How can you network in the game industry remotely?

I have always primarily used LinkedIn and found that its a good starting point but it still can come across as spammy, taking time to look at someone's profile and taking a genuine interest in someone will beat sending 100 connections and spamming across the board.

LinkedIn is a great tool within the gaming industry for networking, but it isn’t the only platform out there! Twitter is great for following specific content threads, and artstation is a great platform for showcasing any artwork and following your peers in the industry

Obviously, LinkedIn is a must. I post content every day and this seems to gain me many relevant followers and people who reach out directly. Other great social media that are are specifically relevant to the games industry are Discord and Reddit. Both have a high concentration of game industry people and give you a chance to get to feel like you are part of a community.

LinkedIn is undeniably a pivotal platform for those in the video gaming industry. However, remember that building a network is a journey that can takes years and demands patience. It’s more than just sending a connection request; it’s a testament to genuine human interactions, whether they arise from face-to-face meetings, shared friendships, or mutual knowledge exchanges. As you your building your network, remain kind, authentic, and consistently support your connections. Show generosity when it comes to sharing knowledge.

The main thing to remember is that you must post engaging, interesting content. It's no use having thousands of followers just to say you have a certain amount of followers, you need to do something with them. Contribute useful information and create an online community. Content comes in many forms, but it must be relevant, otherwise people will not engage with you. Don't be scared of talking about personal things to do with the games industry, less formal articles and posts can pick up more traction. Aim to get your most important and wanted to be seen posts out at 12pm on a Wednesday, this is when people are most active.

I can share the model that worked for me. I was mostly interested in exchanging knowledge and views on the gaming and apps market. 1. I was using LinkedIn to find people who have strong experience in that field. 2. In that search, I was trying to focus on people who were eager to share their knowledge and insights (people who were active in posting and commenting on other people's publications). 3. I was checking if those people are connected to someone I know. 4. Then, I was asking my colleagues for introductions to those people. Finally, I asked those people if they would be free for a "digital coffee" to chat about the market. I can say that it rarely happened that I heard "no" in such cases (as people had similar goals as me).

I’ve found it effortless to network during events I already participate in such as game jams. This setting is a good way to start connection-wise since jams usually require you to be close for a couple days. It’s also a great way to make sure the connection is genuine! Gravitate toward spaces and people you can genuinely connect with. To help determine this, you can ask yourself questions like “Can I see myself gaming with this person/interacting with this community in my free time without it feeling like a chore?” Of course we’re all here on LinkedIn specifically for advancing our professional life. But when you balance that fact with the human element of socializing, that’s where you’re more likely to find success! 🙌🏽

I've found a lot of success finding like minded people on Discord servers. I've found a lot of amazing swrvers dedicated to game professionals, including servers for each vertical, servers for members of the various organizations like IGDA, and of course, servers full of amazing people like Indie Game Academy! I was directed to the servers after talking to people on LinkedIn, through websites, or through game programming bootcamps. And I joined them all.

Depending on what you're looking for in the game industry, the common answer you'll read is to go join Discord servers or find subreddits dedicated to game development. This is suitable for indie developers or new talent looking for likeminded individuals, but I've personally found that more established voices congregate on web forums or message boards as their webspace of choice. Tailor your approach to who you want to connect up with for best results.

Creating online content solely for the sake of meeting a goal is a futile effort. Creating online content becomes much easier and meaningful when you have knowledge you wish you had been taught before or that you believe can practically benefit the lives of others.

If you're networking across timezones, a scheduling app such as Calendly can be super useful. You can automatically find a time you're all free for a chat and set it to your preferred video provider. It saves a ton of headache or googling.

As a Headhunter in the industry, I constantly have to be proactive in my approaches, whether I am trying to build bridges with a studio I would like to work with. Or perhaps with someone I would like to headhunt for a specific role. The last thing most people want is to be "sold at" straight away. Instead, be authentic, be human! Build a connection with that individual and let things happen in an organic way. That's how you build relationships that last years, as opposed to days.

Networking is the long game. It’s less about targeting an opportunity but showing personal value through considered and continual curiosity in the roles, people and industry you are looking to build within. Asking about a role will give you a surface level response. Asking about a persons project or career trajectory or engaging in a persons content will break past the surface and be the beginning of something meaningful. It may not lead to anything in the moment but it may be the spark that leads to an opportunity in the future that you didn’t even think was an options. Be engaged and interested and authentic. Be a fan of the process and fascinated by the topic and not the outcome. Results will follow.

As many others have said already, the key is authenticity. A connection that starts with "can you please get me a job at your company" or even "what jobs are available that fit my profile?" with no other introduction or context will always fall flat. It's not because of arbitrary etiquette, it's because you've not yet established credibility or a reason for this connection to be invested in your success. Try to actually meet someone and get to know them, first: "Hey, thanks for connecting! I saw we have X in common / I am a professional in X field looking to develop certain skills"... then actually meet and talk to the mentor before asking them to headhunt for you.

If you've benefited from networking remotely in the game industry, please make sure to pay that forward. Do it respectfully, too. For example, make sure you have permission to recommend a Discord server from the community owners. Then, when you meet someone who would benefit from joining it, give them the link! If you have the time and capacity, take a video call or a new LinkedIn request and meet someone new! There's so many helpful people out there. I personally want to say thank you to everyone who's taken the time out of their day to meet and network with me!

Respect etiquette Offer value: Instead of focusing solely on what you can get, think about what you can contribute. Share knowledge or insights that could benefit others. Personalize communications: When you reach out, personalize your messages. Don't send the same message to hundreds of contacts. Take the long view: Networking isn't just about immediate gain; it's about building lasting relationships. Invest time in it. Be supportive: Offer help to others in the industry. Whether it's sharing helpful resources or advice, support strengthens relationships Quality over quantity: It's not just about the number of connections, but the quality of those connections. Focus on building meaningful relationships rather than racking up contacts.