18 Months... And Still Virtual

It’s now been approximately 18 months since many of us first felt COVID-19 public health measures take effect. The impact to business was significant, and especially to those activities where face-to-face was a crucial part – like business networking!

The Small Business Community Network (SBCN) was quick to pivot to online, virtual, networking and it quickly became apparent that for many of us, this might be the first time meeting online and building relationships that way.

We decided to put together a 10-part video series to help people get the most from virtual networking. With 2-minute topics including sound, lighting, background and specific tips for social networking platforms, our Professional Virtual Networking series was a hit.

Since that time, we’ve continued to host our monthly networking events online via Zoom. It’s not a substitute for in-person events, but it has proven to be effective at keeping us connected. Throughout all this, we’ve continued to see new members join the SBCN as businesses make plans to build back strong.

Possibly the most frequently asked question we get at the moment is when the SBCN will return to in-person networking events. It’s impossible to say with certainty, but it will not be until 2022.

That means we’ll be meeting virtually for some time to come, and who knows, perhaps this will become a facet of networking events even when we can meet in person. Until then, make the most of your virtual networking endeavors by taking advantage of our Professional Virtual Networking videos.