Does Face-to-Face Networking Mean Seeing Eye-to-Eye?

There has been a lot of media coverage and general talk about the difficulty of attending face-to-face meetings in the government sector. From travel and budget restrictions to just general time crunch issues, getting people together face-to-face feels too hard for many people. But, it is an effort worth making.

Recent surveys have shown that 84% of people prefer in-person meetings.[Tweet "84% of people prefer in-person meetings. #GovEventsBlog"] When asked why, 85% responded that they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships. 49% said they prefer in-person business meetings because they allow for more complex strategic thinking. Maybe this is because it is easier to read body language and tone (as 77% noted). Or maybe it is the inherent bonding that happens in a social setting (75% noted this as a positive aspect of in-person).

In one surprising look at ROI, the leads generated through face-to-face networking may prove to be more cost effective. Mobile gifting service Yiftee, took a look at the numbers and saw that the typical cost per lead at a trade show or event is approximately $20-$40/lead [including post-event gifts]. A content-driven online or email campaign can add up to $50 per lead when you include staff costs, time, and infrastructure

For a more qualitative look at the importance of in-person meetings, Smart Meetings asked a number of people within the meeting industry (from planners to speakers, to attendees) why they felt face-to-face events were important. A sampling of answers include:

• "You can't take a selfie if you're not face-to-face." - Guy Kawasaki, speaker and author. Even in a face-to-face world we do have to think about our virtual networks. How can we share our experiences at events if we're experiencing it in our desk chair?

• "Face-to-face meetings are like great movies. It's the combination of a cast of characters who interact with each other and the ending typically provides a great story."  - Greg Jenkins, CEO of an event planning company. The interaction at live events provides an opportunity to experiment with messages to see what is resonating best with people.

With the numbers and experiences backing up the claim that face-to-face is better, we need to find a way to "make it work" and find a way to have in-person events even in the harried and austere environment we find ourselves in.[Tweet "Knowing face-to-face is better, #MeetingProfs need to find a way to make it work. #GovEventsBlog"] This may mean having more, smaller, localized events or even taking our events to the key audience at their office. It could mean arming attendees with information and data to help them make their case for traveling to your event. What is also critical is making sure you deliver on the promises of your event once you get people there. They should walk away feeling good about the time and money they have spent with your event.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on why you prefer to meet face-to-face (or even why you don't). Let us know in the comments.