20 Unbelievable Statistics About Face-to-Face Networking

Face-to-face networking is very much back on the menu after the pandemic and its importance for businesses continues despite the rise of the internet.

Face-to-face networking includes events such as trade shows, business meetups, conferences and even just in-person client visits.

The stats below showcase how vital face-to-face networking is to the modern business world. This list is regularly updated, with the last update in July 2023.

We keep this list regularly updated with all the latest face to face marketing facts!

You are welcome to use these facts on your site with a hyperlinked reference to the source.

Stats about Face to Face Marketing

5. 71% of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) won business using face-to-face networking.

SMEs were one of the most positive types of businesses about in-person marketing.

Display Wizard - Source

6. Face-to-face requests are 34 times more successful than those made via email.

Quite simply you can't beat the personal touch of an in-person meeting.

Harvard Business Review - Source

7. 85% of Consumers said they were likely to Purchase After Participating in Face to Face Events and Experiences.

Getting to see a product or service provider in person at an event is a key motivator for making a purchasing decision.

Statista - Source

8. 81% of trade show attendees are decision-makers or influencers within their organizations.

Trade shows are a useful meeting ground for some of the most important industry players.

Display Wizard - Source

9. 40% of prospects converted to new customers through face-to-face meetings.

A face-to-face meeting can mean the difference between a lead and a conversion.

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) - Source

10. Face-to-face networking increases the chances of a positive impression by 34% compared to video conferencing.

Despite Zoom, Skype and Teams becoming popular during Covid-19, in-person meetings still have a better chance of making a good impression.

Journal of Experimental Social Psychology - Source

11. Networking at conferences and events is one of the key drivers of knowledge exchange and innovation.

Trade shows and other events aren't just about making sales, they also help upskill your employees with industry knowledge.

Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) - Source

12. Face-to-face networking leads to higher job satisfaction and career success.

If you want to make a big impression and get more from your job, you can't beat in-person meetings.

University of California, Irvine - Source

13. 61% of professionals reported that they received job referrals through face-to-face networking.

It's not just sales you can get through networking, it can also help with future career prospects.

The Muse - Source

14. Brands that exhibit at live events are 28% more innovative when encountered face-to-face.

Seeing is believing when it comes to customer perception of how innovative a brand is.

Facetime - Source

15. Face-to-face networking is associated with greater trust and rapport between individuals.

Once you have met someone in the business world, you will almost always have a greater level of trust in them.

University of Toronto - Source

16. 95% of marketers believe that face-to-face interactions are essential for building customer relationships.

In-person meetings help foster positive, long-term customer relationships.

Event Marketing Institute (EMI) - Source

17. Face-to-face networking leads to better brainstorming and problem-solving outcomes compared to virtual meetings.

Being in the same room for a meeting also helps with problem resolving and ideation.

University of Michigan - Source

18. Face-to-face meetings have a 40% conversion rate for turning prospects into customers.

This is a higher conversion rate than any other marketing channel.

American Marketing Association (AMA) - Source

19. 87% of attendees at trade shows and conferences believe that face-to-face interactions are irreplaceable for closing deals.

Experiencing a brand at an event is one of the most important ways for completing deals.

Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) - Source

20. The perception of a brand that is not represented at an event falls by 5%. This is true even for global brands.

Events are often a barometer of the importance of a brand. Missing out on a large in-person industry event results in a lower brand perception.

Facetime - Source