An interesting question - Which works best; face-to-face networking or online networking?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Which works best; face-to-face networking or online networking? There is no right and wrong answer to the question, and at last week's meeting we had a really interesting and revealing debate about the types of networking that our members take part in and which method(s) prove most successful. Going around the room, everyone summarised the networking events they attend and their online networking activities.
It revealed a wide range of networking groups, and perhaps I wasn't the only one whose eyes were opened by the number and diversity of business networking opportunities available to us. It was also very interesting hearing how many regular networking activities some members attend. When you have listed 10 already and know there are more but you can't quite remember them all, as was the case with one member, you know that you are a committed face-to-face networker.
The use of online networking, and in particular LinkedIn, produced the most discussion. Time got the better of us before we had taken things to a conclusion, and so it was agreed that we will come back to the subject and dedicate more time for discussion, and/or invite a specialist to talk to us about the subject in greater detail.
Many thanks to Steve Brocklesby for introducing the discussion and to Martin Crawford Jones for chairing it.