Why it's crucial to create contacts through networking

In an age of emails and social media, cultivating personal relationships remains crucial to make a business stand out from the rest, according to Brad Burton, MD of the UK’s fastest networking organisation, 4Networking.

Brad cites the following reasons as to why networking events are still so important to a business:

Breakfast clubs and networking events are essentially like a place of work, where you can have face to face meetings with people who it could sometimes take months to make an appointment with

They facilitate the most effective marketing tool available to any business - word of mouth referrals. People always prefer a trusted recommendation and face to face meetings at networking events allows you to establish if you like each other

Expanding on an existing network of acquaintances and customers creates, builds and nurtures relationships gaining your business, and you, credibility and trust

Networking not only allows you to establish business contacts but to also learn the dynamics within your industry, develop knowledge and seek new opportunities

Helps you raise your profile.