Where do you network?

I use both but I find the Social Networks are just stepping stones for meeting face to face.  It is easier to meet someone if you somewhat have seen them around before.  So that is just a guidepost for me.

I still make sure that I contact in person, plus be active on message boards, and active all around to make sure that I am visible.  I do love Twitter. 

I have always preferred face to face networking, but told myself that in 2009 I would devote some time to on-line groups.  I just think it creates a nice balance and I am slowing starting to see the fun in being on-line.   I network face to face through MCC and the Birmingham Chamber.  I do a lot of one on one lunches/coffees as a result of those memberships.  As far as on-line.... I just started using my Facebook account.  It's a little addictive to say the least. 

I network in person at:

- MCC Events

- Troy & 5B Chamber Events

- LBN

- Realtor Events

- Oakland REIA, Renegade Detroit Investors & DOLLARS

- Mastermind Groups

- Nonprofit Board - Mariners Inn

- Does seeing Barry Demp & Nancy Beausoleil at Lifetime Fitness @ 6am count?

ONLINE I network at LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, ActiveRain, Plaxo and a bit at Grouply.

I just began networking late last summer and I allow myself a little time each work day to do some social networking online.  I am really trying to be careful not to spend too much time online though.  I'm finding it's easy to do so much networking you really stop working. 

Have to say that in the past month of my beginning my online efforts I have picked up some business so it's paid off early for me.

Looking forward to attending a local MCC event later this month.

I network at:

Sterling Heights, Shelby, Utica Chamber of Commerce BRAG Group every Tuesday morning.

Sunrise Networking Group Shelby Group Breakfast Meeting twice a month on Thursday morning.

Online: MCC, Linked In, Facebook

A great mix of face to face and online connecting people from both.

Like Nancy, I'm a face-to-face girl who is learning to appreciate online networking. Two "best practice" things I've initiated come from the presentation Charlie and Terry did at Automation Alley - to set time limits, and to mix up the time frame in which I post.

Online:  MCC, Facebook, LinkedIn

Face-to-Face:  MCC, Troy Chamber, National Association of Career Women

And yes, Drew - sweating with Barry and Nancy at Lifetime Fitness counts!

Make your day magnificent!

Live and in person interaction is great but I must confess that I have been in business for nearly 5 years and have not met a single client in person, ever. My clients are spread out across the globe and I have developed and sustained relationships using technology and on occasion that old fashioned thing called a phone. While I don't support online networking as a replacement for live interaction, sometimes technology is all you have! I moved to Michigan with zero contacts and reverted back to my traditional sales methods (developing leads face to face, follow up, etc.) but my business really took off when I used technology to drive it forward. In my case, not seeing my face has had a bigger payoff!

Karen Swim

I tend to network more face to face, but only because I am not really sure how to make this "online networking" beneficial.

Do you have any suggestions? Are there any particular MCC events I SHOULD be attending?

Thanks for you post!

Tanya Markos-Vanno

248.663.4000

Thanks Charlie for the cartoon.

I have just started revving up to the online networking through LinkedIn and now MCC.

Even though I am unemployed I still try to network face to face by attending my industry associations; American Public Works Association and South Oakland County Municipal Engineers.

I also enjoy my former employer's Toastmaster International Group. Toastmasters is geared toward public speaking but at especially in our group; Northline Nooners, it is very entertaining. At each meeting there are people assigned to give a prepared speech (typically 5-7 minutes). Each of these prepared speeches are either informative or entertaining.

An exciting part of the meeting is Table Topics where one person will ask varied questions to the group members. The question could relevant to recent news or something totally obscure. The selected person must think on their feet and provide a one to 2 minute answer. Some answers are serious, sometimes the person does not know the topic and tries to shoot from the hip or provide a line of bull and then occasionally the person will totally flip the question to provide a proper answer.

Overtime a fellowship is built between the members. You learn a lot about your fellow members as we tend to all speak about our family and experiences. Over time you will be less nervous about public speaking, will be able to think and speak fast on your feet, will reduce bad habits and learn proper public speaking skills.   

To expand my face to face I will try and visit some other Toastmaster clubs.

I just attended my first MCC seminar; Terry Bean's "In Transition Not Out of the Game". All the speakers were excellent and I learned some valuable information.

In person, I've been to a2b3 a couple of times.  This is a group that meets for lunch Thursdays at Eastern Accents in Ann Arbor.  The first time there, I met someone whose services I decided to use.  Most of the people in this group are tech people, though, so I feel a bit like a fish out of water.

I'm still new to networking online just as I am new to it in person.  I belong to MCC, LinkedIn, and have just set up a Facebook page for my business, but I still feel very unsure about how to use these places.

I network online @ Plaxo, linkedin, Motorcityconnect, facebook,  twitter, bluewaterconnect.

I visit 3 Business to Business Refferal chamber meetings, MMC Events and a few social gathering fund raisers a month.

Jim