At this point, saying we live in a world made small by digital communication is like saying the world is round, water is wet and the sky is blue (unless you live in the Pacific Northwest, where everyone knows the sky is gray and full of rain clouds). It’s just a given that at any point in our day, we can tap an app and immediately connect with anyone, anywhere in the world. But are we really making connections?

The apparel industry was built on a foundation of strong relationships like those between suppliers and distributors, decorators and their clients, customers and their favorite brands and so on and so forth. Over the years, the ways we build those relationships have evolved.  Faxes and letters became emails. Conference calls became group texts and team chats. And, if done correctly, social media can become a near constant professional tradeshow. With a bit of thought and attention, you can turn your newsfeed into an always-on networking opportunity.

(Here’s a secret though: even if our tools have evolved, they haven’t actually replaced their predecessors. We still fax documents and get pulled into conference calls, because sometimes those routes are more efficient or better serve the communication. While social media can help us meet new associates and connect with our business partners across the globe, it can also supplement those times when we meet in real life.)

So here are the top three ways to hone your online networking skills:

1. Find Your People
   Cultivate your follow lists and fill your news feed with the big name influencers in your field. Pay particular attention to the hashtags they use in their posts. These are the keys to finding the digital corners of the social media landscape where they like to hang out. You may even discover regularly scheduled chats like #promochat on Twitter (every Wednesday at 3 PM ET, Noon PT) where industry professionals ask and answer topical questions for 30 minutes to an hour.
   
2. Connect with Professional Organizations
   Seek out your professional organizations and follow them on social media. Join industry-only Facebook groups. Create a curated list of the major tradeshows and check in with them on a regular basis. Not only will you stay up to date on the latest news and events in your industry, but these accounts are professional resources filled with all sorts of valuable information.
   
3. Join the Conversation
   If you have a question, ask it. If you have an answer, share it. The key to making meaningful connections on social media is to jump in and join the conversation. Be open and honest, and speak in your authentic voice. Social media offers us the chance to develop deeper connections with our customers by giving us a venue through which we can freely communicate with each other. Don’t try to sell on social media. Talk, teach and tell stories. The minute the sales pitch comes out is the moment people stop listening.

There’s one final aspect to online networking, and that’s the real life follow through. These relationships you develop online, they’re as real as any you foster in person. So when the opportunity arises—whether that’s at a tradeshow, a sales meeting or even just a chance to grab coffee and talk shop—take it. You may find that the first time you meet with your online contacts face to face—as Brian Fanzo said—social media has the opportunity to turn handshakes into hugs.

But what do you think? Did we miss anything? What are your favorite tricks for networking on social media? Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter, leave us a comment and keep the conversation going.