Networking is about knowing more people. Connecting is about understanding people, but it requires more. You join when you take time to listen to someone else and feel genuine empathy for them—helping someone else out of unconditional goodwill—offering sincere gratitude to another, and receiving appreciation from others—catching a stranger’s eye resulting in both of you smiling. Both parties to the connection care about the other one.

The distinction is obvious. You know many people professionally and personally, but you are connected to only a fraction of those you know.

The definition of networking is interacting with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further one's career. Networking is an activity. It is an activity that can be acted upon with great or little success.

The best goal of networking is to develop contacts and connections.

Sometimes Your “Connections Wanted” Will Find You

Algorithms read the SEOs off online posts and profiles, and if you make it clear what you are qualified to do and what your skills are, it is indeed possible for the best network connection to actually find you.