Networking for Remote Workers
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One of the benefits of working in an office is the people. Every day, you are exposed to a variety of similarly-minded professionals from whom you can learn and grow. However, when you telecommute or are a remote worker, it’s easy to become isolated. Here are a few ways to keep your networking efforts up to par when you don’t have the crutch of encountering new colleagues as a matter of course.



Join a Third-Party Association



Scout out the industry organizations in your field and become a member. Attend their events and conferences, and volunteer to help organize activities. You’ll learn more about your business while simultaneously building your contact database.



Start a Meetup Group



Meetup.com is a terrific way to get acquainted with other local remote workers, share war stories, and pool resources. It’s also nice to have a group with whom you can go out for the occasional happy hour!



Hold Brainstorms



Use your home office or living room as the launch pad for a gathering of influential peers to discuss current issues and events in your field. Arrange to meet monthly, and select a theme to keep the conversation and insights focused. These events reinforce relationships that may be mostly virtual and help you stay relevant in a world that’s constantly evolving.



Do at Least One Touch-Base Each Week



Whether you need work now or not, call or email contacts periodically to see what’s new in their lives and businesses. A great excuse to “touch-base” is a contact’s birthday. While they may get a hundred Facebook greetings, you’ll stand out as one of the other people who calls. You’d be surprised at the opportunities that unexpectedly arise from these types of informal interactions.



Remote workers, what else do you do to stay plugged in?