From the course: The Ultimate Guide to Professional Networking

The X-axis: What is the means (direct to indirect)

From the course: The Ultimate Guide to Professional Networking

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The X-axis: What is the means (direct to indirect)

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- I've published an article on LinkedIn that shows graphically how you might weigh the value of different types of networking. I'd like to use that graphic to show you a simple way to evaluate whether a networking activity is worth your time versus other activities. When you think about the ways you network, I like to focus on things that will have the biggest return on my time. I've set up a matrix to help you evaluate how directly the activity gets you to the right people. For me, as an attorney, that means clients. How do I get in the presence of potential clients? Take a look at the X-axis across the bottom. How direct is the activity in relation to your business? There are direct means, like trade shows, and there are indirect means, like church or a country club. The more direct, the more likely it will result in a business relationship. The more indirect, the more distant the connections will be from your business. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't join a country club. It just means that you better love spending time on that activity and not have high expectations of building business through that means.

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