You don’t have to have an ulterior motive to every person’s hand you shake. Though I’m sure you’ll testify that more often than not, you’ll get a random call from a prospective customer, who was given your name by somebody whose hand you did shake. People buy from people. Websites just help endorse what you do.

I think you’ve raised a good point which is that people can sometimes regard networking events as being “oh no, do i really have to go to that…”; for myself – this ALWAYS happens with any event – whether I am helping to organise it (like OpenCoffee Sligo) or just attending.

…But that feeling quickly dispels. My mantra is “to meet and chat with people who are not customers”. Now that’s not to say they might not become potential customers or people that you might be able to work with in the future – but my view is that these events are a vent – a place you can chat with like-minded people. Desperation for new business will come across for what it is – and people can see that.

If you have the healthy, correct view that 3 months or 6 months down the road – something might come of the cards that you pick up and the people that you meet – then these types of events should be attended.

A reminder lots of people need.

Which of these groups have you found to be most beneficial to you and why?