The Value of Face-to-Face Networking

If you read my posts here on the Monster Blog with any regularity, then you know I’m an unabashed advocate for online social networking.  I believe sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Ning enable us to connect and engage in meaningful online conversations around shared interests.

But as helpful as these online tools are, there’s nothing quite like networking in a face-to-face setting.  Two events here in the Boston area over the past few weeks helped drive that point home for me -- a breakfast for two dozen social-media enthusiasts that I organized and a Tech Cocktail evening that brought together hundreds of entrepreneurial-minded professionals. Both occasions afforded me the opportunity to meet and better get to know several local passionate and talented colleagues in the new-media space.

So with those experiences fresh in my mind, here are a few suggestions on how to make the most out of an in-the-flesh networking event:

• Look for New Faces: While catching up with long-running friends and colleagues is always fun and is crucial to strengthening existing relationships, make an effort to speak with people you don’t know. These fresh conversations can lead to new business ventures and employment opportunities, too.


• Have a Plan: While there’s something to be said for serendipity at networking events, don’t leave everything to chance. If an attendee list is published prior to the event, spend some time studying it. Identify two or three people who you want to connect with, and prep yourself with a couple of talking points for each of those discussions.


• Netweave:  As David Cutler writes, netweaving “put[s] a spin on the traditional networking process. [Ask,] ‘What can I do for you?’ rather than ‘What can you do for me?’ The results are fantastic.”


• Respect Others’ Time: Remember that you’re not the only one looking to make new connections. Once you’ve spent a few minutes with someone, offer your thanks for their time, exchange business cards and move on.


• Don’t Forget to Write: Those sparks of conversations will fade quickly if you don’t follow up with the people you’ve met. Within one or two days of the event, plow through that new stack of business cards and start sending emails or making phone calls. A written message can be as short as a few sentences, but be sure to include a nugget of what the two of you talked about to jog your new contact’s memory.

Want more advice from Monster on the art of networking? Try these resources:

• "Audio: Learn How to Network Face-to-Face Like a Pro"
• "Networking for the Shy"
• "Six Steps for Successful Networking"
• "Networking Opportunities are Everywhere"
• "Be the Star of Your Own Network"

For more information on this subject, check out our Networking section. 

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