Is it just me, or do other people wonder why some people go to networking meetings. I call them the passive networker People who go to networking events and who don't follow up... did they just go for the breakfast?

You know, you chat at the meeting and agree to send each other some stuff and to connect - which you duly do - and that's it, the last you hear from them. They don't reply to your email (even with a polite no thank you!) and they don't send the info they promised. There's no response to your LinkedIn request and no follow back on Twitter.

What were they doing there? Are they are simply ticking boxes by turning up? If so, it's a waste of their time - and of mine too. Of course they'll be at the front of the queue telling you that networking didn't work for them and that business is tough right now.

I’m not advocating ‘aggressive networking’ – the person who presses their business card into your hand and makes a sales pitch within the first five minutes. And I don’t advocate ‘blanket emailing’ after the event (unless there is a very good tactical reason, such as promoting a specific offer you raised at the event). But ultimately we all know why we are there, and it’s to build relationships and ultimately build business. And surely the starting point is following up from meetings, doing the things you said you would and ‘connecting’.The basics of building relationships.

What happens after that is down to time and opportunity, but at least give it your best shot by getting the foundations in place.

Just remember – there is a difference between ‘networking’ and ‘networking activity’ – one involves simply turning up. The other involves making it an active marketing tool. Which one applies to you?

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