Networking in the Digital Age: Rethinking the Action Plan for 2025

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer

Networking is still the lifeblood of professional growth—but the circulatory system has evolved. It’s no longer just about collecting contacts or broadcasting updates. Today, networking is about building trust, curating relevance, and showing up consistently in the spaces where your voice matters.

Here’s a refreshed action plan that goes beyond the basics.

🧭 Step 1: Define Outcomes, Not Just Goals

“Find a job” or “connect with peers” are fine starting points—but they’re too vague for today’s strategic networking. Instead, ask:

• What kind of opportunities am I trying to attract—collaborations, speaking gigs, policy influence?
• Who needs to know I exist—and what do I want them to remember?
• What conversations do I want to shape or lead?

This reframing helps you reverse-engineer your networking efforts toward measurable impact.

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💼 Step 2: LinkedIn Is Necessary—But Not Sufficient

Yes, LinkedIn remains the top professional platform. But it’s no longer just a résumé repository. It’s a publishing platform, a search engine, and a community hub. To stay relevant:

• Use Creator Mode to share thought leadership.
• Publish LinkedIn Newsletters to build a subscriber base.
• Feature multimedia content—videos, infographics, scenario-based visuals.
• Engage with niche audiences through Groups, but also through Comments on high-visibility posts.

And don’t just optimize your profile—optimize your presence.

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🔁 Step 3: Connection ≠ Relationship

Sending canned welcome messages is better than silence, but it’s not enough. Instead:

• Personalize your outreach with context: “Saw your recent post on firefighter mental health—would love to connect and share ideas.”
• Use LinkedIn’s relationship notes (CRM-style) to track why you connected and what you discussed.
• Schedule periodic check-ins with key contacts—especially those in union leadership, clinical training, or conference planning.

Networking is a long game. Treat it like relationship management, not contact collection.

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👥 Step 4: Groups Are Good—But Micro-Communities Are Better

LinkedIn Groups have lost some traction. Instead, consider:

• Slack communities for professionals (e.g., mental health in public safety, clinician training networks).
• Substack comments sections for thought leaders in adjacent fields.
• Private LinkedIn message threads with 5–10 engaged peers around a shared topic (e.g., scenario-based training models).

The goal isn’t just visibility—it’s intimacy and trust.

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🐦 Step 5: Twitter (X) Is Fragmented—Explore Alternatives

Since the switch in name to “X” Twitter’s utility has declined for professional networking. Instead:

• Use Bluesky or Threads for real-time thought leadership.
• Follow LinkedIn Top Voices and Medium authors for curated insights.
• Use Google Alerts or Feedly to track key topics and influencers.

Cross-pollination still matters—but the flowers have moved.

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🔥 Step 6: Don’t Just Read—Curate and Create

Fire & EMS blogs are still valuable, but the ecosystem has expanded. Try:

• Creating LinkedIn carousels from blog insights.
• Recording short video reflections on articles and posting them to LinkedIn or YouTube Shorts.
• Quoting blog authors and tagging them in your posts to spark dialogue.

And yes—comment generously. Thoughtful engagement is the currency of visibility.

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⏰ Step 7: Time-Block with Purpose

An hour a day is great—but make it intentional. Here’s a 2025 version:

Task	Time	Purpose
Scan LinkedIn Feed	10 min	Identify trends, comment strategically
Engage with 1–2 key contacts	10 min	Relationship maintenance
Post or share content	10 min	Visibility and thought leadership
Curate insights from blogs/newsletters	15 min	Fuel future content
Reflect or journal on outreach impact	15 min	Strategic refinement

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🧠 Final Thought: Networking Is Not a Chore—It’s a Craft

In your world—where advocacy, education, and systemic change intersect—networking isn’t just about visibility. It’s about shaping narratives, building coalitions, and making mental health support culturally competent and accessible.

So don’t just “be a bee.” Be the architect of the garden.

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