Social media has revolutionized how we connect. Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn make it effortless to stay in touch with distant friends and family.
Today, sharing updates about your life or work reaches your entire network instantly with a single post or photo.
That's powerful—as long as you're thoughtful about what you share. Oversharing in the moment can sometimes lead to regrets, but the benefits far outweigh the risks when used wisely.
Social media excels at maintaining relationships with far-flung contacts. Yet it also unlocks opportunities like job leads, client referrals, and crowd-sourced feedback from a vast personal network.
In my experience, I've stayed connected through social channels with old friends, family, former colleagues, neighbors, and college roommates I otherwise would have lost touch with. Several have even become clients or provided invaluable help.
That said, while social media is invaluable, it's not the only solution. I've relied on these free or low-cost tools for years to expand and strengthen my network effectively.
5 Essential Tools for Online Networking
Here are five proven tools—based on my hands-on use—to maintain and grow your online relationships:
1. Skype – Free long-distance calls and interview recording
Skype lets you connect with family and friends worldwide without hefty phone bills. I've used it to build new relationships through casual 'virtual coffee' chats with distant contacts.
Pair it with tools like Ecamm Call Recorder for Mac ($20) or Pamela for PC ($20) to capture video or audio calls. I record podcast interviews this way, turning them into networking opportunities akin to informational interviews with admired professionals.
2. Buffer – Schedule social media posts for peak engagement
Buffer schedules posts to your social accounts at times when your audience is most active. If you're a night owl, queue tweets or Facebook updates to go live during peak hours.
The Chrome extension makes it seamless: I clip content on the fly to Buffer's queue for optimal visibility.
3. FreeConferenceCall.com – Free phone call recording
This service simplifies recording phone interviews for your blog, site, or podcast. Before launching my podcast, I used it to capture expert chats and share transcripts or excerpts in newsletters.
4. Contactually – Manage follow-ups with your network
This gem syncs your email and social accounts into unified contact profiles. Set reminders to reconnect every 30 or 60 days. I discovered it months ago and now rely on it daily. Check my video review for a demo—they offer free and paid plans.
5. Google Hangouts – Web-based video calls like Skype
Great for small group meetings or interviews, with easy YouTube uploads. Even if Google+ isn't your thing, Hangouts alone is worth it for networking.
6. Screencast-o-matic.com – Simple browser-based screencasts
This tool records screencasts directly in your browser. I've created reviews and tutorials with it. Tip: Record a video book review for an author you'd like to connect with and share the link. Pro upgrade ($15/year) removes watermarks and adds editing.
7. Fiverr.com – Custom $5 gigs for memorable outreach
Fiverr offers micro-services like custom graphics, videos, or personalized messages. Get creative to stand out and delight your network.
If you enjoyed this, download my free PDF with 10+ more online networking tools—curated from years of experience to exceed expectations! 😊
