Do you prefer in-person or virtual business networking groups?

When it comes down to groups in general, the main attributes of those I want to stay in or potentially join are:

  • Friendliness of the group – especially to first-time guests
  • The degree of support the members show for each other
  • Whether the group is energetic and the meetings are lively
  • Follow-up by the group leader and members with visitors
  • Whether the meeting is well-run and stays on schedule

As a person determines which type of business networking group to join, one of their considerations is in-person vs. virtual.

The COVID pandemic forced many business networking groups to meet virtually, as they couldn’t meet in person.

Over the nearly four years since the advent of COVID, some groups have returned to in-person gatherings. Others have continued meeting virtually, and some groups were online before COVID.

There are advantages of both in-person and virtual networking groups.

Personally, I like both types of business networking groups. Three of my groups meet virtually, three meet in-person only, and one meets virtually once a month and in-person once a month.

The photo with this blog post was taken by Jonathan Castner at the January meeting of the RiNo Chapter of the Denver Area B2B Networking Group.

Advantages of In-Person Networking Groups

  • People can learn more about each others’ demeanors through their body language and facial expressions.
  • Seeing people face-to-face can foster deeper connections.
  • Being together in person allows people to shake hands or hug each other.
  • It’s easier to have informal exchanges before and after the meeting.
  • People who present to the group get more robust feedback.

 

Advantages of Virtual Networking Groups

  • People can attend from anywhere.
  • The group can be more accessible to people with disability challenges or financial difficulties.
  • It takes less time from one’s schedule to attend virtual meetings, as travel time is eliminated.
  • Using break-out rooms to have small group discussions can help attendees deepen their connections with each other.

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel,Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com