Networking ineffectively is a rediculously expensive marketing strategy.

If you pay $20 to attend a networking function, and rely solely on your elevator speech or 30 second commercial to attract new customers you're effectively spending $2,400 per hour to market to a very small group of people.

The real value of networking meetings is not in the elevator pitch. It's in the ability to meet new people, and begin new relationships. There's also value in being able to reconnect with your existing network face to face.

On the other hand... If others in the room are paying the equivalent of several thousand dollars an hour to market to you; you might want to listen!

Food for thought. In the future I'll post about how to craft an effective 30 second elevator pitch.

Happy networking!

Scott Ingram
NetworkInAustin.com