Twitter chats have become one of my favorite forms of networking for 3 reasons. 

1. I love meeting new people and learning from their insights. 
2. It doesn't require pants.
3. I don't have to be "on" -- at least not in the physical sense. 

As a born introvert, sometimes it's just nice to get to meet people without all of the barriers that come into play at a traditional networking event. 

Technology has made it possible to have great conversations, develop relationships, and build lasting support groups without even leaving the house. You still have to put the work in, but the progress can happen so much faster. 

Here's how Twitter chats work, at least for me.

1. I find a Twitter chat that fits my interests and tune in. The first 15 minutes I just introduce myself and watch the culture of the conversation. If it's interesting I stick around, but if it's not -- well, you know. 
2. There are usually 1-4 people in that crowd that are just speaking my language, so I jump into their conversations and get to know them better -- courting them as I would a person I met at an in-person event. 
3. I keep those people in a list so I can focus on them in the future and have further conversations with them. 
4. I review that list a few times a week and favorite, retweet, and reply to things they're talking about. 
5. When Twitter chats are coming up, I'll ask them if they're joining in so we can meet up again.

Building relationships can actually happen more quickly online than in real life because they are no boundaries as far as time, no cancelations due to travel concerns, and you can talk off and on throughout the day rather than having to make an appointment. 

Embracing digital networking is about building relationships and maintaining them. And since you have nearly 24/7 access to your network, opportunities to connect are virtually endless. 

Looking for a Twitter chat to join in on? Here's a great article from Buffer on the ins and outs of Twitter chats with resources for finding chats to join. 

About 6 years ago, I was at a networking event for young professionals. It was the type of event with wine and appetizers and there's intentionally no place to sit. 

At this event, I witnessed a woman who was desperately trying to navigate her way around the room to meet people that might be able to help her find a job. She was clearly new to networking and hadn't yet understood the etiquettes of an event like this. At some point she got around to me and I got to hear her 30 second elevator speech first hand. It went something like this...

"Hi, I'm Sophia (I made this name up) and I have been out of work for 6 months. I really need some help getting a job, so if you know of any openings please let me know. I've been checking Indeed.com everyday, but I hear the best jobs are kept secret. That's why I'm here. " 

Would you want to help this person? Maybe, but it's not for certain. What she failed to do is make a connection and offer a reason to want to help her. The most likely result is that people will pity her, but find another person to talk with. 

There's a lot to learn from this experience. Here are 3 lessons that can be learned from Sophia.

1) Be a great listener

It's clear you came to network with an end goal in mind, but you'll never reach it if you don't put others first. Show other people that you're highly (and authentically) interested in them and they will reciprocate that interest with you. 

In the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" the author details an experience where he went for a meeting with a person, did nothing but listen, and got exactly what he wanted. Sometimes, reaching your goal is a simple as making others the center of attention -- not yourself. 

2) Be vulnerable, but not personal

Connection starts when we let people in and allow them to get to know our authentic personality, but how much should we share? Your goal is to share the essence of who you are without giving away your whole life story. 

Let people see your smile, talk about things that make you happy, and share stories that inspire you. Save your flat tires, your money stress, and your career woes for after you've built some rapport. 

3) Be valuable

Reciprocity is one of the keys to influence. When you give value to others, they will be inspired to give equal or greater value to you in return. You can add value by sharing resources, connecting them with others, and giving them your insights on their business needs. 

You can learn more about reciprocity in the book "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion."

Next time you're out networking, think about how others feel when you're talking with them. Be outwardly focused, and focus more on what you can give to others than what you want for yourself.