Are online relationships more short term?

I was asked a number of questions in my webcast last week on 'How to Effectively Combine Offline & Online Networking'. One viewer said "It's more important to meet people offline and spend more time, this makes a relationship long term. Online relationships are more short term. Your views please?"

I have built long term relationships from connections I have made online. I have subsequently met many of these people so the relationships are now both online & offline. There are some I have never met because they are in countries I have not visited. This has not stopped us providing support, knowledge and contacts to each other.

I think the real answer is that most people make more offline connections than online ones and a smaller proportion of those online ones develop into real relationships. I wrote briefly about this in 'Quality versus quantity in Business Networking' yesterday.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast

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Quality versus quantity in Business Networking

At a recent seminar on how to effectively combine online and offline networking someone said that he wanted to build a 'quality' network rather than have lots of connections like many people he sees online. I think most people would agree that quality is important. The continuing debate is around how you get there.

In offline groups you can build these quality connections from a relatively small group of people. Much of the filtering process has already been done. It's different online in that you will have quality interactions with a smaller percentage of the people you 'connect' with. In both cases quality is a result of quantity.

To be effective offline and online is is still about building relationships.

Good Networking!
Dave Clarke
Get 7 networking secrets for business success

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business networking | business networking events | business networking podcast

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