𝐢 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬.
add every developer, follow every designer and even connect with every tech person i could find.
but here's what i learned: having 500 tech contacts means nothing if none of them can actually help you grow.
i've had developers in my network. designers,founders and people "in tech."
but when i needed advice on a project? silence.
when i was stuck on a problem? no response.
when i was looking for opportunities? crickets.
because i wasn't building real connections. i was just collecting profiles.
real tech networking isn't about knowing everyone. it's about knowing the right people who actually show up.
the developer who reviews your code when you're stuck.
the designer who gives honest feedback on your work.
the founder who opens doors you didn't even know existed.
the creator who shares opportunities before they're public.
those are the connections that matter.
not the 300 people who liked your post once and never spoke to you again.
here's what actually helped me build valuable tech connections:
♧ stop mass following and start genuinely engaging with people doing work you respect.
♧ reply with real value. not just "nice work" but actual thoughts, questions, insights.
♧ show up when people share their struggles. anyone can celebrate wins. real connections form in the hard moments.
♧ share what you're learning. the right people will notice and reach out.
♧help without expecting anything back. it always comes around.
i'm not trying to know everyone in tech anymore. i'm just trying to build real relationships with people who are actually moving.
and honestly? those few real connections have opened more doors than 1000 random follows ever did.
quality over quantity. always.