

As part of your Light Touch approach, it is worth spending 5-10 minutes each day looking at your notifications and prioritising which posts you want to engage with. ‘Liking’ or adding a comment to their post or update will help you to increase your visibility to a wider audience but also help you to engage in a Light Touch way.

4. Contribute Your Expertise

You don’t have to write your own articles or posts on LinkedIn to help get you noticed, you can share your own insights and ideas through LinkedIn’s collaborative discussions.

LinkedIn Collaborative  discussions are AI-powered conversation starters, developed by LinkedIn’s editorial  team. You can respond to conversations and share your insights with just a couple of sentences or a paragraph.

Posting your insights on trending themes or industry topics not only increases visibility but reinforces your credibility as a thought leader to those in your current network and beyond in a Light Touch way.

Final thoughts

Light Touch Networking is all about building relations with other individuals and can take place via other social media channels too.  Setting time aside to regularly interact with other professionals online will ensure you are continuously engaging with and growing your network but in a very Light Touch way.