For you as a Metal Business Club member, there could be all sorts of reasons why you signed up. Even finer: now we have statistical justification for your choice!

There is plenty of research on networking

Should you find it interesting to read studies on networking, there are plenty of them. For example, by Oxford Economics or LinkedIn (who else?). Of course LinkedIn was eager to share the results of the study, which showed that 35% of those surveyed had actually found a new client, new contract, new employee or new job after just a casual conversation via LinkedIn Messaging. So networking can be that simple.

And since we are just as happy to share things that prove we are doing something right, here are two survey results that fit in well with the MetalBC’s approach.

Four benefits of online networking

To stick with the online networking part for a moment: research by Forbes shows that professionals are very enthusiastic about it. After all, the Internet allows you to establish and maintain contacts very easily and quickly.

These are the 4 biggest advantages according to those surveyed:

  1. Online networking saves time (according to 92%)
  2. Online networking saves money (according to 88%)
  3. You are more flexible in your location and time schedule (76%)
  4. You can multitask while networking (64%)

All these reasons fit perfectly with the online networking platform where you can log in as a member of the MetalBC to network. Get to know people at your leisure, whether from your region or not. So that you know who they are, what they do and how you can help them (and they you) further. Making contact is very easy through the platform. And you’re all members of the same club together anyway, so it’s hugely accessible.

Four benefits of offline networking

A study by HubSpot showed that almost 100% of all respondents found face-to-face networking crucial to establishing and maintaining long-term relationships. The aforementioned Forbes study also showed many advantages of offline networking over online networking.

Here are the 4 biggest benefits according to those surveyed:

  1. You build stronger, more meaningful business relationships (85%)
  2. You can better read body language and facial expressions (77%)
  3. You build rapport with (potential) clients and partners more easily because you have more social interaction (75%)
  4. Face-to-face you can talk better together on a complex strategic level (49%)

You see: we simply cannot do without face-to-face meetings. For that reason, we already have our calendar well filled with plenty of opportunities to meet your fellow members and potential new clubmates offline. Where will we see you?

Disclaimer: YOU make the difference

How nice it would be if you could just let these statistics work their magic without you having to do anything. But, of course, that’s not how it works. What matters is precisely what you personally take action on as a member of the club. That determines how successful your participation in the MetalBC is.

Do you take time online and offline to get to know new members? How do you introduce yourself to others? Do you participate in discussions so people get a good picture of you? Do you recognize the buying signals among your target audience within the club?

Networking remains people work. So you are most important within our networking club!