Is there value in face-to-face networking?
It seems like a silly question – to ask if there’s value in face-to-face networking because there was a point in time when that was the only kind of networking available. Now we live in a high tech world full of facebook, twitter, skype, google’s hangout, linkedin etc. where it’s possible to meet, connect and build business relationships purely online –without ever meeting! Sure, this is a great way to add extra value to any business, but it’s not the only way to network and it should by no means eliminate face-to-face networking opportunities. At the end of the day, the majority of businesses (especially in small towns like Chico) appreciate the ability to shake your hand and meet – face-to-face. P.S. If you’re looking to get into networking a good place to start is with your local Chamber of Commerce so make sure to check when their regular networking groups or events are!
Sure, it might be intimidating going to that first networking group and giving your 30 second spiel about your business – but it’s certainly worth more than sending someone a standard “Join my network on LinkedIn” message isn’t it? It sure is. Nothing drives me crazy more than a cold call marketer trying to get my business. I find it impersonal and it typically yields zero results.
Today a lot of people place high value in the importance of a connection but is a connection via LinkedIn really the same thing as a conversation at this morning’s networking group? No, it’s not the same thing. Social media networking provides more opportunity for connections with less opportunity for conversations. Less conversation means less conversions and what’s the point of a connection without a conversation (or conversion)? Meaningless.
The power of face-to-face networking comes from the value of personal connections. A new generation of business professionals are starting to emerge – a generation that is used to having conversations via text message, facebook and twitter. What does this mean? It means that the majority of those starting to enter the professional arena do not truly know the value of face-to-face interaction and instead choose e-mail and social networking as replacement for real networking. This is a huge mistake and when I say huge, I mean huge.
That being said, I do think that social media can lead to connections that enable us to bring relationships to a new level – as long as marketers take the next step to utilize sites like LinkedIn. The value in social networking sites is not how many connections you have but rather can you use these online connections to drive face-to-face meetings and conversions.
At the end of the day, nothing beats real life networking. It allows you the ability to connect with someone on a more personal level; you have the opportunity to see them on regular basis – thus giving them an opportunity to keep you in the forefront of their mind.
LRT is a marketing and graphic solutions company that serves a large variety of clients in Chico and surrounding North State and Northern California areas like Oroville, Paradise, Corning, Red Bluff, Redding, Orland, Reno, Sparks, Yuba City, Marysville, or Sacramento. We would be more than happy to work with you on your next project – talk to the experts today!
Call us at (530) 879-9261 or toll free (888) 934-6578 for creative, innovative and successful projects that is sure to drive traffic straight to your website.
