Face-to-Face Networking is Key in Business
FACT
Data from Great Business Schools shows that 95% of professionals believe face-to-face meetings are mandatory for successful, long-term business relationships.
ADVICE
Get in Front of Your Audience
1. While the ease of the Internet and the rise of telework have made networking more virtual than ever, there is overwhelming statistics that state face-to-face networking has the best return on investment. “Connecting with someone over something unique can really only happen in person,” says Amanda Oliver, career consultant and founder of The Color Coded Life.
2. It’s not what you know—it’s who you know. Not only can networking lead to referrals and further business, but it can open the door to new opportunities, job prospects, and raise your visibility and profile in your industry.
3. Keep learning. Whether you’ve been in the business for 15 minutes or 15 years, there’s something you don’t know. Talking to other professionals in your field can provide you with advice, direction, and greater knowledge than you’d be able to achieve on your own.
4. Turn your online connections into in-person contacts. The Internet is a treasure trove of information about business meet-ups, conferences, meetings, and other networking events that will put you in the same room as likeminded professionals. “It’s during a face to face conversation you can find out aspects of someone that can get lost in the mess of social media. It’s these unique attributes that help you to stick in someone’s mind and stand out down the road,” Oliver states. Take these opportunities to put a face to the name, and build new connections.
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