LinkedIn Vs Networking Functions

“It’s easier to stick to what’s familiar.”

That’s a common sentiment we hear at our events when we introduce the concept of networking on LinkedIn instead of relying on traditional prospecting methods like cold calling, running print ads, or attending in-person networking events.

Why do people cling to these methods? Because they’re comfortable. Even when the results are declining, they stick to what they know—often out of habit rather than effectiveness.

But here’s the truth: adopting a new marketing or sales approach takes effort. It requires learning, trial and error, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone—a place many shy away from.

In this article, we’ll break down the differences between networking on LinkedIn and traditional networking events. We’ll explore the time commitment, effectiveness, and strategies to help you harness LinkedIn’s full potential and connect with your ideal audience faster.

Our goal? To inspire you to embrace LinkedIn as a powerful tool to grow your network, build relationships, and open the door to new opportunities.

Time Efficiency

Let’s start by comparing the time investment.

Attending a traditional networking event typically requires a minimum of 30 minutes to commute there and back, interrupting your workflow in the process. Most events last around 4 hours, meaning you’re committing a total of 5 hours per event. During that time, you’ll likely talk to one person every 15 minutes, or about 16 new connections by the end of the event.

Now, let’s look at LinkedIn. Logging in takes only seconds. If you follow our 3-Step Methodology—finding, engaging, and connecting with your target audience by sending connection invites—it takes about 1 hour to complete.

LinkedIn allows you to send up to 100 connection requests per week, averaging 14 per day to avoid exceeding platform limits and risking restrictions. Using our methodology, you can achieve a 40–60% acceptance rate, translating to 5–8 new connections daily.

The result? In just one hour, you can connect with as many people on LinkedIn as you would in a 5-hour in-person event, all while saving time and effort.

Targeting

Now, let’s talk about targeting.

When attending a networking event, do you really know who will be there? Typically, the answer is no. Most key decision-makers don’t have the time to attend these functions, meaning you’re likely to encounter individuals from all walks of life—startup founders, junior professionals, and people from unrelated industries.

That’s why networking events are often untargeted and lack industry specificity. If you’re lucky, 20% of the audience might fall within your target market. So, of the 16 people you manage to talk to, only about 3 might be potential leads.

On LinkedIn, however, targeting is precise and efficient, especially with tools like Sales Navigator. This powerful feature allows you to create saved searches based on detailed criteria such as job title, location, industry, and company size. With these filters, you’re reaching out only to the exact decision-makers and prospects you’re looking for, eliminating the guesswork.

What’s more, Sales Navigator not only helps you find the right people but also tracks your saved searches, notifying you whenever new prospects match your criteria. This means you’re always engaging with a fresh pool of qualified leads—something a networking event simply cannot provide.

By leveraging LinkedIn’s advanced tools, you ensure your time is spent connecting with the right people who are more likely to become clients or collaborators, maximizing both your efficiency and results.

Costs

Let’s break down the costs of attending networking functions versus using LinkedIn.

First, consider the commute costs. A round trip to an event might cost around $20, which is fairly reasonable. But then, factor in the time costs. What do you value your time at per hour? For this example, let’s use $100/hour.

With a standard networking function requiring 5 hours of your time, you’re looking at a total investment of $520 per event. If you attend 4 events per month, that’s a staggering $2,080 per month. And remember, this doesn’t even include entry fees if the events are paid—making the costs even higher.

Now let’s compare this to LinkedIn. While you can use the platform for free, the basic account has its limitations, especially when it comes to advanced search features. That’s where Sales Navigator comes in. For just $80–$150 per month, you unlock powerful tools to find and connect with your target market much faster and more effectively.

Think about it: $150 per month is less than the cost of a daily coffee habit—and it allows you to reach hundreds of qualified prospects every week. The ROI is clear. For efficiency, precision, and scalability, LinkedIn beats traditional networking every time.

Qualifying

Now let’s talk about qualifying leads.

At networking functions, this process often relies on your ability to quickly figure out who might be a potential opportunity—often in real time and under pressure. Conversations can drag on, and the unwritten rule of networking isn’t to cut someone off after 5 minutes once you realize they’re not a good fit. That’s not exactly polite or professional.

The reality is, you often don’t know who you’ll end up talking to at these events. Sometimes, you may get lucky and meet someone who’s a perfect fit for your business or even a partner who can introduce you to your target market. But let’s face it—those moments are rare. Networking functions often feel like a lucky dip, where finding the right opportunity is more chance than strategy.

On LinkedIn, it’s a completely different story. Using tools like Lead Builder (or the advanced search in Sales Navigator), you can find the exact people you’re looking to connect with—precisely and efficiently.

Before reaching out, you can view their profile to assess whether they’re a good fit and someone you can genuinely help. Once qualified, you can send a personalized connection request inviting them to join your network.

Now that’s targeted networking—efficient, professional, and tailored to your goals.

Wrapping Things Up

Let’s break it down—comparing the time investment and results of attending one networking function versus using that same time to connect and engage with your target market on LinkedIn:

Networking Function

• Time spent: 5 hours
• Connections made: 3

LinkedIn

• Time spent: 5.5 hours
• Connections made: 160

It’s clear: when it comes to generating quality connections efficiently, LinkedIn takes the win.

Now, this isn’t to say you should completely avoid networking functions or lock yourself in your office all day sending connection requests. The connections you make in person naturally build stronger rapport because of that face-to-face interaction. However, the low volume of connections at these events means fewer opportunities to meet qualified prospects. To see meaningful results, you’d need to attend multiple functions, which requires even more time and effort.

So, if you know your target market will be at a specific event, by all means, attend. Human interaction is valuable, and nothing replaces meeting someone in person. But if your primary goal is to generate business and expand your network, LinkedIn is the more strategic choice.

That said, don’t let networking events derail your business growth efforts. Use them as a supplementary tactic, not your main one. LinkedIn provides a streamlined, scalable way to connect with your ideal audience, but it does require a well-executed strategy. Missing even one piece of the formula could affect your results.